Page 1 of All the Pain of Promises
CHAPTER ONE
Solarius Starstorm’s wedding was perfect.
It was small and quiet, exactly how he would’ve preferred it, and the sun was already making its descent across the western sky, leaving ribbons of sapphire between stretches of gray clouds. He bristled against the stiff gust of wind that came in off the coast, carrying the scent of the sea, where the waves capped in frothy white peaks. Bouquets of white roses, frosted red berries, and green ferns topped with stardust shivered in the frigid breeze, while bundles of carved driftwood were aglow with faerie fire, spitting flames into the coming night to make certain everyone attending stayed warm. He hadn’t expected it to be quite so cold, butsomeonehad demanded they marry on a beach even though it was nearly the damn Winter Solstice.
Unfortunately, that was exactly where Solarius found himself now.
On a beach, his new boots sunk into blush-pink sand, while tiny snowflakes tumbled down from the early evening sky like pieces of forgotten lace.
Again, it was a pretty fucking perfect wedding, save for one minor detail.
His bride.
Lady Narissa Seaborne wasnotthe female Solarius wanted to marry.
In fact, if he’d gotten his way, he would have remained a bachelor for the rest of his days, because it never failed that any time he found himself romantically involved with a female, he always ended up with a broken heart. Sure, he’d shattered plenty of hearts along the way, but at least he was up-front in the matter. Before he warmed any beds or found himself between the thighs of a willing female, he made sure each of them knew he would be gone before dawn. He never stayed long, waiting until they were gently dozing in his arms before making his stealthy escape. But the two times he’d wanted more, the two times he’d been almost desperate to claim one female for the rest of his life, he’d had his heart ripped from his chest. Gutted. Smashed. Stomped upon as though it were muck during a summer rainstorm.
And Narissa Seaborne just so happened to be one of the two who had ruined him.
But it was fine.
Nothing a bottle of spiced whiskey and mindless sex with a needy female wouldn’t fix.
He supposed if it had been anyone else standing across from him, he might have been a little keener on the idea of marriage. Especially since he had no say in the matter. If only his eldest brother had seen fit to match him up with a darling wife whose charm and demeanor were practically confectionary. She would have a sugarplum smile and bake sweetly decadent desserts, and perhaps most importantly, she would enjoy his company both in and out of the bedroom. But alas, Ariesian had chosen to curse him with the one female in all of Aeramere who absolutely hated him.
And Narissa, stars bless her, was neither sweet nor enjoyable.
She was an ocean made of fire.
Tumultuous and dangerous.
Instead of worrying about whether he’d gain too much weight by eating whatever tasty little treats she made, he was more concerned with whether or not she planned on poisoning him tonight. As he’d most recently learned, she was rather adept and quite skilled in the art of potions and herbs.
And now, as he stared down into her eyes that reminded him of frostbitten seas, he wondered what the fuck he did wrong.Shewas the one who destroyed the beautiful thing between them, she was the one who wrecked him, who drove a dagger of cold iron right into his heart. Yet somehow, she had the nerve, the absolute audacity, to act as though it was all his fault.
Solarius scoffed.
He wasn’t the one who had been caught tangled in satin sheets with someone else.
Even as the unbidden thought stole into his mind, the even more unwanted memory came with it, and he gritted his teeth.
He blinked, shoving it away, back into the dark depths of his tortured soul where it belonged. Steadying himself, he took a breath, hating the way his lungs seized the moment his gaze landed on her again.
Stars, she was fucking beautiful.
Her wedding gown reminded him of crushed aquamarine, it glittered and sparkled in the rise of hazy moonlight. The sleeves were long and sheer, ballooning down her arms before tapering at her delicate wrists. It cut low, swooping across her bosom, embellished with swirls and incandescent gems. Tiny snowflakes clung to her lashes and her long, golden waves. She’d pinned half of her hair back, and woven pale pink flowers into the tresses and twisted plaits. Despite the frosty temperature,she still looked kissed by the sun, her cheeks rosy and sea swept. Gold rings, some of them studded with turquoise stones, adorned her thumbs and fingers, though one finger in particular remained bare.
He supposed he’d have to remedy that at some point, but if she didn’t force the issue or seem too bothered to go without one, then he was in no hurry to make such a bold claim. Everyone who was anyone in Aeramere knew he was getting married, anyway. A ring on Narissa’s finger wouldn’t change anything.
But then she smiled up at him, and it was so radiant, so positively arresting that for a moment, he forgot himself. Her tempting scent of exotic florals, sandalwood, and the sea lured him, beckoned him. Solarius almost reached for her. It would’ve been so easy to wrap one arm around her waist and drag her flush against him, but instead he shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels, away from her.
Something cold plunged straight into his chest.
Regret. Anguish.
He couldn’t be sure.
He was too distracted by her glossy lips. They were painted a pearly pink color and when they curved, all he could focus on was imagining how they would taste. Like strawberry cream candy. Or maybe fizzy fruit wine. But then she spoke, and her words knocked him right back into the reality he didn’t want to endure.
