Page 136

He comes at me, swinging his sword menacingly left and right, the blade crisscrossing his body.

As soon as he reaches me, it’s all I can do to block and evade his barrage of attacks.

Our blades lock again.

“Do you trust me?” he asks.

All I hear is the rustle of my dress in the wind and our soft exhalations.

Do I trust Des, the man who saved me from my father, who loved me from afar for years? The man who rescued me from myself and sets me aflame over and over?

“Yes,” I breathe.

His eyes soften. “The answer to your question is no,” he says, his wolfish eyes boring into me. “Mate of my soul, I did not have anything to do with those soldiers’ disappearances.”

I feel the truth of his words, like a hit to the center of my chest. Des’s confessions all have a weight to them, like he’s handing over a little of himself in the process, but this one feels particularly heavy.

“Do you believe me?” he asks, our swords still locked together.

I nod, sucking in my cheeks. “I do.”

His body relaxes, and I sense my opening. I drop my sword, sidestepping Des, then spin, bringing my sword around with me.

The tip of it grazes his forearm, a line of blood sprouting in its wake.

The moment I register that I injured him, I drop my sword, staring at the wound in horror.

Did he let me get him on purpose?

Just as quickly, I answer my own question.

No. This was unplanned.

Des stops fighting to stare at the cut in shock.

“Youstruckme. You landed a blow.” He tosses his sword aside, the battle utterly forgotten. A beat passes, and then he begins to laugh. “You did it. You finally did it.”

He’s gone mad!

Des sweeps me up in his arms, spinning the two of us around. “Do you know what this means?” he asks, staring up at me.

I don’t.

“You are finally ready.”

Chapter 44

This evening’s Solstice ball doesn’t exactly go as planned.

As Des and I descend to the ballroom, I feel the comforting weight of my two daggers, which are currently strapped to a set of inner thigh holsters and hidden under my dark, iridescent dress. Is Solstice a peaceful festival? Yes, in theory. Do I plan to use these weapons? Not unless provoked. But after yesterday’s events and Des’s encouragement, I’ve decided to come to this party armed.

And I’m not going to lie, I feel like a bad bitch tonight, which I totally dig.

Des and I have barely entered the subterranean ballroom when Mara falls on us, and just from one glance alone, it’s clear the Queen of Flora is out for blood.

She grabs the Bargainer’s lapels. “Where are they?” Mara growls. She shakes him like a madwoman, the floral scent of her power filling the air “Desmond Flynn, wherearethey?”

“What are you talking about?” he says, his voice low.