Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2)(37)

“Good point, but I want to make sure your injuries aren’t too grave.”

I moistened my lips. “You agree with me? And why is that?” Why should he care what happens to me at all, much less what anyone in Ainswind knew about me?

He sank down beside me. “This shouldn’t have happened to you. I don’t want anyone to know that I permitted such a thing to ever happen to you.”

I snorted. “You didn’t permit anything.”

“It happened,” he stated flatly, tension radiating off him. “It never should have. It makes me look weak. You’re my betrothed—”

“No,” I insisted with a swift shake of my head. “I’m not.”

He inhaled slightly but said nothing, still staring, and it filled me with all kinds of unease. Never had lack of vision given me such discomfort.

“What is it about you?” he whispered.

My unease heightened. “What do you mean?”

“You’re not like the rest of us. It’s almost like . . . you belong out there. To the night.”

I inhaled, understanding what he meant because it was how I felt. It’s what I was. A creature of darkness, just like them.

“Even now,” he continued. “It’s like you look right through me.”

His fingertips landed on the curve of my cheek and I flinched at the unexpected touch.

“Luna.” His voice, so close that it tangled with my erratic breathing, sounded strained, bewildered. “Can you see me?”

A strangled little sound slipped out of me. He knew.

“You can’t,” he declared, his voice so certain. “You can’t see.”

“Is that so important?” I asked.

“It’s just . . . you fooled me.”

“Not entirely. You’re calling me out now.” I shrugged. “I don’t lie about it. It’s no secret.”

“And yet you pass for a fully sighted individual.”

“Most of the time.” Only Fowler had known. Almost immediately, he had known. Heat crept over my cheeks as I recalled walking in on him naked. My lack of reaction had given me away.

“You’re full of surprises.” For once Chasan didn’t sound hard or suspicious. In fact, he lacked his usual armor. More human than arrogant prince.

And his hand was still on my face.

I cleared my ravaged throat, cringing. “It’s late. You should go.”

“Of course.” He dropped his hand and pushed up from the bed. “You’ll be safe now, Luna.”

He left me alone, shutting the door behind him. I heard his voice as he talked with the guard, all arrogance and hard stone again. Everyone had their veneers, I realized.

Settling back on the bed, I thought about what he said. I was safe again.

I stroked my bruised throat. In no way did I feel that was true, but was safety possible anywhere in this world? Was Allu just a fantasy that I let Fowler feed my needy heart?

Impossible as the notion seemed, Chasan as an ally didn’t feel quite so wrong anymore.





SIXTEEN


Luna


I CONSIDERED MY options throughout the day, turning the facts over in my head. I was stuck here, a virtual prisoner, and the king wanted me to marry into his family. He didn’t ask me. He simply informed me—stated it as fact. The same went for Fowler. Tebald expected him to marry Maris.

I needed to find Fowler. I needed to talk to him about sorting this out. I was never alone, though. Breaking away would be a challenge, if not impossible. After the midday meal I was dragged to a rooftop courtyard on the left tower with several other nobles, where they performed an archery demonstration. I couldn’t help myself. Listening to songs of arrows, feeling the wind of the Outside on my face, the urge called to me. I took up a bow. I wasn’t as good as Fowler, but Sivo had trained me well.

They were shooting at a stuffed dummy hanging from a rope. I listened to the others, to the soft thwacks as arrows hit the target, marking the object.

Stepping up, I notched the arrow and let it fly. My chest lifted high as I hit the target, pleasure suffusing me. My hand dove for two more arrows. In quick succession, I let them each go, and both hit the mark.

Applause broke out. A warm hand closed around my elbow. “Bravo, princess.”

I turned to face Chasan. “Surprised?”

“That you are skilled with a bow and arrow? Not at all. You strike me as very capable.”

I smiled vaguely and inclined my head in thanks. “What about you? Do you shoot?”

“I can shoot, but I have no desire to do it for the entertainment of others.”

I sniffed, wondering if he meant to deliberately insult me since I had just done that very thing. In truth, I’d done it for the thrill, not to impress others. I did it for me, but I doubted that he realized that. He didn’t know me. He must have read some of my reaction, for his grip on my arm flexed. “I don’t judge you,” he added, “if that’s what you’re thinking.”

I shrugged and twisted my arm from his grip. “How you perceive me matters little.”

“No? I thought it might, all things considered.”

“You mean because your father wishes us to wed,” I finished.

“I think it’s more than a wish.”