Emerald ice studied him. She accepted the food. “Your move, Escort.”
Her focus shifted to the board. As much as he enjoyed her eyes on him, the cold was a bit unnerving. Captivating, fascinating, deadly. He'd once thought the ice extended to her soul – but when the ice melted, it was a slow-burning fire that had consumed him. Far more seductive. Just as dangerous.
The soft silence of birds and wind settled over the game. When Anais paused to think, she leaned forward with a slight frown, running her claws absently over the back of her hand. Such a distracting woman. It was a wonder the pieces on the board didn’t capitulate at her intense stare. He was certainly too busy watching her to play well – not that he would’ve won, in any case.
The game was over too soon. He had tried but lost nonetheless, though he pretended to consider his moves for a few more rounds. A few more minutes of the fast-fading hour.
The wind had picked up, a few clouds rolling in. Rain would be miserable, but might help cover his trail.
She hardly said a word while they played. The Queen grew colder in her contemplation. He attempted to lure her out of her dark mood, but all he could do was make sure she ate.
Finally, he was forced to admit defeat. The board was cleared of nearly all his pieces. “Well played, my Queen. More wine?”
She waved away his offer. Her gaze darted over the board. He wondered if he’d missed something that could’ve saved himself.
Her loosely closed hand extended, and she set her fist on the center of the board. Fingers slowly uncurled. She lifted her hand. Something clattered onto the wood.
His ring.
His eyes snapped up. She was angry. She was hiding it, but there was a flare of fire behind the ice.
This wasn't how his last memory of her was supposed to go.
He reached for the letter.
Her claws stabbed through the envelope.
“Anais, don't–”
Her other palm raised. “You wanted to leave without a word, so you don’t get to speak now.”
Deadly calm threaded her voice. “I will let you go if that's what you want. But you need to be clear. Don't drop your ring on a table and walk away. I deserve better than that. I deserve the words from your mouth.”
Her fingers trembled just slightly, just for a second. She picked up the letter. “Tell me you hate me. Tell me you no longer love me. Tell me you would rather be anywhere but here. You said it all once before. You didn't mean it then. I need to hear itagain. If this is truly what you want for yourself, if this is what you need to be happy, then I will let you go. Just tell me.”
She sounded cold, but not the ice she served to the court. This cold was stiff and brittle.
This cold burned.
“Because if you leave without convincing me that’s what you need, I will never stop looking for you.”
No longer able to hold her gaze, he stared at the Consort's ring. He couldn’t say what she wanted to hear. Every word would be a lie, and she’d know. In the tower, he might've had an excuse. Now, it would only be cruel.
He should be cruel if that was the only way.
But he was a coward.
“Are you finished?” he asked.
She rose to her feet. “I have a meeting. Excuse me, Escort.”
As she turned, he declared, “I am a liability.”
She stiffened.
“I am your weakness. If any of your Escorts, any of your Inner Court had betrayed you, nearly killed you and vanished, you would not have dropped your crown to pursue them into the arms of your enemies. Your mother–”
“Do not speak of my mother. You did not know her.”
