Page 90 of Where Darkness Falls

I look between the three Galrosan men and laugh. Laisren and Riordan exchange looks, while Emyr’s icy gaze is fixed on me. I laugh so hard that my sides ache.

“Do you find the question amusing, Rosey?” Emyr asks.

He hasn’t stopped glowering since Virgil left the room, and I’m not sure if it’s from his jealousy or curiosity.

“Yes,” I say, wiping the water from my eyes. “Because it’s absolutely absurd. Virgil is my friend, myplatonicfriend, and nothing more.”

“Then why is he so protective of you?” Riordan asks. “You always ask for him, and you seem disappointed when he isn’t near.”

“I agree,” Laisren says. “In the last decade, Virgil has always been more removed, never offering any sort of affection towardanyone. Yet, from the moment he met you, he’s been kind and reasonable. So, forgive our impertinence. It just made the most sense to us at the moment.”

I scoff.

The nerve of these men.

“He’s kind to me—compassionate even—and your first thought is that we’re lovers?” I ask incredulously.

“Well, it would make sense,” Riordan mumbles, fumbling over his words.

“I can be friends with someone and not be romantically involved,” I bite out.

“Yes, but romantic feelings would explain his protective nature toward you,” Laisren remarks. “However, we were all wrong, so I apologize?—”

“All?” I ask, interrupting what I’m sure is a lovely version of an apology. “Were you three placing bets on whether we weretogether?”

Riordan looks to the side, whistling, while Laisren shuffles his feet. Emyr—ever the statue—continues to act as if he’s too good to even be in my presence.

I can’t believe it.

These idiotic men actually took bets… ON MY KINSHIP WITH VIRGIL.

Have they never witnessed a friendship between a male and female before, or are they truly that dense?

I scoff, gritting my teeth. “First of all, he’s ONLY my friend,” I say, scolding the men. “I won’t explain the bond I have to him, because it’s none of your business. However, I will tell you I’m more comfortable around him than I am with any of you”

The Cadre are both shocked and uncomfortable by the outburst, but I don’t care.

“Shame on all of you for suggesting that the only reason he would show kindness toward me is because of romantic ties,” I whisper.

Then, I storm past the three men into the corridor as hot tears prick my eyes.

Well,she’s angry.

“Are you going to escort me or not?” she shouts from outside the chamber.

Laisren and Riordan race out the door to stand on either side of her.

She’s devastatingly beautiful in that dress. I’m certain that my heart stopped beating at the mere sight of her.

I must say that I was speechless. I should’ve known that even she could surpass her own beauty. Every time I see her, she continues to blossom and bloom into such a wonder. The dark crimson against her ivory skin makes her look like a lush rose—prickly until one finds its interior, which is of the gentlest beauty. If she was glistening before, she shines now. She could have an entire realm crumble to their knees if she so desired.

She looks like a queen.

My Rosey-

No.

She’ll never be mine, even though everything about her draws me into her orbit. Even though her very essence sings a lullaby so sweet that it moves my soul. She’s a gem, and I’m not worthy of her—no matter how much I wish to be.