Page 68 of The Princess of Nothing
My heart palpitated.
He halted upon hearing my voice, as if he hadn’t expected me to be real. “Winter.” He sounded uncertain. “It’s really you. When they told me you’d come, I didn’t believe it.” His lips parted; tears glistened his smoky-gray eyes. “I’m sorry they took you into those dungeons.” His jaw tensed. “I would have never allowed it.”
I swallowed thickly. I waited for the questions. Why was I here? What did I want? But neither came. I flinched when he closed the distance between us. Pulling me into his arms, he gripped his fingers into my sides and held me tighter. His breath tingled on my neck. He brought his lips to my ear. “You’re alive. I was so scared.”
The revelation shocked me still. “You were scared?”
He blew out slowly. “Of course I was.”
Butterflies swirled unwantedly. “Wait... you thought I was dead?”
He didn’t let go. “I wondered. I heard you’d escaped King Xenos, and I didn’t know what they’d done to you. The whole army was looking for you in Berovia. My spies reported.” He cupped my cheek. “You’re shaking. Let’s get inside.” His navy-blue wings opened from his back.
I nuzzled my head into his shoulder as he lifted us from the ground. I didn’t look up again until we landed in the throne room.
His gaze traced my lips. “Is there anything you need?”
“Yes, actually, I need to find...” I looked around, fumbling my fingers. I didn’t know how to bring up Cedric, but I knew I needed to find him. I was sure he was safe here among the other fae, but I wondered where they’d have taken him. “No, I...”
“Some food perhaps?” Blaise offered.
I thought back to the stale bread on the ship. “I’ve not had anything good to eat in days.”
He snapped his fingers at a man hovering nearby. “Bring us some apples, maybe some frosted cake.”
The guard bowed at this waist and scuttered away, leaving us in a corner near the throne, alone. Blaise let out a tense breath. “I thought you were going to get married.”
Suddenly, everything came rushing back. “Yes,” I said slowly. “Married.” I balled my fists. “I can’t believe I just let you off!” I shouted. “I’m not doing this.”
“Do what?” He pulled back, holding me at arm’s length.
“A sweet reunion.” Rage bubbled beneath the surface.
Seeing him be so sweet, so caring, made things worse. How could he hurt me as much as he did? “I am SO mad at you!”
His eyebrows shot up. “You weren’t a moment ago.”
I shook my head. “It was just the shock of seeing you again,” I said, defending myself, and crossed my arms.
His black hair fell around the silver crown on his head, reminding me he was now king. “You got all you wanted in the end, hmm? I can’t believe you!”
“I don’t know what the big deal is.” Confusion ticked his jaw.
Red crossed my gaze. How could he think that! He was perfectly okay with marrying me off to Kiros.
Punching my fists into his chest never felt so good. Tears ran down my cheeks as I slammed another hit, this time on his shoulder. “I hate you!”
His gaze searched mine for a split second before he looked away. “Are you quite done?”
“Done?” I scoffed. “DONE! I’ve not even started. You wanted me to marry the prince of Berovia. He wanted to be king, not a consort, a king to Magaelor,” I said, emphasizing my words. “It would have cost me everything, you selfish bastard.”
His eyes widened, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ve missed this.”
“Don’t you dare smile,” I warned, my fists balled, ready to land another punch. “This isn’t a game. You are a self-absorbed, uncaring, horrible—”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m the worst. I get it.”
“I despise you.” Venom laced my words. “You are heartless.”
