A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(54)

“No more secrets.” My hands trembled as I straightened my spine and tried to force myself not to look weak. “I have agreed to this marriage, but there can be no more secrets.”

“Of course.” Evren’s hand tightened in his shirt. “Of course, princess. Anything you want.”

“Why did my father wear this pendant?” I fingered the crescent moon as I asked.

“I don't know, but Queen Kaida was adamant that she could use it to sway you. She was adamant that Gavril could use it against you if he had to.”

“I can feel it.” I looked up at him, and he was still watching me. “That was how I found it on your desk. I could feel its power.”

“I can too.” Evren reached forward and laid his hand upon mine. “Which makes me believe that the queen knew as well. I'm worried that she knows things that we don't.”

“Things about my father?” Desperate. I felt so hopelessly desperate for his answer.

“Things about him. Things about you. I don't know.” His hand tightened against mine, and I could feel his fear trembling through him.

I didn’t know my father. I hardly knew any details of his life other than the sacrifice he made for me. I pressed my hand against the pendant as the agony of wishing I did hit me.

“We should tell the others our plan.”

Evren’s gaze met mine, and his eyes darkened as he clenched his jaw. He wanted me alone, just him and me, but our reality was too dire for that.

Everything that was happening was far more than just the two of us.

It always had been.

“You’re right.” He nodded and slipped my hand in his. “We should discuss our next move.”

He hesitated for a long moment with my hand in his. If it could have been this, just him and me, things would have been so much different.

It would have been more than I could have ever dreamed.

“Let’s go.” He pulled me forward, and I held my hand in his while my other still clutched the pendant on my neck.





CHAPTER 17





I hadn’t seen Evren since yesterday.

After we told the others of our plan, he was whisked away to talk strategy with his mother and her advisors. He had offered for me to come, but I had refused.

I still didn’t trust the woman, and thoughts were swirling in my mind about my father and the pendant that still buzzed against my chest. There was also the fact that I couldn’t get the image of the way Evren’s friends, my friends, had all lit up with the news of our betrothal. Thalia had grinned exceptionally hard, and Sorin cursed under his breath with a smile on his face as he slid something into Thalia’s hand.

I had just needed a moment to breathe.

My feet bounced on the floor as I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the door. Mina had brought me dinner before quickly leaving, and she had let me know that she was serving Evren his meal in the throne room.

I looked to my feet then back to the door. The sun had fallen and the moons had taken its place, and I knew I should have just laid down and gone to sleep.

But I couldn't.

My heart was beating at the same anxious rhythm that my feet bounced against the hard floor, and no matter what I did, I couldn't seem to calm myself down.

I climbed from the bed and pulled the small throw blanket around me. I was wearing nothing but a shirt and my undergarments, but I just needed a peek. To see if he was back in his room.

I opened my door before slowly creeping across the hall, and I leaned my ear against Evren’s door. Silence. I heard nothing from the other side, and my stomach tightened as I looked down the hall.

I should have gone back to my room and waited until tomorrow, but I didn't. I tiptoed down the hall, and I didn’t stop until I made my way into the main entryway. A few soldiers stood there, and they were taking direction from Jorah. His gaze snapped up to meet me as I entered the large room, and he said a few more words to them before making his way to me.

“Is everything okay?” His voice was firm, all business just like I had known Jorah to be.

“Are you okay?” I tightened the blanket around me. “I've barely spoken to you since you returned.”

Jorah’s face softened, and he took a step closer to me. “I'm fine, Adara. You need not worry for me.”

I looked down the hallway which I knew led toward the kitchens.

“Is there something else?”

I looked back toward him. “Where's the throne room?”

Jorah smiled, and I hated the blush I could feel rising up my chest. But it didn't matter that he knew I was looking for his prince. Evren was my mate and my soon-to-be husband, and I needed to get over the fact that people would know I wanted him.

“Right this way.” He motioned me forward, and I followed him down the long hallway.

“He's been in here all day.” There was an edge of concern in Jorah’s voice.

“What exactly is he working on?”

“Ensuring that there's no way his brother can get to you. It's his only concern. You are his priority.”

I nodded in understanding even as my chest tightened.

Jorah stopped near a large set of double doors. They were grander than the rest, the tops curved in a beautiful arch that met an intricate design of vines and a sword in the middle.