Page 32 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

His tone is sweet as honey, his eyes liquid, as he whispers, “Have you never wondered why so many men stare at you? Women too, I suppose? Because the fae blood runs through your veins as well as through mine.”

For a moment, there is only his touch. Only the feel of skin against skin, the heat of his body close to mine. So unfamiliar.

Fae blood. What the hell? I have gone mad, for sure.

I take a step back, and he slowly lowers his hand. When I lift my gaze, the same gentleness he applied now lies in his face. That and something else entirely.

I’m not sure I trust my hearing when he says, “You are as beautiful as they said you would be. But, for now, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“Back to Lyrian’s house.”

I shake my head reflexively, knowing that the terror in my eyes is showing because the hint of what I just saw in his eyes gives way to pity.

“He will hurt me. He’ll hurt me badly. I can’t.” Only a whisper comes from my lips now.

“He won’t,” he replies, still soft.

“How do you know?” My voice is louder now, shriller. I take a few steps back. I will fight. Fight until the end. But I will never, ever go back to Lyrian.

His answer is not angry, but calm and firm. “Because I will not allow it.”

“You can’t take me back to him.”

“I won’t bring you back to Lyrian.”

All the things he’s told me. All the things he hasn’t told me. I read them in his face.

“What? Why are we going back then? Where are you taking me?”

“I’m taking you to the High Lord of Darkness,” he says, and I hate the remorse in his face.

I can’t bring myself to ask what that means. He holds out his hand to me, a silent offering—a silentthreat, because it means that he will force me to come if I don’t obey.

I glower at his hand as if it’s a poisonous snake.

He says, his voice suddenly solemn, “I hereby swear that no harm shall come to you from Lyrian’s hand and neither from mine. And that I will always protect you.”

I stare at him, wide-eyed, as a strange prickle runs through my body, as if something has just been branded right underneath my flesh. I wonder whether I imagined it. But that strange sensation, it stays.

“And that… High Lord of Darkness?” I ask, my voice coming out a little bit breathless.

His remarkable eyes flicker, as does his aura. “I will do everything in my power to ensure that my king will not hurt you either.”

I look back at those violet eyes, unsure what to make of that statement. I can always tell when people are lying, thanks to mytalent. Their auras betray them. He’s speaking the truth. Despite my better instincts, I nod once and follow him through the woods. Not that I have much of a choice.

“Can you at least tell me your name?” I ask his back.

He pauses briefly, then looks back at me over his shoulder. “Oh, darling, I thought you’d never ask. I’m Riven.”

10

Melody

I follow him back to the main road where a car is waiting for us. Reluctantly, I climb in, pulling my legs up close to me. Riven turns on the heat as soon as we drive off, as if he can hear my chattering teeth. We don’t exchange another word, though I find myself glancing at him from time to time. At those delicate, strange ears. Those big, yet elegant, white hands with gold and gems heavy on his fingers. I watch him from behind my curtain of long, dark hair. His surreal long eyelashes. The way they almost touch his cheeks as he glances down the shimmering road.

We spend half the night speeding back over rain-wet asphalt, way too fast, but I’d hardly mind if we hit a tree. That we don’t is probably down to his fae reflexes.

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