Page 127 of A Promise of Peridot
He set the book down and took me in as I sat, watching with interest when I ripped a piece of bread and let the sweet, light flavor melt in my mouth. I couldn’t meet his eyes. His beautiful eyes, like glittering, moonlit water kissed by the stars.
When his silence became unbearable, and my chewing too loud in my ears, I looked down at bluebell-colored fabric and said, “Thank you for the dress, too. It’s lovely. And the boots. You didn’t have to do all that.”
Kane shrugged, sipping his coffee. “Your clothes were still damp this morning. And you haven’t had boots since Azurine. I wanted some fresh air anyway...”
“You woke up and made two fires, went shopping, marketing, and cooked breakfast...” I glanced around. The fog outside made it hard to tell what hour it was. “Did I sleep very late?”
“No, no.” If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he looked... bashful. “It’s only six.”
“Six!”
Kane shrugged. “I woke early.”
I shook my head. He was another breed, this man.
“That’s why the bread is so fresh. It was made an hour ago.”
I nodded, eating another mouthful.
And another.
Adrenaline sliding along my bones, I reached for his hand, only to think better of it and bring my fingers down to the skirt of my new dress, twisting the soft material. “Thank you.”
“You keep saying that.”
I blushed. “I keep feeling it. I’m grateful for everything. For youstaying with me. For helping me admit—” I swallowed hard. “Well, just for helping me.”
He only nodded, eyes sliding over mine, across my face, along my neck.
I shivered.
“Arwen,” he said, and my breath hitched. “A raven came from Shadowhold this morning.”
Nerves seized my heart. “Is Mari all right?”
“Everyone is fine. They’re all there, actually.”
“Griffin, Mari, and Fedrik?”
“And your siblings, Amelia, Dagan...”
“What? Why?”
“Broderick and Isolde feared being aligned with us in the eyes of our enemies. The letter from Eardley said they sent anyone with meaningful ties to Onyx back days ago. Their ship arrived late last night.”
“Why didn’t they tell us when they made the decision to do so?”
“Perhaps Isolde realized I killed her repugnant friend. Knowing her, she’d still not want to risk our wrath. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“And the other refugees? From Peridot and Onyx?”
Kane’s answering nod was grim. “Everyone. They feared ‘symbolic association.’ ” Kane muttered under his breath, “Cowards.”
All those people staying in Shadowland. All that effort to get them somewhere safer—
“There’s no way Citrine will help us now...” I sank back into my seat a little, pushing the still-warm cloverbread away from me.
Queen Isolde and King Broderick were quick to take care of their own, everyone else be damned. Fedrik alone couldn’t change theirminds. Who knew if he’d even attempt to after I told him I wouldn’t be returning to Citrine with him? At least, not without Kane.
