Kiss the Sky

17

As the other men stepped out of the carriage, a beautiful woman with long black hair and smooth golden skin rode up on a glorious white horse. “Auric! You’ve returned!”

She dropped off her horse and smoothed her peach silk riding habit, then throw her arms around Auric. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, which gave me an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach that I tried to ignore. She could be related to Auric, perhaps a cousin or other relative, but there was something about the way she touched him that seemed familiar in a different way.

Auric has never been with a woman, I reminded myself. Though he’d certainly kissed at least one before me.

“Brin, what are you doing here at the palace?” Auric asked, sounding alarmed.

“I’ve been staying here for the last month, ever since you vanished. I’m so relieved you’re all right.” She brushed a piece of dirt off Auric’s chest in a way that made me squirm. “I was so worried when you ran off like that without a word. Made me think you might want out of our arrangement.”

“Yes, about that…” He glanced over at me and cleared his throat. Brin turned toward us like she hadn’t even noticed us before. Her gaze swept over us with confusion on her lovely features.

“Auric, who is this?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“This is Lady Brin of House Pashona.” His face turned grim. “My betrothed.”

13

Kira

A

t first I thought I must have heard Auric wrong. He couldn’t be engaged to another woman…could he? But then I saw the way Brin smiled as she took Auric’s arm, like they had known each other for years, and my doubts vanished. It was true. They were betrothed.

I wanted to turn and run away, to escape the heartache crushing my chest and making it hard to breathe, but there was nowhere to go. Guards surrounded us, the carriage had already rolled away, and there was no place to hide out here in the sunny courtyard. My next instinct was to yell at Auric and demand answers, but that would probably get me arrested again. All I could do was stare at this perfect, regal couple in front of me while my anguish and jealousy burned so hot I was surprised the ground didn’t catch fire beneath me.

“How could you keep this from me?” I asked, my voice shaking with each word.

Auric stepped toward me, breaking free of Brin’s grasp. “Kira, I can explain everything.”

I shook my head and turned away, swallowing hard. Slade crossed his arms and gave Auric a stony look, while Reven leaned against a pillar and watched the scene unfold with a bored expression. Jasin rested his hand on my lower back and glared at Auric. “Is that the best you can say?”

Brin eyed us all with interest, then clasped her hands together. “I can see there’s a story here, and I’m guessing it’s one you don’t want the entire palace staff to know about.” She gave me a warm smile, then swept her gaze across my mates. “Why don’t you all join me in my suite, where we can talk about this in private?”

All I wanted was to return to the boat and get away from this situation, but there was no escaping this. Auric was my future mate, and no matter how upset I was with him, I had to hear him out at least.

“All right,” I said reluctantly. “Let’s talk.”

Brin led us inside the palace into a huge entry that was all velvet and silk, purple and gold, elegant and opulent. The front room alone practically dripped with wealth and sophistication, and I immediately felt even more out of place. Especially beside Brin, who wore clothing suitable for a princess and clearly knew the palace as if it were her own home.

How could Auric have kept something this big from me? He’d already done something like this once when he’d hid that he was a prince from me, but I’d forgiven him for that and even understood why he did it. Now I wondered how I could ever trust him again. He should have at least mentioned his betrothal to me at some point. Did he love this other woman? Was that why he’d kept it a secret?

Brin led us up a glorious white spiral staircase with a gilded handrail, then down a hallway with a soft carpeted floor that felt like I was walking on clouds. She spoke to a servant briefly to order up some tea, then swept us into a room done in pale yellow and soft pink.

Once we were all inside, Brin gestured for each of us to sit on the plush chairs and loveseats. I hesitated, worried I would dirty the elegant fabric with my clothes that had touched a prison floor not long ago, until she patted the cushion. I reluctantly sat across from her and opened my mouth to speak, but then a servant wheeled a cart into the room and we were forced to sit in awkward, tense silence while she poured us all a cup of tea. It seemed to take forever, yet at the same time I was afraid of what would happen once she finished and the truth came out.

As soon as we were alone again, Brin took a sip of tea and smiled at us. “Now we can talk.”

Auric glanced between us with solemn eyes. “Kira, Brin, I owe you both apologies and explanations.”

“And us,” Jasin added, before he grabbed one of the small pastries off the tray and shoved it in his mouth.

“Yes, we’re supposed to be a team,” Slade said.

“Is it true?” I asked Auric, still hoping this was all a misunderstanding. “Is she your betrothed?”