Page 38 of A Story of Sinners

Ryken huffed. “Just open your present.”

My breath caught when I lifted the lid, and the gleaming shine of a ring met my vision. I lifted it from the plush velvet interior and held it to the candlelight, examining the large jewel at the center—a diamond.

“A ring?”

His hand rubbed against the back of his neck, and a light blush crested his cheeks. “It’s what mortals give their intended, isn’t it?”

My head tilted as I studied the ring of silver and gold. Tiny, multicolored stones lined its sides. It was a beautiful work of art, the craftsmanship impeccable. “It is. What do fae give?”

“Rings.”

I cupped it in the palm of my hand, noticing the fae script engraved on the underside. “What does it say?”

“My name,” he answered, clearing his throat. “Forever and always.”

My lips tilted at the expression of embarrassment he bore, but I tried to hide my humor. Replacing my almost-smile with a straight face, I ventured to the small jewelry box at the top of my nightstand and returned to the table with a golden chain. I slid the ring onto the chain and wrapped it around my neck. Unable to clasp the necklace, I locked eyes with him and spun around.

He moved, fingers grasping the clasp to lock it into place. His breath tickled the back of my neck, his touch quick to disappear. I swirled back around to find him staring at the ring nestled near my heart.

“Do you accept it?” Ryken asked, his eyes still glued to the ring.

I fiddled with the chain and raised a brow. “I clearly don’t reject it.”

“Good,” he responded, tearing his gaze away. “Aiden claims he will remove the cuffs around your wrist at the end of the week, but for now, you are defenseless. I’ll keep close watch over you, but I’ve been informed George will keep primary watch. I’ve been told we can only arrange quick visits, but that is up for debate.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, examining the stones as I cleared my throat. “It’s beautiful.”

“I have items to attend to, but I will stay here after dinner tonight. In public, you apparently still need to play along with Aiden. His fate lies in your hands, though. Whatever you wish to be done to him will be done. Just say the word,” Ryken declared and rose from the chair, making his way to the door.

With his back facing me, he looked back and said in a barely intelligible whisper, “I promise you, our bond isn’t a trick of the fates. If I have to spend a lifetime proving that, then I will.”

Then, he left me to my thoughts and that empty burning in my chest, and I knew the connection between us wasn’t a trick, even if I wanted it to be.

Chapter16

Dahlia

It was time for the show. The ladies in waiting had dressed me in a gown that exposed small glimpses of my midriff and chest, yet left my arms covered. This time, though, the flowing skirt provided a little extra flexibility for movement. The skirt still contained the same slashes that offered small glimpses of leg, but the slits were less deep. Overall, the outfit was considerably modest compared to what I’d been wearing of late. Aiden seemed to be walking a thin line between keeping up appearances and avoiding upsetting Ryken.

Gabriella and I had once again been seated together, and so far, we hadn’t been separated, despite our in-depth conversations.

“He looks possessed,” she whispered, referring to Malachi as he and his shades approached their designated table. His presence had pressed down on the ballroom, filling the air with a suffocating feeling of fright. The other shades did little to improve matters. Their light blue skin appeared wan in the candlelight; a tone that seemed to be much better suited for absolute darkness. Their wings were stretched out behind them, dark and shredded, as they took their seats.

In comparison, Malachi looked beautiful, albeit haunted, with those dark pink circles beneath his lids. Fatigue was his natural look, but it did nothing to ease the aggressiveness of his sharp jawline or intimidating appearance.

It was a wonder he’d managed to survive for thousands of years in a world that was truly not his own. I suppose he made it his own, though, by killing any threat that stood in his way, my father included.

Once they took their seats, food was laid out before them, but neither him nor his party of shades took a single bite.

Brandon’s breath whispered against my ear. “Do they eat food or only souls for dinner?”

I shrugged him off and continued watching them, unable to tear my gaze away. Malachi needed to eat to survive, or at least that was the case when we were children. As for the creatures alongside him, I was unsure. Who knew what sustenance they needed for survival?

They didn’t speak to one another, at least not with words, but judging by the motions of their heads and acknowledgement in their eyes, they had an alternative way of communication. Not that Malachi took part in the silent conversation between his winged counterparts—he had spent the past few moments enraptured with my every movement, tracking the motions of my hands as I ate and drank, studying the movement of my lips as Gabriella and I conversed. He sat on the edge of his seat, waiting apprehensively for something. He hadn’t blinked, not even once. It was deeply unnerving.

I shook the feeling of his gaze from my shoulders and turned to Gabriella. “He’s observing. Always.”

“Well, he’s very unsettling.” She swallowed and moved for her wine, chugging it down.

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