Page 22 of The Curse of a Kingdom
Now this “younger” version of him threw her off. He was a bit more direct and guarded. He had no clue who or what she was to him but was clearly feeling something. Much like what she had dealt with a year prior, except they hadn’t fully formed the connection then.
“That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard,” she said. “If that was the case, why don’t you lock me away somewhere else, far away from you?”
He clenched his jaw. “Maybe I will.”
She took a step closer and challenged him. “Do it—but just so it’s out in the open, I believe you are under a spell. But I sure as hell didn’t put it on you.”
“What do you mean?”
Nava turned around and started off toward the dining area, following the scent of food and baked goods. “I have no reason to say anything since you won’t believe me either way.”
She was ready to put distance between the two of them after letting part of the truth out. Nava clutched her stomach, trying to bring warmth back into her body.
* * *
The dining room was grand and meant to hold large gatherings. The scent of roasted pork, potatoes, and something buttery draped over her, making her stomach rumble as she took in the variety of dishes in front of her. Maybe she was hungrier than she’d thought.
Dark stained wood wainscoting encased the bottom half of the room’s walls, and vibrant painted murals decorated the top, depicting scenes of hunting, woodland animals, and fae surrounded by shadows. A long wooden table occupied the center of the room, carved with intricate patterns and motifs. The room was mostly empty except for a group of Dark Ones who were sitting together while they talked in hushed tones.
All of them stood at once as soon as they noticed Arkimedes had entered the room. Their wings were of various shapes and colors. Soft gray mist emanated from their bodies, almost like they were starting to catch on fire.
“Your Highness.” They bowed as one, keeping their shifting expressions low.
Nava studied the mood in the room, unsure if it was reverence or marked with a tinge of fear. The prickle in her skin intensified as soon as their gazes landed on her. She swallowed and slowed to a stop as she tried to avoid fidgeting.
“Please take a seat,” Arkimedes said to the fae, and even though all of them sat at once, the room stayed quiet. The tension was palpable, and she startled when Arkimedes’s breath hit the side of her neck, awakening goose bumps down her body. “You may sit next to me.” His voice was like honey and sex all in one.
Her lips parted at the same time her body grew warm, longing pooling in her stomach. Still, she had to keep her head on her shoulders if she was going to survive the night. “Would that be near the king?”
“Are you afraid of sitting close to the king? He won't hurt you, you are my guest.”
“Right . . . I’d rather not.”
“Are you afraid of me?”
She met his gaze, trying to decipher his turbulent expression. “No. I’m not. Does that disappoint you?”
“Yes, and no.” His lips twitched into a shadow of a smile. Nava got the impression he was more surprised she didn't fear him when everyone else around him always did.
Even if Arkimedes believed that his father wouldn't get rid of her, she wasn't so naïve as to count on it. How was she supposed to get him away from this kingdom before the king got rid of her?
A portal could be their only way out of here. She had to get the bracelet off Devon, so he could open another one. They might be able to leave and explain to her soulmate the truth at a later date.
Would that make her any different from the king? Kidnapping Arkimedes when he didn’t remember her? Her shoulders sagged as she lost some of her gumption.
Nava couldn’t do it. Neither could she tell him they were soulmates. He would just send her away, and that wasn’t an option.
She might have to camp in the forest nearby, biding her time, like he’d done for a decade when her mother took her away. She didn’t have Arkimedes’s patience.
Maybe the only option would be to convince him to leave with them, to help him remember.
His hand hovered near her lower back. However, he held himself back from that intimate touch. A day ago, that touch would’ve been as easy as breathing for either of them. The sudden loss of it had her heartache growing.
It was then that she caught sight of Devon, standing by one of the large windows, staring at them from afar. He wore a dark blue tunic with silver embroidery down the lapels of it.
“Finally, you two. I started getting worried,” he said with an indifference that didn't match his words. “I see who gets the preferential treatment here.”
“It’s not you he mistrusts,” Nava whispered.
