Page 158 of The Princesses of Ruin
I shake my head and put my attention back on my trousers.
“I have to go. My country needs me.”
He sets the steaming tray of eggs and fresh bread on the nightstand.
“I know. I—I’ve been waiting for you to tell me when it was time to go. I’m okay. I’m ready to go.”
My chest hurts. I sit on the bed and lean down to grab my boots.
“You’re not coming.”
“Why not? I thought I showed you, I proved I was good enough,” he says and the words break me.
Of course he’s good enough. He’stoogood.
Neither of those things will put him off.
“You’re good enough for the labs here. Good enough for the bureaucracy of Fynren. The wilds will eat you alive.”
“I can help with Wolfsheim, with whatever you need,” he says. “I’m stronger now, and I’ll keep getting better.”
I stuff my prosthetic into my boot, wincing at the pain around my knee.
“Let me put salve on it,” Adrik says as he drops to his knees in front of me.
Just let him come. Be selfish. Be in love.
You’re not good enough.
He reaches for my boot. I push his hand away and keep lacing.
“I don’t need another hang-about chasing me down the docks.”
Each word strikes with the tying of my boots. It hurts me to deliver them, but it’s the only way to keep him safe.
He doesn’t say anything as he gets off his knees.
I finish tying the laces, but I don’t want to look up. I make an excuse by moving my pants around, making sure the hem aligns with the top of my boots. I fiddle with the dagger holster on my thigh to waste more time, but he still hasn’t said anything.
Fuck.
I look up at him, and it’s not the large, innocent eyes I was expecting.
No…it’s cold, narrowed eyes. A gaze that cuts through me.
“Liar.” He whispers the one word like a curse.
Drive it home, Em. Keep him safe.
“Honestly, I can’t believe you ever thought I’d invite you aboard my ship. You’re a walking hazard. You’ve never even been out to sea—”
“I have!” he declares, loudly. “Once, when I was brought here as a slave.”
I laugh coldly, though my heart is breaking. “Empathy tactics. Really? Didn’t you learn anything from the Spiders?”
His eyes glisten. “Emillia, you’re not acting like the woman I love.”
Love.
