Page 8 of A Reflection of Lies and Truth

Tears prick at my eyes at those four simple words—those truths that Asha had tried to steal from me. But she couldn’t. Because my time with Jasce was real.

It had to be. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here right now, risking everything just to be with me.

“It was real.” I frame his face with shaking hands, feeling the rough stubble along his jawline beneath my fingertips.

A crease forms between his brow. “What was?”

“Our time together when I was Lyra.”

“Of course it was real,” he assures me. “Did someone tell you it wasn’t?”

My heart clenches at the memory of Asha’s words, the way she had tried to make me doubt everything I had experienced. “Yes.”

He traces my jawline again with a feather-light caress, his fingertips barely grazing my skin. “It was very real, Annora.”

Before I can respond, a sudden clattering noise erupts from the hallway outside my chamber door.

Jasce leans down, capturing my mouth in a swift, crushing kiss that steals the breath from my lungs. It’s a possessive, commanding kiss, the kind that sends tingles racing through my body and heat pooling in my center.

Then, as quickly as he kissed me, he pulls away and speaks in a husky voice near my ear. “I’ll be back for you.”

My heart flutters as he turns and strides to the window. In one smooth, fluid motion, he slips over the sill and melts into the shadows of the night, leaving me breathless and aching in all the areas only he can ease.

I press my trembling hand against my chest, feeling the rapid thud beneath my palm as I gulp in quick, shallow breaths.

A knock against my door startles me, and I nearly jump out of my skin.

Get it together, Annora.

“Annora, I want to speak to you,” Asha calls out from the other side of the door.

My body still hums with the memory of Jasce’s kiss as I hurry to the washing stand and splash water on my flushed skin, hoping it will lessen the heat that seems to radiate from every pore.

After a moment, I pat my face dry with a cloth and steel myself before turning to the door and whatever conversation Asha is determined to have with me.

ChapterFour

ANNORA

Asha smilesat me and steps into the room. “I thought we could talk now that Emerin and Tahira have retired for the night.”

I nod and move to my bed. Asha follows me and sits next to me on the feather mattress.

“I love you, Rora,” she starts, her voice laced with a tenderness that makes my heart swell. “I only want what’s best for you.”

She reaches out and clasps my hand in hers, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“I love you too, Ash.” I tighten my grip, wishing we could go back to when we were younger. Before our father left and our mother started consuming that vile flower.

Things were different then.

Asha was different.

I was different.

“And I’ve been thinking,” she continues, “you should consider marrying someone from our house.”

Knots form in my throat as I imagine a faceless man from our house standing at the altar, waiting for me. Instantly, my mind rebels, painting instead the image of Jasce.

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