Page 177 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

Caryan pivots toward him, pupils flaring, those mighty wings spreading even wider. For a moment, Riven thinks Caryan will come for him. But Caryan’s face turns cold. He tucks his wings back in, rolling his shoulders once as if to rid himself of invisible tension before they disappear as if they had never been there.

Even Caryan’s tone changes, becoming conciliatory. “Do not fool yourself. It has something to do with the prophecy.” He turns back to the city then. “Tell her we’re leaving tomorrow to find the first relic. I think she’s ready.”

Riven starts to speak, but Caryan cuts him off, not yet finished. “I want you to stay here. I’ll take Kyrith and Ronin.”

Riven keeps his voice solemn. “Why not me?”

“Because I need you here to reign while I’m gone.”

He stiffens at the unspoken words.I need you here to reign… in case I don’t return.

“Caryan—”

“Find her and tell her.”

“Please, Caryan—” Riven tries one last time, sudden desperation clawing at him, cutting through all the insobriety.

“Leave me now. I need to prepare for tomorrow.”

It’s an order wrapped up in a truism, yet there’s nothing Riven can do to fight it as Caryan’s power forces him out.

Nothing other than obey.

54

Melody

Riven finds me in my room. He enters, his eyes fastening on me in my soaked dress.

“I want to be alone,” I say, hating that my voice is still shaking slightly.

“What happened?” he asks, too gently. It tells me that I must look like a mess.

“Why would you care?” I snap, and his eyes flare open. I glimpse a wave of fury, immediately smothered byhurt. Why the hell is he hurt? It was he who kissed me last night. He who… He who behaved tonight as if nothing ever happened. He who spent his evening with another woman.Or women, for that matter.

I’d gone back to being a slave, just as I predicted. I knew, yet…

I straighten my shoulders with as much dignity as I can muster. “I thought babysitting was over now that Sarynx is dead. I think you can go.”

“I cannot. I have the order to watch you,” he counters roughly, his eyes straying from me.

I feel a sting in my heart before it sinks. Watching him, all of a sudden I feel extremely tired. Tired of all the rules of this world. Tired of all the unbendable orders. Tired of people trying to murder me, for fuck’s sake. Tired of being controlled, of not being told the truth but only shards and pieces of it. Tired of pity and protection, of my own weakness. Of my own fucking feelings.

“Iwantto be alone,” I repeat.

“I am not to leave this room,” he retorts unfazed.

I can see that he doesn’t like it at all. It hurts.

Finally, he remembers to veil his aura or cares enough to.Good.Because I’m tired of that too—of reading everything in other people’s auras. I wonder how others go through life when they don’t see everything openly. It must be a relief, not to care for once.

“Very well, then make yourself at home,” I hiss and I wriggle out of my dress right in front of his eyes. I hold his gaze while I do, while the piece of fabric glides over my breasts and down my belly.

Eventually, he averts his gaze.

I hate how my heart aches when he turns away. Whatever he might have told me before, I’m not beautifulenough. Not interestingenough.

I try to shake the image of that pixie woman out of my mind and how his hand glided up and down her painted back.

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