Page 36 of Death and Desire

“I don’t know. Enjoying himself with the rest of the guests. It doesn’t matter.” Violet said, hoping to divert her father’s ire from her brother and his friend. It wasn’t their fault she’d fallen overboard. How could they have prevented it? She cringed at the thought of them following her every waking moment.

“Hopefully, he is at breakfast, waiting.” Father stood, releasing her hand. “Do you feel well enough to join us?”

“I think so.” She mentally assessed her position and pressed a hand to her head. Whatever ache she’d had was gone. How strange. She could have sworn she’d hit her head...

Unless...

Her gaze shifted to Khalid who stood aside as her father approached. The corner of his mouth twitched, as if in amusement.

“I shall leave you to get dressed. Come down directly.”

Violet nodded, but her father was already halfway out the door.

“Good man.” He patted Khalid on the shoulder before he left. “Keep an eye on her, will you?”

The door clicked closed. Khalid seemed to fill the room once her father left, crossing his massive arms over his chest.

“Are you going to watch me dress?” she snapped, throwing back the blankets, careless about her state of disarray.

His head cocked to the right, as though assessing her. The heat of his gaze drifted over her bare shoulder and down her linen nightgown. She was covered, but against the light from the window, she knew he saw every curve beneath the white fabric, outlined in the glow of sunshine.

“Your father asked me to watch over you.”

Violet scoffed. “I don’t think he meantliterallyevery second of the day.”

He shrugged.

“Can you give me some privacy?” she asked, her irritation slowly rising to a boil.

“Why would you require privacy?” He regarded her with seriousness. “It is not as if I haven’t seen all of you before.”

A soft gasp ripped from her chest, and her face warmed. “That was a dream.”

“Not a dream.”

“So I...died.”

Khalid heaved a sigh. “You werecloseto death, yes. But I saved you.”

“Your palace? The healing waters?” She swallowed hard. “The blood moon over an endless sea.”

“The world between,” he clarified, arching a brow. “You remember it?”

“Every detail.” She licked her lips. “I thought it was a dream.”

“Interesting.” He stroked his jaw. “What else do you remember?”

“You.” Violet swallowed a lump in her throat as she crossed the room. Stopping a breath from his imposing form, she reached out and brushed her fingertips along his cheek. “This face...it is not yours?”

Khalid inhaled sharply, his eyes as dark as a moonless summer night. “No.”

“Tell me I imagined it,” Violet whispered.

“I cannot.” His voice rumbled through her.

Violet dropped her hand, as though burned by his touch. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?” he asked, his voice gentle but firm.

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