Page 94 of Secrets and Starlight
“Completely.”
“Pin me,”I ordered, yanking him closer and crying out. “Help!”
Understanding glinted in Zayne’s eyes, pained and calculating. With a grunt, Zayne obeyed, pressing my back to the ground as he straddled me. His hands seized my wrists, pinning me in place.“Tell me if I’m hurting you.”
Everything hurt from the knowledge of what I was about to do. For half a breath, I memorized the force of him over me and his presence in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut.“Just pretend you forced me here to take the shards.”
Zayne summoned an angry scowl.
I squirmed beneath him as if fighting his embrace.
My father’s footsteps raced closer, and by the time I dared to look up, the Starlit King was overhead. “Don’t you dare harm her,” he growled.
Gritting his teeth ferociously, he seized Zayne’s shoulder.
Zayne spun around and punched the Starlit King, knocking the wind out of him. The king bent over as Zayne jumped to his feet, backing toward the door.
My stomach sickened as Zayne slipped further away. I stood, spinning about to ensure the desk didn’t block my view of him for a single moment. He smirked devilishly, lifting his hand and rolling his wrist so the repaired diamond glinted.
The Starlit King’s gaze narrowed on the stone. His hands filled with light, sudden and bright. “You used my daughter to steal the shards! You will pay!”
Zayne shuffled to the door, his shadows billowing with the distance. He glanced at me urgently, and I struggled not to lose myself in him. Teyr, I loved my handsome rogue, and I didn’t want an inch more space between us.
“Run to me, and we’ll escape together,”he begged.
“That’s not the solution.”
“I don’t care. I won’t leave you.”
As he delayed, the Starlit King stepped closer. He raised his brilliantly lit hands, causing Zayne’s growing shadows to thin. “There’s nowhere to run. Your tricks might have hidden you so far, but they cannot withstand the light of a king. Be warned, my guards are just outside.”
“Go!”I begged.
“I said, I won’t leave without you!”
Drawn to him, my feet shuffled forward, but something more slowed me down. I glanced from my ruby ring to the black diamond in Zayne’s hand, and my mind flashed with the memory of Ninti, barely alive on Leo’s shell.
“He’ll take the black diamond. Go!”
I needed him to run because I needed him safe. And the safest place for him was as far from my scheming father as possible.
I glanced at the letter on the desk, a reminder of a trade deal that had to be stopped, and resolve tightened in my stomach.“I have to stay and find a way to stop this.”
Finally, Zayne nodded, trust and understanding firm in his brow.“I will do whatever I must to ensure our future together. For you, Ayla, I’ll become the villain.”
I prayed he would forgive me for asking this of him.
Zayne lifted the black diamond to his chest and locked my gaze. My eyes traced his devilish face, my knees weakening with the urge to call this off.
I need him.
But I needed our future more. Vision blurring, resolve growing, I nodded.
Zayne held my gaze as he gave the Starlit King a mock bow. “Until next time.” He vanished. His darkness overpowering the light, his shadows shaded with Gloom’s fog.
My chest burned, our bond tensing under the sudden distance.
“Damn him,” the Starlit King cursed before turning to me. “Are you okay?”
