Page 114 of Blooms of Darkness

Although I didn’t believe Kade loved me, even if he merely wanted the title of King, telling him the truth was something I knew I had to do.

There were a lot of things I could live with if necessary.

Trapping Kade Blackthorn in a marriage wasn’t one of them.

Chapter 32

Nature seemed to be extremely blessed from the festival since it rained for two days straight.

Not a light summer drizzle, but the kind of relentless rain, which made it impossible to do anything. The kind of rain, which was wonderful for the first day, to curl up and read, but by the second day, drained the happiness from you.

It didn’t rain like this often in Ellevail, but when it did, all one could do was wait out the storm. The growing season had officially begun.

With all of the unknowns about who to trust in the palace, Ian had sequestered me to my room until the final trial began to keep me safe. The order drove us absolutely mad, and Kalliah and I were more than a little stir crazy.

Two days wasn’t much in the long run, but it seemed like an eternity. Especially when the people you cared for were busy hunting down the evil infecting our land, while you were forced to sit idly by and do nothing.

One positive thing did come from being sequestered from everyone, and everything. It had given me some time away to work through the emotions overwhelming my mind. Soon I would have to make a decision, which would change the courseof my life and all of Brookmere. Even being away from Ian had helped put things into perspective. While I missed him, after seeing him almost every day for years, I craved Kade more.

It didn’t make sense, but I missed him, and his damned shadows.

However, there was still something I just quite didn't trust about him. There were so many unknowns about him, and I had a hard time reconciling how then my heart could be so attached.

Yet, my body longed for him in a way I couldn’t understand. It felt almost torturous to be apart from him, anxious energy shifting inside of me in a way I couldn't comprehend.

But should I take such an enormous chance on a strange emotion? What would he say if he knew I didn't have magic? He came here for a crown. I believed that, and if I believed what he said the night of the festival, he came for a queen as well. But what would he think of a queen who couldn’t be his equal, especially in power and magic? He may believe I was born to rule, but how would I keep this ruse up once I ascended the throne. It was all too much to think about.

These were the marriage trials. My choice had to be the best one for my people, since it was, well, forever. There would be no second chances.

Kalliah sighed loudly from the chaise in front of the window, reminding me of her presence. Flopping her arm from her chest to hang off the side, she groaned loudly. The rain had stopped, and a sliver of moonlight peaked through the clouds, illuminating her face as she sat up.

“All right. I’m going to call it for the night. I fear if I stare at the Forgotten Kingdom for one more moment, I am going to become forgotten myself. We have a big day tomorrow.”

I swallowed. A big day was putting it mildly.

“I’ll be by in the morning with breakfast. Hopefully tomorrow the sun will be shining, and we can at least go outside. Otherwise, I’m not sure where they’ll hold the trial.”

I quickly jumped up from my chair and gave her a long hug before she left. “Thank you for keeping me company these last few days. Fates know I would be lost without you.”

Pulling away, she smiled at me. “And I would be lost without you, too, my friend. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, Kalliah.”

She picked up our dirty dishes from dinner as she exited, securing my chamber door behind her.

I settled onto the chaise Kalliah had left and stared out of the window for a few moments more, knowing I needed to get ready for bed soon, too. These next few days were going to be long, and I needed to get some rest while I still could.

Rest seemed impossible, though, since my mind wouldn’t cooperate and settle. Perhaps a bath would relax me before trying to sleep. I still had some of the calming salts Kalliah had gifted me on my last birthday. They always seemed to help.

I changed out of my clothes, pulling on my heavenly, silk-lined robe, not bothering to tie the sides as I moved toward my bathing chamber. A quick knock rattled my chamber doors, and I folded the sides of the robe to cover myself. Kalliah must have forgotten something. I sauntered over to the door to open it for her.

But it wasn’t Kalliah waiting there.

It was Kade.

“May I come in?” he asked.

I blinked twice, shocked to find him at my chamber door instead of the balcony.

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