Page 26 of Queen of Ashes and Scars
He squints at me as though he’s seeing me, truly seeing me, for the first time. “No, you’re not.” He curls a hand around my neck, pulling me to him, our lips a hair apart. “In the shadow world, creatures respond to blood and pain. The real question, my dark rose, is are you cruel enough to reign?”
Chapter13
Diamond
LEO
Hadria never changes. Every islander wishes for time to stop when they leave for the mainland, longing for the comfort and reassurance to find their childhood world unchanged when they visit, but in my case, it’s actually true. Hadria is one of the few places both cursed and protected by demons, and the locals traded in the thrills of modern life for security.
Tourists seldom visit here, the whole island is owned by the Delacroix, big commerce and hotel chains barred from entering our world. Crime is nonexistent, aside from the occasional pleasure bite gone wrong, far-between incidents that spark gossip and curious whispers more than uproar.
As I was growing up, I would hear the stories… I even sneaked into a bar one night to catch a glimpse of a vampire, but I’d never imagined I’d be the subject of those tattle tales myself.
It’s unreal to be back.
The princess’ mark at the back of my ear heats up in the morning sun, and I rub it down absent-mindedly as I weave through the deserted streets to reach the town square. It’s too early for children to run through the maze of back alleys behind the shops. The smell of fresh bread embalms the air, coming from Antoine’s bakery, bringing back vivid memories of the countless times I ran to the little school tucked behind the church.
Old-timer Luke stops sweeping his front steps as I walk by. Deep wrinkles appear at the corner of his eyes, and he removes his hat, greeting me with respect, his other hand clenched around the handle of his broom. I pick up the pace and rush up the first flight of steps leading up the hill when a familiar head of blonde hair stops me dead in my tracks.
At the top of the white steps leading to the library perched above the square stands my ex-fiancé, her back to me as she struggles to twist her keys into the library’s front door.
I didn’t expect to see Zara again. After all, she lived in our apartment on the mainland, eager to finish her bachelor degree in history. She hates visiting the island, and for a moment, I wonder if I’m hallucinating.
She drops her keys, and the heavy bunch falls to the street with a loudthunk. Zara curses under her breath, and the familiarity of her voice slashes through me like a whip of thunder. A flashy diamond shines on her left hand and turns my legs to lead.
I hear nothing. See nothing. Feel nothing.
Numb to the core, I stare at the ring on her finger without blinking, frozen in place while she hurries down the three little steps and bends to pick up her keychain. The motion causes her to turn, and she freezes, her keys forgotten on the ground as she stands back up.
“Leo! What—How?” She tilts her head to the side, tip-toeing closer like she can’t believe what she’s seeing either.
Air blows out of my lungs, and my soles scratch on the stone pavement. I take a hurried step backward.
“Leo?”
I shake off the urge to run. “We’re staying on the island for a few days.”
She stares at me, her voice thick with disbelief. “I didn’t expect—”
“Clearly,” I clip, unable to look away from the diamond.
She brings her left hand to her chest as though she’s been stung, covering up the fancy, overstated stone. Her eyes drop to the ground. “It’s not—”
“I can’t stay and chat. Mum’s waiting for me.” I summon a polite smile, my lips hurting from the effort, and climb the steps two at a time.
Don’t follow me. Don’t follow me. Don’t—
“Leo, wait!”
My heart hammers in my chest, useless and exhausted. I want to scream. I’ve been gone less than a month, how can she have moved on already? How can she beengaged?
I pause and spin around, already several steps higher than her, the shadows of the building ending right in front of her feet. She tents her hand and holds it above her eyes to shield herself from the sun. “It—it just happened.”
“You live your life, Zara. I’m happy for you.”
It flows out of my mouth smoother than I could have hoped for, my clenched fists the only physical clue that I’m about to explode.
I told her to forget about me.
