Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(33)

“Oh no.” The man pulled me back into him and wrapped his large hand around my back. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.”

“You didn't.” I shook my head quickly, and I hoped to reassure him. “I was just thinking.”

“Well, if it helps at all, I want you to know that our prince can take care of you because he was born to do so. He is your mate, and he is our savior. Don't underestimate the boy.”

I let his words sink in, to fill me with everything I needed to hear, and I grinned as I tried to drown out the intrusive thoughts that I wanted to stop.

I didn't have to worry about this tonight. To make decisions. All I could do was have fun with these people and let my fear for Evren hide in my gut as I pushed it down. He was my mate, and I didn't know how harshly that truth would affect my life.

“All right. It's my turn to cut in.”

The man swung me back into him and tugged me against his chest as I laughed. Sorin reached out his hand, but he hardly seemed to notice.

“Can't you see me and the girl are having fun?” He winked down at me, and I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

“Take turns before I’m forced to go over there and ask your wife for a dance.”

The man laughed, and I looked around trying to figure out who his wife was. Whoever she was, I imagined her life was full of love and laughter, and for a small moment, I was envious of her.

“Fine.” He slipped my hand out to his and motioned me toward Sorin. “She's all yours for now.”

I let my hands slip into Sorin's, and he pulled me close to him as the music rang out around the pub.

“You’ve got some big shoes to fill.” I laughed as I watched the man walk away. “I can’t remember having that much fun while dancing ever.”

“Well, that's because you haven’t danced with me before.” Sorin grinned, and he was so handsome. His brown hair was pushed back out of his face and tied at the back of his head with a small leather strap. Even in the middle of this pub, holding me in his arms with that grin on his face, he still looked every bit the warrior that he was.

Sorin moved us around the floor quickly, spinning our bodies in time with the music, and I laughed when my head felt so dizzy that I thought I was going to fall.

“I wish Evren were here.” The words slipped past my lips, and my smile faltered.

Sorin slowed us down only minutely, but he lifted his hand and pushed my wild hair out of my face. “Me too.” He studied me with a soft smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You have no idea how much.”

He spun me around again, and I tried not to let myself think about it. Think about how Evren would spin me around the floor. How he would drive me crazy with want just by the simple touch of his fingers. But it was impossible not to. Even from miles away, he invaded every part of me.

“He'll come back.” His words were soft and meant for me alone. But they rang inside of me, sinking deep in my bones, and my magic spurred me to life at the promise. A promise that I was desperate to come true.

And that desperation made me feel more vulnerable than ever. Because I couldn’t deny he was all I wanted in that moment.

Because I was alone in this kingdom, and I had been alone in the kingdom before this, and all I ever had was Evren. Even before I realized it, it was always him. Even through his betrayal, it was him.

“Are you two going to make me drink all this wine alone?” Thalia called out to us as she held a bottle of wine in her hands. I laughed and pulled myself away from Sorin as I made my way back to the table. Wine was exactly what I needed. I needed it to help drown my thoughts and the feelings that were invading me.

“I'll have another glass.”

Thalia smiled before popping the cork and filling my glass to the brim.

“Tonight, we have fun. Then tomorrow we’ll work.”





CHAPTER 11





I could feel the rolling of last night’s drink churning in my empty stomach.

“Again!” Thalia called out, and her voice echoed inside my head.

“I need a break.”

Thalia snorted, and I could feel her irritation with me without even looking at her face. “If I had known you couldn’t handle your drink, I would've never given you so much wine.”

“Well, now you know.” I huffed out a tired breath and prayed for my head to quit pounding.

“It doesn't matter.” She raised her hands and waited for me to get back in my stance. “If you're attacked, they aren’t going to make sure you’ve recovered from a night of drinking and dancing before they finish the job.”

She was right. Of course she was, but it didn’t matter. All I could think about was how badly I wanted was go back to Evren's room and take a long nap.

But there wasn’t a chance in hell Thalia was going to let that happen.

“Fine.” I widened my stance and tried to focus on my breathing as I waited for her move as she lunged at me. This time, I was anticipating it. I shot to the left, and only felt the wind from her movements. She didn't land a single touch.

“Better.” She nodded her head as I wiped sweat from my brow. “Again.”

We did that over and over again, her changing up her movements every time, and me trying to anticipate what she would do. She landed at least ninety percent of her hits, and I was aching all over.