Page 112 of Blackheart

“You have to leave.”

I never thought I’d be interrupting him saying exactly what I wanted to hear. Just an hour earlier, I would have been blushing and sneaking him upstairs.

“What?” Riven’s gaze softened before becoming cold, like a protective shield.

The guilt ate at me from the inside out.

War is no place for pretty things, Prince Payn had said all that time ago.

The bouquet of roses was the most beautiful I had ever seen, and the only flowers that had ever been given to me.

But I couldn’t take them.

I forced my face into a cold, bored frown.

“You’re… dismissed.” The words, theorder, felt wrong coming out my mouth.

Riven shook his head. “I don’t understand. What’s wrong now? You don’t like flowers?”

My chest tightened. I wanted to run away and never show my face again, but there was no running from this. “I don’t want your flowers. I’m betrothed. I said you’re dismissed.”

He took a step back as if I’d hit him. “Tell me what I did.”

He was hurt, and it was my fault. “Youare wrong for me.”

He had protected me, fought for my life on multiple occasions, tied my hair up when I was hurt, warmed me back to health, and so much more. It was like stabbing myself in the chest.

“Whatever it is I did, I’m sorry. I wanted to be good enough.”

With that, he dropped the flowers and turned away, trailing out of the Silver Circle. I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly to keep from crying.

I needed a drink.

Dragging myself back inside, I frowned at the distant arguing of Xavian and Fiera raging on. Everything was a mess.

I laid my elbows on the kitchen counter, rubbing my temples. At least the view of the city was pretty.

Twinkling lights, a peaceful harbor, and… a bladebreather.

Red mist trailed behind Zephy and Amzee as they soared over the capital. They dropped low, landing on a tall building.

Chapter 35

The Darkest Alley in all of Eiden

“Bladebreathers have not been employed for war in centuries. They are creatures of poor temper and rarer trust, far more dangerous and costly to sustain than their worth allows.”

—Urgent correspondence to King Xavian Steele

No one questionedme as I stormed out of the Silver Circle with no escort.

I yearned for girl time outside of these heavily political morning teas. I had never been one to seek comfort, but Amzee felt safe. Though maybe I was trying to fill the void Luna had left. I wasn’t sure anymore. But I also did not care enough to sit down and sort through those feelings. Not today.

Using only orb light and my limited knowledge of Eiden’s layout, I proudly turned down Violet Way. It was a notoriously lively part of town, popular for its nightlife. It was not yet late enough to be dangerous, but I wasn’t afraid of the dark or the scum that lingered in it, anyway.

They should fearme.

Darkness lurked under my skin. My mind was the true cage, cruel and relentless.