His lips set in a hard line as he averted eye contact. “I have a gut feeling that’s not going to be enough.”
“We are bonded,” I reminded, hoping that that would give him the extra reassurance he needed.
He shook his head. “The bond doesn’t force us together, Ripley. There are three other men in there who are bonded to you too. I’m scared they’re going to be more appealing because they are accepted.”
I pulled my brows down, unsure why he was so adamant. Had the way I acted caused him to think I’d just meet a stranger and fall in love? The insult stung. The idea of feeling this profound and complex affinity toward anyone other than Fletcher was absurd. “I accept you.”
“Well, you’re the first then.”
I looked up, chin on his chest and smiled. “I’m the only one who matters.”
He kissed me long and slow. “Yes, you are.”
“Can I ask what the hell happened? Why do they despise you so much?”
He shook his head. “I’m too embarrassed to say.”
I sighed. “Look, I know you’re scared, but I’ve made my choice, Fletcher. I’d like to go to Elizy.”
He nodded.
“And I will return to you.”
“Yes, princess.” A solemn grin took his lips as something dreary passed over his eyes.
Then, we were separating, being swept up by the wind to come back together at the bottom of the hill just outside the barrier. Up front, the translucent violets and ceruleans flowed slowly, as if it was made of glass, its reflections casting a shining glow.
A gray-bricked watchtower stood tall just beyond the transparent barrier where a guard lazily sat with his feet up in the oval window.
Fletcher released me where he held me by the waist, stepping away from me like I was suddenly poison to his touch.
He put two fingers in his mouth and sent out a loud whistle that startled the guard. His boots disappeared and his head popped out the window, hands gripping the window sill. A dark feather with a faint incandescent shine gleamed with various colors, emitting its own bioluminescence, stuck up from his metal helmet. A rayko bird’s feather.
When the guard’s dark eyes trained on Fletcher with deep hatred, a vicious protectiveness took hold of me.
“Darkly? What the hell are you doing here? You know you are not welcome.”
The hostility took me off guard, but Fletcher’s nonchalant demeanor told me it didn’t faze him. Suddenly, I felt unprepared. I was out of my reckless mind. The confidence in my decision crumbled like brittle clay, and all I wanted to do was urge Fletcher to take me away so I could think about it more. I wasn’t ready!
I spun my body to him to signal to remain quiet, but the words were already flying from his mouth, and I was too late.
“Tell the king and queen that Princess Ripley is home.”
CHAPTER
TWELVE
Anxiety ran rampant through me like it was shredding me from the inside. No, no, no. I didn’t want this yet. I wanted Fletcher. I was diving into the unknown, in a place where everyone saw him as lesser—as worthless. This had to have been the feeling Fletcher had experienced on the hill. Terrified panic that something drastic would change between us before I was certain about my feelings for him.
Suddenly, it was me trying to grasp at a title for us, to anchor me for when I’d inevitably cross that barrierinto a sea ofstrangerswho all knew me and hated Fletcher.
His brows turned up, cinnamon eyes widening as if he just sensed my alarm.It’ll be okay,he comforted in a hesitant tone that echoed in my head unconvincingly.
My eyes darted to the guard who had come to a slow stand as he took his hat off, eyes locked on me. “Right away.” He disappeared and reappeared directly across from us, still inside the barrier.
He held his hand out to me. “Come, Princess.”
I looked to Fletcher who was wearing a sad smile and gesturing an open hand toward the guard. “Go on.”
