Page 30 of The Devil In Blue
“Why?”
Every question sounded so demanding.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. For a moment, I thought of leaving it at that, but my words kept coming. “I believe I’m running out of things to fear.”
“There arealwaysthings to fear.”
She stared, analyzing me too deeply. I let her gawk. Weighty as her stare was, she was no different from everyone else.
“Did you come here seeking me?” I asked. “Did the count… did Rune tell you to watch me, too?”
Father Eli always had one of the sisters watching over me at all times. If I was some kind of captive, I suspected Rune would be no different.
“I did not come out here for you,” she said flatly.
I furrowed my brows at that until a gust of cool wind hit me in the back, driving a thick cloud of fog toward the path. It enveloped me for a moment and then swirled away. The faint scent of roses and cedar touched my nose and a familiar shudder rolled through me. Turning, I saw the man himself. Rune.
Rune’s long, blue hair was braided tightly back, displaying his pointed ears. His black wings were folded behind him.
I almost thought I imagined his wings in the dining hall.
His sapphire eyes fell on me, piercing and cold, and I froze beneath his gaze. He marched forward a couple of steps and stopped, lips slightly parted like he was surprised to see me. Then his gaze lifted to Elanor.
“What’s this?” he asked, his deep voice reminding me of the man who’d crushed my necklace, flipped a table, and pinned me to a wall by my throat in a fit of rage.
I swallowed but held my ground, recalling how many times running had not worked in the past.
Running doesn’t work when you’re surrounded by walls.
“She decided to take a walk,” Elanor said. “Petrisassured her it was allowed.”
I looked between Elanor and Rune with subtle turns of my head until both of them fell silent. Then, Elanor glided forward, the short train of her black dress dragging on the stone. She passed me, reaching out and handing Rune a small vial of clear liquid. He uncorked it with his thumb and downed the contents in one gulp before handing it back to her empty.
“You stayed too long this time,” Elanor said. “In your current state, lengthy treks can slow you.”
“My treks of late have not been long enough,” Rune said. “The Labyrinth is far too crowded and their wailing is keeping me up late.”
Elanor nodded in agreement. “Shall I prepare your bath?”
Rune’s eyes caught mine and I missed a breath when I realized he still knew I was there. I had hoped I was forgotten. I was used to it and as much as I shouldn’t have liked it, being forgotten came in handy many times before.
“Yes,” he said, still looking at me. “I’ll need one. There’s far too much filth in my realm these days.”
Elanor gave him another nod and spun gracefully, walking away and leaving me alone with him. I bristled at the memory of the dining room and felt my fingers tighten.
Being alone with men stronger than me was not unusual, but Rune was different. His presence alone was stifling and he wasn’t even touching me. I lowered my eyes, standing quietly. When he didn’t say anything, I thought perhaps he’d leave me to my wanderings in the courtyard.
But he didn’t.
He shifted, coming around to my front and facing me. Slowly, I lifted my eyes and met his icy stare.
“You should not wander these grounds alone,” he said.
“I was told I could.”
“The palace, perhaps. Everything surrounding it is hungry and you wreak of emotions they’d find very addictive.”
I had no idea what that meant but it made my pulse jump.
