Page 8 of All the Pain of Promises
Narissa was crying.
Fuck.
He approached her slowly, as to not frighten her, and tucked his hands behind his back. “Rissa.”
She spun around and his lungs seized.
She was tragically beautiful. Dark damp lashes framed her frozen green eyes. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were rosyfrom the cold, and when her glossy bottom lip quivered, he wanted to bite it between his teeth to keep it from trembling. He longed to reach out and tuck one of those loose strands of hair back behind her delicately pointed ear. He wanted to capture her face and kiss her until such sadness no longer haunted her, until she was warm, and soft, and wanton in his arms.
But stubborn pride kept his hands firmly behind his back, fists clenched.
“Forgive me, my lord.” Narissa sniffled, then hiccuped, swiping hastily at her cheeks. “I just…I needed…”
She waved one hand furiously between them. “Air.”
Solarius rocked back onto his heels, the corner of his mouth tugging upward. “I’m rather fond of air myself.”
She ignored his quip, continuing to wipe the tears from her cheeks before they could turn into pearls. She huffed out a breath, the air misting before her, and hugged her arms around her body, swaying toward him.
Solarius gently cupped her by the elbow, steadying her. “Perhaps we should retire for the evening?”
That wasdefinitelythe wrong thing to say.
Narissa blinked and her icy green gaze narrowed. She damn near froze his heart from the inside out with those eyes.
“Oh yes,” she drawled, her siren-like voice slurring on the words. “Of course.”
She attempted to yank her elbow free from his hold, but Solarius only tightened his grip and dragged her closer.
“Best to get the deed over with then, hm?” She smacked at his chest with her other hand in a pathetic attempt for release. “Make it well and truly official?”
“Narissa…” he warned, but this time when she yanked away from him, he let her go. For every few stumbling steps she took, he closed the distance between them in one stride.
“It’s fine.” She drew the word out and waved another flippant hand through the air. “I’ll go to your bed willingly since it is now my duty as your wife but expect nothing else from me.”
Did she actually think he would bed herunwillingly?
Solarius frowned as he stalked across the balcony after her. “Wait just a damn minute, if you think?—”
Narissa whirled on him, hair flying like golden ribbons, snow clinging to her lashes, and the pale green of her eyes burned hot with defiance.
“Rest assured, my lord. I am quite used to males spreading my thighs to take what they want, then leaving me before the sun breaks the horizon.”
The fuck?
Solarius drew up short. His chest expanded on a breath of rage, and fury pumped through his veins. If someone had taken advantage of Narissa, if someone had dared to lay a hand upon her, they would know his wrath. All he needed was a name and he would end them without hesitation.
“Who?” he demanded, reaching for her arm.
But Narissa dodged his grasp, and the look she sent him was one of pure loathing.“You.”
Before he could require an explanation as to what in the blazing stars she was talking about, Narissa was already spinning away and stomping, albeit stumbling, back toward the ballroom.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Solarius lunged and snared her by the waist, hauling her back. “You’ve already made quite the spectacle of yourself this evening.”
He twisted her in his arms so she faced him, then scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” She swatted at his back, but honestly, he would have been in more pain if he’d been attacked by a swarm of butterflies.
