“You’re my enemy,” I repeat. I’ll do whatever she wants.
She smiles, as if the words please her. “You hate me,” she whispers into my ear in that melodious voice, before her lips smooth down my neck. Her tongue laves at my racing pulse. Her hips start to rock against mine.
Fuck.
At my silence, she stops. Looks up at me through her lashes.
“I hate you,” I repeat, mindless, stuck between reality and dream, between duty and truth.
She smiles against my neck. Kisses her way up until her face is right over mine. She tilts her head. Her long, beautiful hair is wet and clinging to her chest, barely keeping her decent. Her dress is now rolled all the way down to her hips. She leans down, and I need to taste her. All of her. I need her like a drug.
Her lips are almost against mine again.
“Liar,” she says, right against my mouth.
And then, I wake up.
UNLEASHED
I try not to think of Isla, but it’s as useless as trying not to breathe. Any thought of her is like air in my lungs, keeping me going. Especially after that fucking dream.
That dream. I’ve never woken up so hot and aching in my life.
I wanted to run to her. To go down on my knees and admit everything I’ve thought about her, if only for the small chance she’s thought the same about me.
But I didn’t. I’ve stationed guards to watch over her, to make sure she’s safe. She doesn’t need me. Not right now. And, if that searing betrayal on her face was any indication, she doesn’t want to see me at all.
I need to finish my work with Cleo. Only then can I tell Isla the plan. Only then do I have any chance at forgiveness.
It’s taken weeks to get Cleo to trust me enough to open the gate in a mountain, revealing a labyrinth. I allow myself to hope, for a moment, that this could all end today. That the heart of Lightlark is right inside.
But it isn’t.
The betrayal was for nothing. Herpainwas for nothing ... I remind myself that it helps, that it narrows down the places the heart could be significantly, that the two other places are so dangerous for Wildlings that I had hoped to avoid them, but it doesn’t feel worth it. Not when I haven’t seen her in weeks. Not when I remember that look on her face.
I’m walking back through the Moonling forest, too tired and annoyed to fly, when a bird swoops down, squawking. I recognize that bird. Isla and I saw it when we were here, visiting the oracles.
Isla. The thought of her ... what I did to her ...
Cursed bird. I duck, ignoring it, but it won’t leave me alone. Finally, I turn around and look at it. It’s flying right in front of my face. “What do you want?” I demand.
It flaps its wings once. Twice.
Then, it turns in the opposite direction.
I’m relieved until I hear it squawk again and see it coming back around. What? Does it want me tofollowit?
I’ve clearly lost my mind, if I’m thinking that the bird isspeaking to me.
Still, it won’t leave me alone.
“Fine,” I say, through my teeth. I follow it.
It’s not long before I hear the voices.
Men’s voices. They’re talking about a hunt. Or a catch ... something they’ve found. Something they’re going to eat.
Then they start talking about aface. A beautiful one.
