Page 82 of The Curse of Golden Blood
His head tilted, the way it always used to when I was about to say something serious.
"If something happens to me,” I said softly, “I want you to do something for me.”
“Don’t say that.” Tomos shook his head, the gesture sharp. “Nothing will happen to you.”
“If something does.” I looked at him, holding hisgaze. “Promise me.”
He paused, then nodded slowly. “Fine.”
I took a deep breath. “Protect Pelbie. To keep her safe no matter what. I don’t want her to get caught in the crossfire of whatever is coming.”
He looked at me for a long moment, then nodded again. “I promise.”
I smiled, but it was strained. The weight of everything was pressing down on me, and I could feel the cracks starting to form.
I looked over at Zydar, standing by the door, his face half in shadow. He wasn’t looking at Tomos. He was looking at me. Through me. Like he was trying to find the version of me that didn’t belong to anyone else. His expression gave nothing away, but his presence coiled around my lungs like iron wire.
I looked away before it broke me.
I turned back to Tomos, forcing the smile back into place. “I’m glad I can count on you.”
His brow furrowed slightly, as if he could feel how much of that smile was a lie. Then, gently, his hand lifted, cupping my cheek.
His thumb traced just beneath my eye, a touch far too soft for this place. I didn’t pull away. Couldn’t. For one breathless second, I just let it happen. Let him hold the shattered pieces of me like they weren’t already slipping through his fingers.
I turned my face—reflex, instinct—and my gaze snagged on the shadow by the door.
Zydar.
He stood there, half in shadow, still as stone. His eyes were fixed on Tomos’s hand, the touch gentle, too gentle. A muscle ticked in Zydar’s jaw.
Reckless, dazed, I turned back to Tomos, the movement deliberate, and covered his hand with mine.
Zydar’s eyes went black. He looked away, jaw still clenched tight.
Tomos’s thumb brushed my cheekbone, soft, comforting. He didn’t know. He couldn’t see what was happening.
Zydar was jealous.
It was the only explanation. He was jealous of Tomos’s touch. Lulled by the touch of his hand, I turned my face into Tomos’s hand like a cat seeking comfort.
I felt Zydar like a black sun in the back of my head, blotting out everything else. His emotions were a tangle of electricity. A swarm of bees stinging the roof of my mouth. The hair on the nape of my neck stood up. My heart rate skipped and spiked.
There were too many sensations happening at the same time and none of them felt familiar. Any more and my body would collapse. I had to get a grip on the feelings flooding my system. I closed my eyes.
"Enough bloodletting for the day," Tomos said as he gestured towards the healer and his apprentice to come near.
The fae male took up the needle and removed it from my wrist. He placed it onto a tray and began to gather the supplies.
"Zy..." I whispered, attempting to quash down the plea as the desperation swept over my chest. But it only made the pounding of my heart unbearable.
I looked over at him, hoping beyond hope that he had heard it. But he was gone. Somehow, while I'd been getting poked and prodded with needles, I had missed him exiting the room.
My throat tightened as a lump formed in the back of my throat. I didn't know what I had been expecting, but his absence had not been it.
"Are you all right, Miralyte?"
I blinked, turning back to Tomos, who was watching me with a furrowed brow. "What? Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."
