Page 119 of A Storm in Every Heart
“I thought you had fun last night.”
“I did, but that’s all it was, right? Fun. Tomorrow I’ll be going back to Vernallis.”
His dark eyes trace over me intently, and I can see on his face that he’s thinking hard. Steeling himself for something.
“But what if you didn’t have to leave?” he says finally, more of a statement than a question. “I thought perhaps you could stay longer. Your family can stay too, of course, as guests of the palace.”
My pulse pounds in my ears, and my vision blurs, darkening on the edges. “Why?”
“Because I want you to.”
“You hardly know me.”
Anyone else would flush with embarrassment, but Kastian is far too direct for that. He looks entirely unabashed. “I’ve known you for three days. Isn’t that how long you said? Anyway, I’m not suggesting we get engaged today.”
“No.” I shake my head again, panic rising in my voice. “This isn’t going to work.”
Prince Kastian grabs my hand, whirling me around so I’m forced to look him in the eye. “Why? Is it about becoming royal? You don’t have to worry about that. You’ll make a good princess. You’re already better suited to being royal than I am, and I have three sisters who can help you.”
My lungs seize. This can’t be happening. He’s thinking about a future. With me. And I can’t stop picturing all the ways it might end. All the ways I’m destined to ruin him.
“I can’t?—”
He still doesn’t understand, because his hand tightens on mine. “I’m not asking you for forever. Not now. Not unless you want it. You’re right that we don’t know each other well, but there’s something here. I like you. I just…don’t want you to go.”
My throat is on fire. “This is dangerous,” I croak. “Us. It’s not?—”
He takes a slow step closer, and his hand is warm and trustworthy where it meets my skin. “What’s dangerous about liking someone?”
I nearly choke. “You don’t understand.”
He steps even closer. “Then explain it to me.”
He’s so close now I can feel the heat of him through my blanket and his coat thrown over my shoulders, and for a second the world tips. I want to lean in. I want to pull him to me and never let go, but the warning is pounding in my skull:
When a siren loves, she loves down to the bone. All that’s left to decide is who you’re willing to hurt.
If I’m going to hurt someone, I don’t want it to be him.
I gather the blanket tighter and force myself to meet his eyes.
I’ve hardly ever done this before—only a few times, mostly by accident, when I really wanted to get out of lessons for the day or to have some trinket from the local shops. I suddenly wish I’d thought to ask the siren how it works while I had the chance, but there’s no use in regretting it now.
I push the siren song into my voice and use that coaxing note. “You shouldn’t trust me. You shouldn’t want me.”
Kastian’s eyes narrow in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
A tiny spark of panic lights in my chest. Maybe I’m not doing this right. It isn’t working.
I suck in a breath and try harder, stepping closer so I can more easily stare into his eyes. “Stay away from me.”
Again, I’m not sure it’s working. He’s staring at me, but it’s not with that vacant look I’ve seen a handful of times before. Or is it? His face has gone blank. Slack. Unreadable.
“Is that what you really want?” he asks finally.
I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Yes, that’s what I want. I want you to never speak to me again. Stay far away from me. Nothing would make you happier.”
He blinks a few times, and when he answers his voice is flat and emotionless. “As you wish.”
