Page 94 of Tower of Tempest
Poppy cleared her throat. “We just . . . talked.”
Talked, indeed.
We actually did need to talk, but I didn’t even know what I’d say. Almost losing Poppy as we dropped through the sky just cemented my belief that I couldn’t risk anything coming between us. Things already felt tense, off. All because I couldn’t keep my mouth off her.
“Can we speak?” Emory said abruptly, stopping and facing us. Her white-blond hair fell down to her shoulders, her matching brows pinched, her icy blue gaze fixed on Poppy. “In private? I need to ask somequestions, and no offense to you three, but I don’t know you.” She flailed her hands about, pointing to Poppy. “I mean, I don’t really know you, either, but I at least have spoken to you a handful of times.”
Poppy rose from her seat. “Yes, of course. We can go somewhere private and I’ll answer any questions you have.”
Relief passed over Emory’s face, her skin so pale, so smooth and flawless it almost looked like snow. “Great. We’ll be back shortly,” she said to the rest of us, walking out of the parlor and going to her left, Poppy trailing after her, sending us one last backward glance before disappearing.
Driscoll turned to me. “What happened on that balcony?” His eyes glittered.
“Nothing,” I said quickly.
Driscoll gave me a look that said he didn’t believe a word that came out of my mouth. “Oh please. The tension between you two is so thick it’s suffocating.”
Leoni leaned over and whispered, “Is that why you got arrested? Because you did some canoodling on a balcony like an idiot? You were supposed to be incognito.”
“Canoodling?” Driscoll asked. “You really love to burst all my fantasies, you know.” He directed his attention back to me. “Please tell me you did more than canoodle.”
“Don’t encourage this.” Leoni glared at Driscoll. “The only thing we should be focusing on right now is getting the prince’s shadow back.” Her head thunked back against the couch. “This entire thing has been a nightmare. I’m just trying to do my job.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, hating the defeat in her voice. “We’re going to get my shadow. I promise. Just after we?—”
“Prince Lochlan,” Leoni burst out. “We’re not going to get your shadow. Just admit it. It’s been one thing after another. We just need to get to the tower. We just need to rescue this woman. We just need to let her live a little. We just need to teach her to use her magic. We just need to help her find her gran. We just need to see if she’s the princess. So now what? What’s the next excuse? Why can’t we find your shadow this time?”
Her eyes blazed, and this time, instead of guilt rising inside of me, it was anger.
I jumped from the couch, fists curling at my sides. “You know what? I won’t apologize to you, because that woman out there? She needs our help. She’s in danger. The shadow king is after her, and now, the sky king is as well. She has been selfless every part of this journey. She’s offered to cook for us, clean, she offered to let you train her to impress me.”
Leoni’s face went slack for a moment.
“Oh yes, I know about that.” I looked at Driscoll. “She entertains all your gossip, listening to your stories and asking follow-up questions about the mind-numbing soap operas you spin.”
Driscoll’s mouth dropped open.
“She’s the first person to ever ask me to tell her my troubles, to make me feel like it’s okay to unburden them on her, that I don’t always have to be the happy, cheerful, teasing Loch. That sometimes, I can be the one who’s in pain. So, frankly, I don’t give a fuck about my shadow. All I care about is making sure Poppy is safe. Because that is everything. She is everything.”
Leoni and Driscoll stared at me with wide eyes, and I realized my chest was heaving, blood pumping through my veins.
“You’re in love with her,” Leoni said slowly.
“What?” I snapped, shoving a hand through my hair.
“That explains all of this. Of course it does. I thought you were just being your usual helpful self, trying to solve other people’s problems like a selfless idiot, but it’s so much more than that. You love her.”
“What in the bloody earth happened on that balcony?” Driscoll asked, leaning forward, chin propped in his hands.
I blinked a few times. Love. Holy fucking bloody water.
I sank back down between them on the couch.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Leoni asked.
“Aw, that’s cute. I don’t think he knew,” Driscoll said. “You know, we should start a matchmaking business. We’ve played a pivotal role in three unlikely romances now.”
I sank my head into my hands. How had I let this happen?
