Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 263(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
He bristles visibly. “Not you too.”
It’s amazing how quickly the peace of the last three weeks melts away, leaving only anger. I stare up at him, my heart crumbling in my chest. “Because no one knows better than the great Azazel, right?”
His brows slam down. “That’s not what I said.”
“You didn’t have to say it.” I shake my head. “Your actions speak louder than whatever defense you’re currently trying to come up with.” Because there’s always a defense. He might apologize, might take responsibility later, but in the moment, he uses whatever justification necessary to do what he wants.
He scrubs a hand over his head. “Eve, please.”
Please. As if I’m the one being ridiculous right now. “I need time to think.” I turn around and walk away. He’s learned enough not to follow me, not to chase me down and battle his way forward.
The moment I turn the corner, I whisper, “Take me to her, please.”
A few more turns, a few flights of stairs—as if the castle is truly testing whether I want this—and I’m deposited before a door nearly identical to the room I haven’t bothered to visit in weeks.
I almost turn around right then and there. It’s been so nice letting myself enjoy Azazel. With a little more time, I may have even convinced myself to let down the last of my barriers, to fall for him for real.
Or to admit to myself that I already have.
That, more than anything, makes me lift my hand to knock on the door. I’m not a person who turns away from hard truths, even if they threaten the little bubble I’ve allowed myself to be wrapped up in.
The door clicks open but not because anyone is on the other side. The castle again. I glance around. “Thank you.”
The redhead—Briar—is sitting on the bed, her head in her hands. She straightens as I step into the room, her angry expression fading to one of confusion. “You . . .”
“Eve.” I press my hand to my chest. “Sorry to intrude.”
“No.” She shakes her head, tear tracks on her pretty face. “It’s probably best I’m not alone right now. I was just about to start trying to break down the door.” She eyes it with suspicion. “It was locked just a minute ago.”
“The castle has a strange sense of humor sometimes.” I ease the door shut behind me, confident that I’m not about to be locked in again. The castle and I have an understanding, one that feels independent of Azazel.
Something to consider later.
“The castle. Right.” Briar frowns. “I guess I do remember some of that from when I was here before.” She shakes her head. “Regardless, I need Azazel to stop and listen to me. He walked into a conversation that was none of his business and took things out of context. Sol would never put me in danger intentionally. Yes, we didn’t exactly have a conversation about the birth control pendant before he bit it off, but if I hadn’t wanted him to do it, he wouldn’t have done it.”
The passion in her voice makes my heart ache. “You sound like you love him.”
Briar gives me a wobbly smile. “He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”
And Azazel just dropped a bomb on their relationship, so to speak. High-handed doesn’t begin to cover it. It’s impossible to avoid comparing myself to Briar, even though the situation is different. The current danger against her sounds like it was perceived instead of real. Regardless, Azazel didn’t stop to ask questions or find another way. He just took her . . . like he took me.
We chat for a little while. I came here to find out answers, and it quickly becomes clear that Briar truly is in love with Sol. They had a bit of a rocky start, because of the trauma from her past relationship and his awkward nobility, but it seems like things are going swimmingly now.
At least until Azazel ruined it all.
I don’t know how to feel. I truly don’t. It’s not a simple situation, and I can’t pretend that my time with him hasn’t changed things for me, at least a little.
I’m not a coward, though. As tempting as it is to retreat to my room to clear my head, that would be a shitty way to go about navigating this. So I don’t. I go to his.
He appears in the doorway a few minutes after me. I don’t know if that’s intentional on his part or if the castle had its way with him, but he doesn’t immediately approach me. The distance can be measured in feet, but it feels like he might as well be standing on another planet. I cross my arms over my chest. “You fucked up.”
“I disagree.” His face gives me nothing. “She just needs time to understand.”