Page 52 of Until the Stars Fall

My mind spun in circles, going so fast I thought I was going to be physically ill.

I can always see him another time. It doesn’t have to be right now.

But I need to make sure he’s okay. I won’t be able to sleep unless I check.

Then why not ask someone to check on him for you? It’s not worth handing over Mother’s necklace to this wench.

He’s fae. He’ll probably be healed in no time.

“Well? Do we have a deal? The prince’s food is getting cold,” Lola said, her expression turning bored.

Footsteps echoed from somewhere behind me, their steady thumping slower than my thundering heartbeat but growing louder, closer.

“Fine,” I growled, pulling the pendant out from my collar and slipping the chain over my head, wincing as it caught on the hairs at my neck.

Lola shoved the tray of food into my arms before swiping the necklace dangling from my fingers. Without looking at the door, she reached out and rapped on it three times before whispering, “Better hurry, Lieke. Someone’s coming.”

She spun on her heel and scurried off toward the servants’ stairs. Dropping my chin to my chest, I let my hair fall over my shoulder, hoping it might hide my face from whoever was approaching. The footsteps were louder now. I held my breath, waiting to be spotted, but then the door opened. Without looking up, I hurried inside and kicked it shut behind me.

“Lieke?” Brennan’s voice was weak, sad, and distant. “What are you doing here?”

The room was so dark I couldn’t make out his features or how bad his injuries were, but I could hear his pain in each syllable.

“I brought you a puppy,” I said, holding up the tray and trying to smile.

He didn’t laugh at my attempted joke but simply rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. Averting his eyes, he pivoted and started to walk away, saying, “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Yes, I know. If I get caught—”

He continued to walk away from me as he said over his shoulder, “That’s not what I mean.”

Grinding my teeth together, I breathed deeply before following after him. “Do you want to eat in your bedroom then?” I asked, not actually knowing where he was going since I’d never been in his rooms before.

He pointed to his right. “No, there’s a table. You can set it there for now.”

But he didn’t move in that direction. Instead, he turned to his left and disappeared from sight. Gingerly I stepped through the dark room, not wanting to trip or bump into anything. Before I turned to move in the direction he’d instructed, I stole a peek to the left. The door was open, but I couldn’t see anything except the edge of what appeared to be his bed. My arms ached under the weight of the dinner tray, so I rushed over to the table and set it down, leaving the lid in place.

And then I waited.

Should I look for him?

Should I leave?

He doesn’t want me here.

I’d come here to ensure he was okay, and while I’d verified he was at least alive, I needed to know what had happened. If he’d been hurt because of me, I needed to—to what? What could I possibly do for him?

“Brennan?” I called. When there was no answer, I tiptoed slowly toward the bedroom door.

Then he was there, standing in the doorway, blocking my way. Startled, I flinched and skidded to a stop. He didn’t say anything, so I took another step forward until I was close enough to touch him. I dared not look up at him. Slowly, I reached a hand up between us, letting my fingers lightly graze his chest. He didn’t move, didn’t even seem to breathe. So I took a chance and pressed my hand against him fully.

His hand shot up, grabbing my wrist and pulling my hand away from him.

I was surprised when he allowed me to rip my hand from his grip, but when I finally looked up into his eyes, I didn’t find the prince I’d been playing cards with just hours before, the prince who had been so willing to beg for his brother’s help in order to be with me.

This prince was cold, distant…

And pained.

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