“And where would that be?”
“A short ride from here.” Destonne stroked Aera’s tiny snout. “A small house on the east coast.”
Emmery stared vacantly at the floor and tried to recall the map she’d studied months ago. With Asaella’s northeast location in the valley and distance from the coast, it could easily be a day’s ride.
“I suggest we wait a few hours, then send word.”As Brennen spoke to both of them this time, he shot Emmery a smug look.
Her eye twitched. Between the ticking clock and the premise of days alone with these two, she needed space before she lost her damn mind. “I’m going for a walk.”
She stormed from the room before Brennen or the King could react. Emmery ambled through the garden, Aera at her heels, and followed the quiet plink of water. The fountain was a fascinating feature made of ivory stone carved into the shape of a jaw-droppingly gorgeous woman fleeing from a beastly man. A depiction of Kahlia and Deimos. She couldn't fathom why they always depicted Deimos as a monster, because how could a man who gave up everything for the woman he loved be all bad? Besides, she’d seen other paintings of him done by Hollows, and hecertainlydidn’t look like a beast in those. In fact, he was the portrait of perfection in all his godly beauty with his black hair and deep crimson eyes.
Emmery meandered to the white roses and propped herself against a colossal oak tree that must have lived there for centuries. She shivered against the cold nip in the air as the dampness of the ground seeped through her skirts. Asaellawas certainly chillier than Ellynne with its proximity to the mountains.
Aera climbed into Emmery’s lap, circled, tucked her snout beneath her bushy tail, and fell asleep in seconds.
A rustle from behind Emmery startled her, but a frustrated sigh rushed out as Destonne came into view. She prayed he wasn’t coming her way, but the gods weren’t that gracious.
Emmery held no doubt, the King was headed straight for her.
CHAPTER THREE
EMMERY
Though the dense foliage muffled the King’s footsteps, Emmery recognized his flawless gait immediately. His hands shoved into his pockets while he wore his usual bored expression. When a tiny yellow bird on a tree branch above chirped angrily to protect its nest, he tilted his head back, giving her a full view of his scarred neck. Despite the bird's displeasure, for a moment, Destonne almost looked content.
He plucked a ripe green apple and polished it on his shirt before he walked over to Emmery. Her breath hitched as he sank down beside her, their arms only a wisp away from brushing.
She recalled how gently he’d held her hand as they sealed their pactum, so strange now that he’d revealed his true nature. Vesper was right. Destonne had fooled her into the deal by making her think he wasn’t so bad. Evidently, he’d won their game. However, Emmery didn’t plan to lose again.
His volatile calm unnerved her, like at the slightest provocation he would erupt into an unruly monster. She could see it in tiny movements: the tick of his brow, the quiver of his lips, the twitch of his cheek.
“What are you doing?” she whispered. His face lingered far too close to hers, but this was a game he played. To see who would back down first.
He raised a dark brow. “Sitting with you while we wait.”
Of course he’d steal her moment of peace. “Leave me be,” she mumbled.
Destonne spun the apple in his nimble fingers. “Do you say that to everyone who sits with you? Or is it special treatment reserved for me?”
“I see your vanity hasn’t faded over these weeks. Rest assured, everything still revolves around you.”
He shifted closer and between his body heat and the brush of his sleeve, she stiffened. “You didn’t answer my question.”
To fight the rising flush in her cheeks, she took a cleansing breath. “Why would you possibly want to sit with me?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” His minty breath flooded her senses.
Did he have to answer every question with a question? It was so damnirritating. His dark stare grazed her cheek, as intrusive as a touch. She shielded her birthmark with her hand, like it could protect her from whatever he saw. Whatever messy shred of her he examined.
Everything he did was calculated, every move a carefully placed piece in his game. He sat here because hewantedsomething from her. She only needed to discover what. “Youhaven’t shown interest in my presence since I arrived. Why is now any different?”
“I didn’t realize you craved my company. You did call me a murderer and a coward. I didn’t know that intrigued you.”
She’d meant it. And yet, he had called her the same.
We’re more alike than you think,he’d said.
He was wrong, of course. After all, she'd burned Ellynne’s kingdom capital to the ground and their people with it. She had far more to repent for.