Page 82 of The Blood Crown

Her attention snagged on the back room of Embra’s tower, shades still drawn to keep out the sunlight. But before she could say anything, Valea's sheet of platinum hair disappeared again.

The female had made a full recovery, but she’d taken to hiding in the quiet peace of Embra’s tower, much like Aurelia had those first few weeks here at Ravenstone—thoughwhyshe was hiding was as much a mystery as the rest of her.

Embra returned, extending a jar of dried herbs to Aurelia. “Contraceptive tea.”

Aurelia felt a twinge of guilt as she took the jar.

The magickal kingdoms had been without children for centuries, but the thought of bringing a child into this—whatever it was that was happening in their world right now—was toodaunting to consider. When she'd voiced her concerns to Ven, he'd only replied,When you're ready for that—when we'rebothready for that. But until then . . . I'll enjoy being a selfish prick and keep you all to myself.

“Thank you,” she smiled, tucking the container into a satchel. Having a healer as a friend had its perks. “We can’t all so easily avoid a mishap—” The words had barely left her tongue as she noticed Embra wince, smiling at the jest but the sting unmistakable in her expression.

“Shit—I’m sorry,” she backtracked, cursing herself. “That was . . .” She shook her head, wishing she could eat the words and choke on them. “It was insensitive of me. I’m sorry.” Her eyes fell to the floor, too embarrassed to look at Embra directly.

A pale green hand gripped hers. Much stronger than the slender fingers belied.

“You can’t control nature,” Embra offered with a small laugh, “trust me—my people have tried.” She turned, murmuring to a plant, it's blue-green vines stretching to wrap around her arm as she turned away to tend to the others.

“Do you—” Aurelia began, fumbling over her tongue, “ordidyou—ever wish for children?”

“Once.” Embra’s delicate shoulders lifted, tipping the watering can into the flowers nearby, the petals seeming to open wider for her. “But that was before I witnessed what was lost—before I met Nira, before I came here.” Her rich brown eyes scanned the tower around them, bursting with life, with color. “My life is so full that I’m not sure if given the choice, I would add something else to it.”

The assured tone of her voice left no room for pity. This was a female who had forged her own path—made her life exactly of her choosing, and did not apologize for it.

“But whateveryouchoose for yourself, my dear friend," she reached for Aurelia’s hand, wrapping it in her own, "I will be beside you every step of the way.”

Aurelia closed the glass door behind her, nearly missing a step down the tower stairs as a large shadow detached itself from the wall.

“Sorry—I’m sorry.” Karro reached out a hand to steady her.

She glanced around the empty hall. “What are you doing here?”

“I—” Karro’s scarlet eyes slid to the twin glass doors of Embra’s greenhouse as he rubbed a large hand roughly against the back of his neck, his words trailing off.

“Ah,” she answered.

She couldn’t understand what hold the icy female had over him, but it was plain enough in the heartsick look in his eyes.

“If it’s companionship you’re looking for," she teased, "I’ve no doubt there are two dozen females who would gladly warm your bed."

He huffed out a laugh. “There was a time when that was all I wanted,” he sighed, “when I thought that was enough.”

She nudged him in the shoulder, trying to shake the somber look from his expression. “You can’t convince me that you’ve ever been lonely,” she laughed, remembering when she’d first been introduced to him. A male who was well aware of the sway he held over females with his looks, his demeanor, his honeyed words. And it was clear he’d been honing those skills for centuries.

“I had plenty of attention in my youth—being the King’s only son. And I loved it all,” he chuckled, his smile slipping a fraction.“But once the females realized I had no intention of taking the throne—I became a conquest and nothing more.”

He shrugged his large shoulders. “I took what they offered anyway,” he glanced toward her, hurt flickering in his expression before he wiped it away with a smirk. “I’ve never been as noble as Ven."

It was so unlike the charming, gregarious male she’d come to know. This pensive, thoughtful side of Karro one that she’d only just begun to see.

But she understood him more than he realized.

“I came from a powerful family back in the Capitol,” she began, realizing she’d never told him of her past life. If Ven had confessed to Karro what kind of life she’d led—he didn’t let on. “My family used me as a lure for strategic alliances, and men were always trying to carve off a piece of my family’s power by pretending to have an interest in me. Even the one that I thought had truly loved me—the man I went back to—” She stumbled over Bastien’s name, even now. “He was just much better at hiding it than the others.” Her gaze dropped to her feet, her steps slowing as Karro halted beside her.

Karro shoved his hands into his pockets, clearing his throat. “It’s exhausting—never knowing if someone wants you for—you—or for what you might give them,” he softly replied, casting a final glance toward the tower doors. "At least with her there are no pretenses."

And she felt a fool for not seeing it until now—just under the surface of the mask he wore.

"In some ways, it’s easier," he said, sadness tingeing his deep voice, "No one to mourn me if I don’t make it home.”

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