Page 96 of Spirit Trials
“I’ll walk you up.”
We’re both quiet as we head up the stairs and down the hall. I reach out to open the door to my room, and Solace goes inside. “Night, Rysden.”
“Farrah, wait.” I turn back to face him. “My fatherisevil, and I would kill him—”
“But you can’t,” I say for him. “Because it would kill your mother. I know. Honestly, I get it.”
He studies me in that intense way of his, and I wait for him. “Why are you so accepting of me?” His question kind ofblindsides me. “You could hate me for everything I’ve done to you, for who my father is, and yet you don’t. Youshouldhate me.”
“I did for a little bit,” I admit. “But I don’t judge you for your father; he’s his own person, responsible for his own actions.”
“I’m just like him,” he says quietly.
“You are nothing like your father.” My voice whips through the hallway. “And you never will be. And I get why you did what you thought you had to do in bringing me here because of your mom’s vision. Maybe just next time, talk to me first.”
“Next time?” His voice is low, and there’s a touch of humor there.
“Okay, yeah. Let’s never do that again. I do have a question for you, though.” He waits. “Why did you force me into the trials?”
“I didn’t. I had no intention of putting you in the trials; that was all my father. When he found out about you, he threatened to banish you unless you participated in the trials.”
“Why?” My voice is not nearly as calm as I hoped it would be.
“He found out that I brought an outsider in and was furious. The only way he’d allow you to stay is if you entered the trials just like everyone else. I think he thought you wouldn’t make it out alive.”
I cock an eyebrow at that. “I showed him.”
That sexy smirk is back. “Yeah, you really did, Lady Mercy.”
“Ugh,” I groan. “Not you too.”
“You earned the nickname, and now you’re stuck with it.”
“Why is everybody so obsessed with this stupid nickname?”
His face sobers. “Because nobody shows mercy in the games. Nobody.” He stares down at me. “And then you waltz in, saving people left and right, never killing, and showed everyone that there’s more than one way to win.”
I scoff. “I’m surely not the only one who doesn’t kill in the trials. I’m sure you didn’t,” I challenge.
His eyes darken. “You think I’m merciful? I’m not. You should be afraid of me.”
I laugh softly. “You are a dangerous prince with a corporal wolf at your side. And yet, you are incredibly merciful. You take care of the women and children who are in need,” I remind him. “You have a soft side, Prince.”
He stares down at me and lifts a hand. I don’t move as he pushes my braid over my shoulder and then rests his hand there. “You are the only person that sees good in me.”
My heart squeezes at his words. “No, I’m not. Those women and children do. Your mother does. The men here in this house do, and I’m sure many more do as well.” That hand reaches up and skims my cheek ever so softly.
“Don’t ever lose that, Farrah.”
“What?” I ask breathlessly.
“The ability to see good in everyone.”
His hand reaches back and clasps the back of my neck and tugs me gently forward. “There’s something I’ve been wondering about.” His words are low, and they cause a shiver to race through me.
“Yes?” I ask breathlessly.
“Are your lips as soft as they look?”
