Page 28 of Beneath the Cursed Veil

We stared at one another and the tension pulled taut. Warmth ran through my veins. My breath hitched. Vareck cocked his head, definitely hearing that sound. His pupils dilated, eating up the icy blue.

I cleared my throat, breaking the spell.

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked again, harder this time. I tried to reach for a thread of compulsion but failed miserably when a slight wave of nausea washed through me.

Vareck must have noticed what I was attempting because he lifted a brow once more. Still, he didn’t comment on it. “Here being the castle or . . .?”

“Yes.”

Vareck sighed, moving to sit on the floor as well. He bent one leg and extended the other. His elbow propped up on his knee. For such a large man he moved silently.

“How much do you remember?”

“You must heal fast, given the cut I gave you didn’t scar,” I replied. It was true. Where his cheekbone had split, there was only smooth unblemished skin now. Vareck chuckled.

“So you remember enough, then.” He inclined his head. “After you threw the dagger you collapsed, leaving me with two choices. Either I stayed in the human world and waited for you to wake, or we returned to Faerie. As you can see, I chose the latter.”

I huffed a humorless laugh. “Returned to Faerie? That’s a nice way to say kidnapped.”

This time both his brows lifted. “You really want to accuse someone of kidnapping right now?”

I pressed my lips together. He had a point.

“Why here specifically?” I said, changing course. “Surely there are enough rooms in the palace that you didn’t have to bring me toyours.” Another laugh sounded from the bed, and it was definitely the cat.

Vareck smirked, ignoring the feline. “That’s what’s bothering you?”

“I never said it bothered me.”

“You didn’t need to,” he replied. I waited for him to continue, but Vareck seemed content with his non-answer.

“So—” A quiet knock at the door interrupted me.

“Vareck?” I recognized the voice as the second woman from earlier. The one called Kaia.

“Come in,” he answered, still speaking in that quietly confident tone.

The door opened and closed once more. Footsteps sounded, then a woman came into view. I eyed her warily, recognizing her instantly. She had been standing beside him at the masquerade.

“Meera, this is Kaia, the commander of the Royal Army.”

Neither of us spoke.

A smirk curled up one side of Kaia’s full mouth. “Nice to meet you, dream girl.”

My eyes flashed to Vareck’s, and he looked away, as if embarrassed.

“I wish I could say the same,” I replied after a beat. “Are you here to torture me?”

Vareck’s head snapped up while Kaia merely snorted.

“No,” he insisted.

My eyebrows drew together in confusion. “But the prince . . .”

“Vareck, can I have a word with you?” Kaia said.

He hesitated, his face unreadable when he looked me over. I’m not sure what he found there, but with a heavy sigh he got to his feet. They disappeared from view then exited the room. Muffled voices sounded from the corridor a moment later, letting me know they hadn’t truly left.

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