Page 55 of Revert
“No, it was mine.” He was quiet for a few more steps before he finally continued. “I wanted to speak with you. Forgive me for not being there when you first awoke. I had…necessary business to attend to.” There was hesitation behind the words, as if the duties he spoke of had cost him something. I searched his face curiously.
“And those responsibilities weren’t so pressing as the necessity to speak with me?”
“After yesterday, can you doubt?” Castiel’s gaze flicked to the bandage strategically concealed beneath the layers of silk, the only evidence to the attempt on my life. Pain filled his eyes, quiet and unspoken. “I needed…to see how you were.”
I offered a wry smile, a disguise for the secret thrill I felt at the effort he’d expended just to ask a simple question that could have come through a servant. “Well, I’m alive.”
He heaved a quiet sigh, soft with relief. “Not a moment goes by since yesterday that I’m not grateful for that fact. How is your wound?”
“It’s fine, thanks to you.” Oddly, it wasn’t an empty reassurance. The ache that had haunted me since the attack had dimmed, barely noticeable in his presence. It made no logical sense, and yet here with him, the pain felt far away.
He hesitated, then reached into his cloak pocket, withdrawing a small porcelain jar with a cork wedged into its mouth. His movements were shy, almost uncertain as he held it out to me.
I uncorked it gently, revealing a careful mixture of crushed herbs and dried petals. The scent told me what it was before I asked—a healing poultice, likely made with his own hands.
I glanced up at him, startled. He didn’t meet my eyes, the faint blush touching his cheeks speaking more than words ever could.
Warmth bloomed in my chest. “Thank you,” I said softly.
He cleared his throat. “There’s been no mention of the attack. If the king knows—and he surely does—he’s gone out of his way to suppress it.” His voice had slipped back into formality, but it felt like a shield, a way to steady himself against his fluster.
“For what reason?” I asked.
His jaw tightened. “Appearances. He’s good at…erasing unpleasant things.” By the tension along his brow, it looked like there was more he wanted to say, but caution held him back.
Normally I would have accepted this dictated silence, but the security I felt with him emboldened me. “So…is he…the one responsible?” I kept my voice as low as possible for him to still hear me.
He frowned. “At first glance. Yet something about…theeventunsettled me; it was almost too sloppy, not how His Majesty usually does things, even if the assassin was someone close to the king. If not for the risk in keeping the culprit alive, I would have interrogated him. At least he’ll never threaten you again.”
“Close to the king?” My voice rose, and we both shot a nervous glance towards the palace.
Castiel leaned close to my ear, his voice scarcely more than a breath. “Lord Ravenhurst.”
I inhaled sharply, recalling the masked man Castiel had warned me about at the masquerade…one of the king’s advisors.
“So itwasthe king?” I mouthed.
Castiel sighed and shook his head slightly. “I’m not sure. It doesn’t seem like his style.”
Much as I mistrusted the king, I had to agree. Despite my own frustration at the unknown the assassin had left in their wake, the risk had been too great.
It would have been too risky, but the death that had narrowly missed me left behind more questions than answers…questions whose truths should have been clear. The king remained my greatest threat, and though he was dangerous, it was the unseen enemy that terrified me more.
“Are you frightened?” he asked quietly.
I shook my head. Though I had every reason to be, fear for myself had dulled in his presence…though another had risen to take its place. “Will there be any unforeseen consequences for publicly siding with one His Majesty has deemed his enemy?”
He slowed, eyebrows raising in surprise. “Are you worried for me?”
My cheeks flushed as I looked away, but the warmth of my blush was nothing compared to the heat of his touch as he gently hooked his fingers beneath my chin, guiding my gaze back to his. His dark eyes held mine, awash in a tenderness so deep I thought I might drown in it.
“Even if you ordered it, I have no intention of leaving your side. I was able to accommodate your wishes for the duration of our courtship these past five years, but in this instance I can’t.”
His meaning settled over me. “You’ve been avoiding me…because you thought that’s what I wanted?”
He hesitated. “Partially. I know you don’t enjoy spending time with me, but I can’t entrust your safety to anyone else.”
“That’s not true.” I blinked, surprised by the unexpected words…and what they revealed. Somewhere between the death that had sent me back and this moment, the fear and resentment I once harbored had changed, reverted. Without realizing it, I had begun towantto be near him.
