Page 86 of A Kingdom of Destruction

“I want to know—” she started.

Her chest clenched, and her next inhalation felt a little too difficult to draw into her body. Something was about to happen. She felt it in her blood and her bones. A gigantic shift and a step she’d be unable to take back.

“There’s something between us. And I’m not sure exactly what it is, but I feel it. I think you feel it too.”

Roran’s entire body went rigid. “Is that what you think? I feel something for you?”

“Yes,” she snapped. “I believe so. There’s a palpable current between us.” She took a risk by stepping closer. Every inch she closed between them had the current she spoke about growing stronger until she felt it like a physical caress along her skin. “Maybe you hate me. Maybe you don’t. But I’d like to know. I can’t go through with any engagement until I talk to you.”

His eyes dropped to her lips before he jerked them away. “You’re basically my brother’s property. It’s the end of ourconnection, Aven,” Roran replied, his voice tight with something that turned her insides to soup. “I’m not sure what you’re even doing here.”

“I’m trying to talk to you. Apparently, I’m not doing a very good job.”

“This chat is unnecessary and annoying. Go back to Cillian, where you belong. Whatever you think is between us is nothing but an imagined scenario in your head.” His fingers curled into fists at his sides. “Poor mortal.”

He launched an invisible punch to her gut, and it landed there. “You’re being wretched on purpose. Don’t you think I see when you’re playing a game and when you’re being serious?” He hadn’t moved away from her, either.

Not like there was anywhere to run unless he chose to climb the stairs to get away from her.

“Playing a game with you?” Roran stepped forward in a movement as smooth as velvet. His hair glowed underneath the stars above, the same color. The same inky coldness and alien power. “That requires interest. I have no interest in you besides what you bring to the table with the peace treaty. The sooner you understand, the better it will be for everyone. Resign yourself to your fate. You’ll get nothing out of me?—”

“Lies,” Aven interrupted. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m sure you have your reasons.”

“Nothing I care to explain to you. Now run along. It’s almost time for you to go to bed, isn’t it? To tuck yourself in and dream those pretty little dreams of yours?”

“Fine.” Her chest rose slightly, breathing hitched. “If that’s the way you want it to be. I’ll have to take your word on it. My mistake.”

“Little princess, you certainly do know how to put your foot in your mouth. The best thing for you to do is to stop with these fantasies,” he crooned, his eyes trailing down her body. “Even ifthe prospect of me between your legs is so much more enticing than Cillian.”

His filthy mouth didn’t bother her anymore. She’d gotten used to it and expected it.

He crossed his arms over his chest, muscles straining with tension. “Anything else you want to talk to me about?”

“No.” She forced herself to shake her head rather than slap him. Knock some sense into him, or rage and insist he tell her the truth. Roran held himself back. She was sure of it.

She didn’t need to stand here and take his abuse, however.

“We’re done.”

Aven spun on her toes and strode away without a backward glance, the sound of Roran’s laughter trailing behind her.

28

Careless.

That was how Roran handled her. Careless and too casual for her bleeding heart to comprehend in the moment. Her eyes burned on the way up to her room.

Nora waited for her there and stood the moment Aven burst through the door. The floor tilted, warped, her vision centering on Nora and clinging there like it might somehow help her find her center.

“I’m sorry, Miss Aven, I thought you’d need help changing for dinner,” Nora said, bowing her head. “Please don’t send me away again.”

A strange numbness swept from the top of Aven's skull all the way down her face and lower. She tried to swallow and found her muscles weren’t working properly.

She swiped her hand across her eyes before rubbing her temples against the throbbing ache there. “Sure, yeah. Let’s change for dinner.” The same way she’d done the day before, and the day before that. Every evening the same, and every day spent passing the time with reading and Cillian.

Was this what her life would be for the rest of her short years?

Oh, gods. How was she going to make it through this?

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