Page 279 of The Nightmare Bride
“Well.” He pushed a handful of hair behind my ear. “You haven’t been listening to a word I’ve said, then.”
“I can’t believe you came back.”
“I didn’tcome back, lioness. I never left.”
I laughed, or sobbed, or some combination of the two, and burrowed my head against his chest again.
I allowed myself a second. A flawless, diamond moment in which nothing else existed. I didn’t care where he’d been, or who with, or about anything except that he washere, solid and reassuring and even more breathtaking than I’d remembered.
He hadn’t abandoned me. He hadn’tleft. Even though I’d tried to make him.
That simple truth of that saturated me with such feeling that I came unstuck from gravity. Then reality crashed back, and I scrambled up, scrubbing at my cheeks.
“Vick has Amryssa.”
His expression didn’t change. “I know. That’s why I’m here. I mean, I’m here for you, but also because I’ve been in the forest these past weeks, watching the liberators. Vick has them convinced he’s going to stop the nightmares. I’d hoped hewouldn’t go so far as to steal Amryssa, but once I realized he would, I knew you’d need help.”
Renewed emotion surged through me. “So you came to save her?”
“Of course.” He propped himself up on his forearms. “And I wasn’t about to let you rush off into the forest and get yourself hurt. Or killed.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
“And frankly, I’m hoping there’s something in it for me.” His look grew heavy with meaning. “You know. The ring toss that finally lands around the bottle.”
Another dizzying wave of feeling crashed up from my depths. Goddess, I could hardly withstand all this intensity, but I was glad he was here. Flabbergasted, really, and so filled with gratitude that I felt like one of Olivian’s overstuffed armchairs, thread creaking along every seam.
I wouldn’t have to do this alone.
But... My throat soured. Kai had no idea what I planned to do. He hadn’t read the Lady’s letter to Amryssa, had never learned about the blood-price. He assumed I meant to get my friend back, not reach Zephyrine first and offer myself in her place.
I forced a smile. I couldn’t tell him. I also couldn’t do anythingbutsacrifice myself, because we had no chance of getting Amryssa back, otherwise. Maybe if we’d had time to rally Lunk and Olivian and the stewards, but considering the weather?—
A bell clanged, across the house. Then another. The sound cut through the silence.
“Well, that’s inconvenient,” Kai said. “If not entirely unexpected.”
Amryssa. Oh, goddess. I had to get to the holy tree,now, by any means necessary. End the nightmares, because she wouldn’t make it through another one on her own.
I pushed off the bed and pulled Kai to standing. “I came up here for my manacles, but maybe if I have you, I won’t need them?”
His expression tightened. “If the storm overwhelms you?—”
“Can’t you just hold me down?”
He shook his head. “Even I can’t pin a hellcat. Not for long. You’ll need something.”
“Okay.” I whirled, pawing through the drawer until I came up with my shackles. If nothing else, Ky could use them on Amryssa while I slipped away and offered my blood to Zephyrine. “Here.”
Kai took the restraints. “How long do we have?”
“Thirty minutes until Vick reaches the tree, probably. Maybe twenty-five, by now.”
“Not much time, then. Let’s go.”
I nodded and put my hand in his. We bolted from the room. Down in the great hall, the front doors stood open. Outside, the night hissed and heaved. Merron stood just inside, sweat-soaked and panting. He babbled to Olivian, who looked like he wanted to murder the first person who dared to come within reach.
The seneschal’s eyes blazed at our approach. “You had one job!One fucking job.”
