Page 41 of Cage of Destiny
Her heart pounded. Shethought maybe he was confusinglovewithtrust.But if that were the case… Her breath caught withthe intensity in his eyes. They screamed that this was him barebefore her. The real Kerdan. No masks. No games. So close. Hewassoclose. Hishand still touched her lips. Desire blossomed inside of her—adesire to get to know him better, to understand him, to be nearhim.
“Pardon me,” Odar said fromthe doorway. “But I’d like a moment alone with PrincessAllyssa.”
Kerdan tensed, closing his eyes for amoment. “You asked me a question before,” he whispered, “aboutbeing afraid he would want you back. I know there will always be apart of him that desires you. What I fear is you wanting him backdespite all he has done to you.” He let his hand drop from herlips. “However, if that’s what you want, then I welcome it. Youdeserve happiness. Don’t do what you think is expected of you. Dowhat is best for you.” He took a step away from her, and she almostfell forward from the sudden loss of him.
“Well?” Odar asked from thedoorway.
She had forgotten he was standingthere. “Come in.”
Kerdan’s mask was back in place as heturned away from her. “Prince Odar, your timing is impeccable. Iwas just leaving.” He gave a curt nod and left.
A heavy silence fell over the room.Odar entered, his footsteps loud. “I’m sorry for my behaviorearlier. I did not anticipate seeing you, and it has merattled.”
“Me too,” she admitted,sitting down on the floor and leaning against the wall.
He sat next to her, leaving arespectable distance between them. He’d made it very clear in Frenthat he had no intention of seeing her again. That he would do whatwas best for his kingdom, and she wasn’t it. Fidgeting with theedge of her sleeve, she didn’t even bother to look at him. Aftereverything they’d been through—he’d just left her.
“I want to start off bysaying that I am not engaged.”
Now she did look at him.
“We suspected a spy atcourt, and my father and I told three lies to specific people tosee which lie spread. Now I know who the spy is.”
He wasn’t engaged?
“For the sake of thismission, we need to be civil with one another,” he said. “In thefuture, we may need to work together again. I’d like to be…friends.”
“You want to be friends?”After the way he treated her in Fren? “I’m not sure that’spossible.” Not after everything they’d been through.
“Because of Kerdan?” hesnapped.
“No.” He had nothing to dowith this. “Because of you.”
He ran his hands through his hair. “Ineed you to understand how helpless I felt when Soma kidnapped us.How inadequate I was at defending you. All because my heart was ondisplay for the world to see. I can’t ever have that happen again.”He reached out and took hold of her fidgeting hand.
She pulled away. “Don’t touchme.”
“Allyssa,” he said, hisvoice ragged. “I still love you.”
His words made her sick. “You have noright to say such things to me.” He severed the marriagecontract—not her.
“Why?”
“Kerdan and I…” Shecouldn’t say they were officially engaged because nothing had beensigned. “We have an understanding.”
His eyes narrowed as his cheeks turnedred. “I always thought there was something going on between the twoof you. I never trusted him.”
She clasped her hands together torefrain from punching him. “Nothing is going on between us. And howdare you accuse me of such a thing?” She got up, unable to remainin Odar’s presence any longer.
He jumped to his feet, grabbing herarm. “Wait. Let’s talk about it. You owe me that much.”
“I owe you nothing. Getyour hand off me.”
He released her. “You can’t just walkaway from me.”
“Like you did to me inFren?” She turned and exited the room, her entire body shaking withrage. How could he have accused her of such a thing? Didn’t he knowher?
Odar ran after her. “These past fewweeks have been the worst of my life.”
