Page 141 of Until the Stars Fall

“Oh, that.”

“Yes, that. And then I had to come drag you off of Lieke’s sofa? What were you even doing there? And while drunk?”

At that, I sat up, looking around. I was in my own room, lying on my own sofa. Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on my lap and squeezed my head between my hands. No amount of pressure helped ease the throbbing headache though.

“I didn’t tell her, if that’s what you’re wondering,” I said, fairly certain I hadn’t confessed anything in my sleep.

“I know that much.” Matthias’s voice had softened, albeit only slightly. The sofa shifted as he sat down beside me. “If you had, you’d be sleeping in her bed instead of on your couch.”

“How did you know where I was?”

“Lieke heard me pounding on your door last night.”

I knew I should probably apologize for breaking into his apartment—though to be fair, I’d used my key—and stealing his booze. I had no excuse for that.

Instead I said, “She’s still in love with Brennan.” Each word grated on my nerves and poked fresh holes in my heart.

“I told you—”

I lifted my head, ignoring the resulting bolt of pain, and glared at him. “You didn’t see them together.”

“You don’t know—”

“She told me.” My shoulders slumped under my defeat. “She loves him.”

Matthias’s eyes narrowed. “And what about last night? You can sense her emotions through the bond, right?”

“I don’t know. The drink clouded everything, maybe,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I love her, and I can’t have her.”

“But you didn’t tell her she’s your mate.”

“I couldn’t. Not after she asked me to call off Brennan’s engagement,” I said.

“So what are you going to do now?” Matthias asked, his expression tightening with concern.

“I need to talk to my father.”

CHAPTER 74

Lieke

Matthias, thankfully, had taken one look at the drunken prince on my sofa and promptly hauled him away without a word, sparing me the pain of explaining. What would he think when Connor told him? Would he think less of me? Would he hate me for hurting his friend?

Why did I care?

All that mattered now was stopping the rebels’ assassination.

The attack on the road had proven their impatience. I needed to inform them immediately that I’d stopped the wedding—and the alliance—or that I’d at least secured the crown prince’s promise that it wouldn’t occur. I couldn’t risk them taking action before it was officially finalized. I could only hope Connor’s promise would be enough to keep them from making good on their threats.

Reaching under my pillow, I retrieved the knife Anna had given me after the attack—the one I’d had to use to ease Rosie’s suffering. I slid the weapon into my pack, cinched it closed, and hauled it over my shoulder as I rushed for the door. The sun was barely beginning to rise, so I couldn’t linger if I was going to make it out of the palace unseen. I stepped out into the empty hallway as quietly as possible. My heart raced at the sight of Connor’s door. Part of me yearned to rush into his room and see him one last time before I left, but what more was there to say? Goodbye? I’d already hurt him enough.

It had taken so much strength to deny him twice already; I wasn’t sure I could do it again.

Tiptoeing past his room, I held my breath until I reached the main stairs. As I’d hoped, the palace was still slumbering, so I slipped out the front entrance without issue, running across the courtyard to where Honey was stabled.

Pain pricked my chest as the familiar scents of hay and dirt and horses hit me, yanking my mind back to the last time I’d been in here.

With him.

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