Page 38 of Cruelly Fated
Valor raked a hand through his hair. “I lost it. I wasn’t prepared… I’ve never tasted blood like hers…” Valor continued to dig his grave deeper. “If the circumstance repeats itself, I will be ready next time.”
I forced a dark laugh on an exhale. “There won’t be a next time.” The dragon simmered beneath my skin, changing my tone brusque.
Allie visibly shivered, her reaction blunting my rage. She wasn’t afraid of him, the fae who’d bit her. But she feared me now. And that was the last thing I wanted.
I shifted my focus. “Did you get it?”
Rhylan pushed off the wall, cocky as ever. “Of course. Your girl draws a goddamn good map,” he said with a crooked grin, glancing down at her like she was his favorite trophy. He ruffled her hair playfully.
I stiffened. Envy twisted my gut. He got to touch her, in real time, not filtered through illusion or prison glass. And I hated that.
Allie swatted his hand away, her cheeks puffy red. Was she irritated with him or embarrassed about the label he’d just dropped?
Your girl.
She avoided my gaze, so I chalked it up to his comment, which sent a surge of pleasure and desire through me. I curled my fingers into a fist under the table, willing restraint into my bones or I feared I’d say something stupid. In front of the other princes no less.
“Lawyers have already reviewed it. They’re meeting with the judge tomorrow,” Valor said in that clipped, professional tone. “They believe this evidence clears your name.”
Allie’s face contorted into confusion, then something else flickered across her expression. Hurt.
I winced. Not exactly how I wanted her to find out.
“I’d like to speak with Allie,” I said. When no one moved, I added, “Alone.”
“Oh, fine,” Rhylan groaned, pushing the door open like it was a chore. He shuffled out with a dramatic sigh.
“You were hiding this from me,” she said as soon as the door clicked shut.
“Would you have helped if you knew?”
“Yes, I would.” The way she said those words, without hesitation, stirred something in me. Even if she’d said no, I would’ve still wanted her. But this? Her honesty, her stubborn goodness, was doing things to me. Dangerous things. And I wanted her more than ever.
“So,” I said, lifting a brow, trying to disguise the fact that I suddenly couldn’t breathe around her. “There’s no problem, then.” The words came out sharper than I intended. Arrogant, even.
She’d gone to that gods-damned party, let Valor bite her, and walked away with intel that might save my life. I should be thanking her on my knees. I just…didn’t know how. In the past, I had always relied on me, myself, and I. And occasionally, Valor and Rhylan.Can I really make room for someone else in my life?
She blinked rapidly. Her eyes shimmered, full of emotion she didn’t want me to see. And just like that, my cocky attitude deflated like a dragon crashing from the sky mid-flight.
“Is this about Old Pete?” I asked.
She nodded, lips pressed together.
“Come here,” I whispered.
She shook her head.
“I’m not leaving him without protection. I want to explain.”
Her gaze filled with hope. She snared me in an illusion, and her image appeared beside me, vivid and close enough to touch. I reached for her—the illusion, the copy, whatever the hell it was—and took her small hand in mine, guiding her onto my lap.
She didn’t hesitate. Had she grown that comfortable with me? With…us?
“I’ve made an arrangement with another inmate,” I said. “He’ll watch over your grandpa if I get out.”
Our hands stayed clasped. I eased my grip slightly, silently giving her the option to pull away. She didn’t.
“Who is he?” she asked, scanning my face for any sign of deception.
