“Galefell,” Narissa repeated numbly, sparing a wary glance in Solarius’s direction.
His mood instantly soured. A line of vexation marred his brow and his jaw popped. He lifted the whiskey glass in his hand and swirled the golden contents, his knuckles whitening with each churn. The silver of his eyes had cooled to the shade of cold iron. Of course he was agitated, House Galefell was the home of Calfair Skyhelm, his former best friend. The two had a falling out some time ago, and though Narissa wasn’t entirely certain of the details, she did know Solarius kept his grudge against the sky lord closely guarded.
“There are plenty of ways to spend your time together.” Reif ticked off each idea on one of his fingers. “They have those fancy boat rides through the sky, their entertainment district is quite magical, not to mention Eponians are bred there, so perhaps you might take riding lessons.”
Solarius scoffed. “I am more than capable of riding an Eponian.”
Narissa, on the other hand, was certainly not. The winged horses were beautiful, but she found them slightly intimidating. Not only that, but she much preferred to be on the ground or near the water’s edge. Flying through the sky—whether on horseback or in the safety of a carriage—was her least favorite activity.
“But most importantly,” Reif continued, ignoring Solarius’s protest, “maybe the two of you will learn how to tolerate one another. I would hardly expect you to fall in love, but for the sake of both our families, perhaps you could make a little more effort. We are supposed to be uniting our houses, not dividing them. Lay your past quarrels to rest, before your abhorrence of each other ruins all we’ve worked to achieve.”
Narissa stood abruptly. Her mouth fell open, but she snapped it shut when her cousin shoved back from the tableand stalked from the dining room, leaving them to suffer in the resounding silence of his fading footfalls.
Reif had never once raised his voice to her, nor had she ever seen him angry, but his mounting frustration was palpable. It hung heavily in the air, suffocating her. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Reif, especially since he willingly took her in after the death of her parents.
But a honeymoon?
With Solarius?
Narissa’s knees weakened, and she gripped the edge of the table with both hands to keep herself from swaying. Honeymoons came with certain promises…certain expectations. She blanched, sucking in a shallow breath, her chest heaving.
Solarius rose, cocking his head to one side as he eyed her. “How are you faring, Rissa love? You look slightly ill.”
Bile scalded the back of her throat, and she dug her nails into the wooden surface of the table. “I am.”
He clicked his tongue, then knocked back the remnants of his whiskey. His gaze raked over her, peeling away the layers of protection she’d constructed around herself. “Does the thought of spending time with me really make you physically sick?”
The accusation was harsh, scraping away her resolve.
She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “It’s not that.”
Her grating whisper clawed at the ache forming between her temples.
Solarius rose, planted his hands on the table’s edge, and leaned forward. He matched her motions. The lines of his face reminded her of granite, hard and unwavering. “Then by all means, enlighten me.”
Narissa shook her head. She didn’t want to have this conversation. Not here. Not now. She didn’t want to relive the painful memories of their past. Her lungs caved and she grasped at her wavering confidence. Usually, she had no problem givinghim a lashing of the tongue, but for some reason—be it the pressure of the bond or some other undiscovered reason—she couldn’t find the strength to face him.
“It’s nothing,” she muttered, denying him the opportunity for an argument.
“You’re lying,” he countered, and she kept her gaze focused on her half-eaten plate of food, unable to meet his eye.
“Perhaps.”
“Damn it, Narissa!” Solarius slammed one fist upon the table, splintering the wood and rattling the dishes. She jumped, her eyes flying to him, only to find the unstable emotions of anger and desperation colliding on his face. “Tell me, Rissa. Right now. Why do you hate me? What have I done to deserve such loathing from you?”
Narissa met his menacing glare with one of her own, her resolve snapping. “You broke my heart, Sol!”
“And you broke mine!” He shoved both hands through his hair so the messy pieces fell across his face, then he threw his arms out wide. “Yet here I am, trying to make this work.”
Her bottom lip began to tremble, and she bit it until the pain made her gasp. “Impossible.”
“What’s impossible?” he demanded.
“I couldn’t have possibly broken your heart, Solarius.” Narissa clenched her jaw and lifted her chin, the threat of tears causing her vision to swim. “It was never mine.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The silence between Solarius and Narissa was unfathomable. The quiet in the carriage interrupted only by the whistling winter wind.