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Chapter Twenty-Three

THALIA

“T halia, wake up.”

I groaned and cracked open one eye. “Is it morning already?”

Vaarin grinned down at me. “It is, and I have a surprise for you.”

I was wide awake now because who didn’t like surprises? “What is it?”

“If I tell you then it wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?”

The playful twinkle in his eyes heightened my excitement. I slipped out of bed and began to dress.

He groaned softly. “I almost wish I didn’t have a surprise for you now.”

I shot him a coquettish look over my naked shoulder. “Can the surprise wait?” He looked torn as I padded naked toward him, shirt clutched in my hand. I tipped my face up to his. “Well?”

He sank his fingers into my hair and made a fist, drawing me forward roughly against his taut frame so that I could feel his thick arousal against my belly.

“You’re fortunate that I have excellent control over my desires, because the sounds you’ll make when I have my way with you will certainly traumatize your surprise.”

It took a moment for the implications of his words to register. “Wait…how can a surprise be traumatized unless…” I stepped back. “Vaarin?”

His smile was back. “Get dressed and join me on deck.”

He dropped a kiss on my head and left the cabin.

I hurriedly pulled on my clothes, then scraped my hair up into a knot before following him.

Voices drifted down the steps as I ascended to the deck. Vaarin and another. Male…Familiar.

Oh god…I rushed up the last few steps and onto the deck, coming to a halt to face my surprise.

He was pale and thin, his lips chapped, his hair matted, but it was him.

Tomas was alive.

He bolted out of his seat as I rushed toward him, opening his arms for a hug.

I punched him in the face. “You cowardly bastard!”

He clutched his jaw, his eyes dull and flat. “I know. I know what I did, and I’m sorry, but I’m glad that you’re alive. When the king told me that the princess was on board, I thought Bryony was here. You never use the title but…” His frown deepened. “Where is the crown princess?”

“What?” Vaarin said. “What are you talking about?” He looked from Tomas to me, and my heart sank because this was something I meant to tell him. Something I should have told him last night. “Thalia? Why is he asking you where the crown princess is?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I meant to tell you last night, but…I’m not the princess that your son is betrothed to. I’m the king’s adopted daughter and the crown princess’s bodyguard.”

He stared at me for several beats before speaking. “Adopted daughter? Not of Faircaster bloodline?”

His expression, which had been so warm and filled with excitement a moment ago, was cold and stiff now. I should have told him the truth last night. Instead, I’d chosen to be selfish and now…Now I had to face the consequences.

“Bryony, my sister…she was on the rowboat that your people found. The remains…the remains of…” I blinked back tears. “When you told me about it, I thought all was lost for my people, but you’d mistaken me for her, so I…” I shook my head. “I…I can’t bring your people fertility.”

A series of emotions flitted across his face, each more devastating than the last before it closed off completely. “You were planning on marrying my son in your sister’s stead to claim Merida Isle?”

There was no point in denying it. “I was. My people are dying and?—”

“You planned on betraying me?”

My eyes heated. “I did, but then I started to feel things for you, and last night I?—”

“Stop talking.” His tone was as cold as ice as he slowly turned his head to look out to sea. “You lied to me. You planned on deceiving me. There is no place for you in my world.” He strode to the edge of the deck. “Take the ship and go.”

“Wait! Please.” I choked back a sob. “Vaarin, please don’t punish my people for my decision. They’re dying. Starving. You have the means to save them.”

His shoulders slumped. “King Bronan will be informed of the death of his daughter, and his people will be invited to live on Merida Isle on one proviso.”

“Anything?”

“You will never show your face in these waters again.”

His words were a gut punch that knocked the breath from my lungs. “You’re…you’re exiling me?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that? After everything we’ve been through, everything we’ve shared.” I took a step toward him, and he held up his hand to halt me.

“What we shared was a lie.”

“I lied about my title but not who I am. The person you spent the last three days and nights with is me, Thalia. I’m the person you said you loved.”

His lip curled in disgust. “I could never love someone who would betray me.”

“I was going to tell you.”

He spun to face me, sapphire eyes burning with rage and betrayal. “When? After the wedding? After you had the alliance sealed?”

“Last night, and then…this morning but?—”

“Excuses, Thalia.” His lip curled. “I’m done with them.” He leapt over the edge of the boat and into the sea.

Gone.