She laughs again, the sound high-pitched, echoing through the vaulted ruins. “No, no. You miss the point completely ... I don’t wantyour skin. I want to wear another’s.”
I wonder if any of my friends would ever consider it. Definitely not Enya. “I’ll see—”
She narrows her eyes. “Not just anyone’s skin, King. I want to wear the skin of the most beautiful woman on this island. The most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen.” She blinks her lashes at me. “That’swho I want. No one less.”
I grind my teeth, wishing I hadn’t immediately pictured someone. Wishing I could lie and say I don’t know anyone worthy of the title.
But I do.
The Wildling, is, objectively, beautiful. I see how others look at her. Admire her. I’ve been admiring her like it’s my sole purpose in life.
The specter will be pleased with her.
“Fine,” I agree, knowing the Wildling will absolutelydespisethis. It will be her choice, of course.
I hope she is as desperate as I am to break these curses.
HAUNTED
Zed has a message for me. He catches me in the hall, on my way to Isla’s door. “The Wildling,” he says. “She was spotted with Grim ... at the abbey.”
My very marrow goes cold. “Doing what?”
“I’m not sure. They were seen running inside, out of the rain.”
By now she’s seen him several times. She isn’t working with him, so why is he seeking her out? Why is she letting him?
She has to know what he is. She has to know his reputation.
I knock on her door, more forcefully than necessary, anger heating my skin. She opens it immediately, annoyance and fury written on her face at the sight of me. Normally I’d be amused. But tonight, I’m annoyed too. Especially when I see her crown.
The dent I made on her crown has been smoothed away.
I know exactly by who.
“It’s been eight days,” she says, with bite.
Could I be imagining it? Has she ... missed me?
I bury that hope down. No. She despises me. It’s clear with every interaction. Her anger is because she surely thinks I’m working without her. It’s what I would assume, if the roles were reversed.
I force my voice to be emotionless. Matter of fact. She knows I was seeking out the ancient creature. “It took five to find her. Two to coax her out of hiding. One to make a deal.”
Isla eyes me warily, then seems to accept this.
We walk to Star Isle in silence. I’m surprised to discover I miss her questions. I never thought I wouldwantto talk to her. She says nothing until we reach the ruins, and it only deepens my irritation.
Talk to me, I want to say.Me, instead of him.
Because I missed you too.
But she doesn’t say a word, and I’m more convinced than ever that this pointless fascination is one-sided.
The specter doesn’t waste a moment before telling Isla exactly the deal I made.
“What?” Isla is furious. Expectedly so. But her annoyance doesn’t bring me the amusement I anticipated. Not at all. “Why not yours?”
“I offered. But she requested ... something specific.” Only now do I regret making this deal.
