Kiss the Sky

18

“Yes, but it isn’t what you think,” Auric said quickly. “Our parents arranged our marriage when we were children, but we’re not in love.”

Brin laughed. “Gods, no. Auric is like a brother to me.” She leaned close, like she was telling me a secret. “Besides, I prefer women.”

Auric nodded. “Brin is my closest friend, and we agreed to marry since it seemed the best option to appease our parents. They expect us to marry within the noble families, and Brin is the only noble I can tolerate.”

Brin playfully touched Auric’s arm. “Aw, that’s so sweet. You’re the only man I could even imagine spending my entire life with.” She turned her dazzling smile on me next. “Auric and I never planned to be exclusive with each other, and we never expected a grand romance or love of that sort. Truth be told, I only agreed to marry a man to continue the family lineage, but I fully expected to take a woman or two on the side.” She glanced at my mates with amusement. “Or four.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?” I asked Auric.

He raked a hand through his golden hair. “I was planning to tell you, I truly was. I almost did when we were on the ship, but then we were attacked by elementals, and after that things were so chaotic… But I should have found the time. I’m truly sorry.”

Brin touched my knee lightly. “If he was with you, I doubt he was thinking about me at all.”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that your families expect you to marry.” I gave Auric a pointed look. “And we have…other duties.”

“Is that so?” Brin asked, arching one of her perfect eyebrows at Auric. “Does this have to do with why you disappeared for a month?”

“Yes, but I can’t tell you more than that,” he said. “I’m sorry, Brin, but I can’t marry you. My path is with Kira, as is my heart.”

She let out a dramatic sigh. “It’s quite all right. Mom and Dad will be furious, but I’m happy you found someone you love.”

Auric took my hand in his. “Kira, I’m so sorry I never told you about Brin. There were so many other more pressing things to deal with on our journey so far, and I rarely thought about my previous life here at all. But I should have told you about this and found a better way to handle all it in advance.”

“Yes, you should have.” I pulled my hand away, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice, and Jasin rubbed my back in support. Auric might be sorry, but would he have ever told me about Brin if we hadn’t been forced to come to the palace? Was he hiding anything else? How would I ever know?

“This is why you didn’t want to return to Stormhaven,” Slade said. He’d remained standing along with Reven, and they both watched Auric with stony expressions.

“One of the reasons, yes.” Auric stared at his hands, his face pained. “My parents won’t be pleased with me ending the engagement, but there’s no other option. In fact, I should probably meet with them now and tell them the news. They’ve no doubt heard that I’m in the palace and will be expecting me.”

“They’ve been looking for you all over the kingdom and have been worried sick,” Brin said. “Your brother Garet has been in Thundercrest all this time looking for you. I hope you have a good explanation.”

He swallowed. “Not exactly.”

“Better come up with one quickly then.” Brin studied the five of us and tapped her red lips. “For now, we need to get you all some new clothes. We can’t have you meeting the royal family looking like you just rolled out of the sewer.”

“I can get some clothes for me and the other men from my quarters,” Auric said, rising to his feet.

“And I should have something that should fit Kira,” Brin said.

My mates grumbled, but they followed Auric out of the suite, leaving me alone with Brin. She took my arm and led me into another room. “Come now, let’s get you ready to meet with the King and Queen.”

I reluctantly followed her and watched while she began going through her wardrobe. “You don’t need to do this…”

“Nonsense. It’s my honor to help the woman who’s captured Auric’s heart.” She pulled out a pale green gown that was finer than anything I’d ever owned and held it up to me. “Oh yes, this will be perfect on you with your beautiful red hair.”

“Brin, I—”

“I insist you take this dress as a small gift from me to apologize for any pain I’ve brought you.” She thrust the gown at me. “Besides, the King and Queen are waiting and you must look your best.”

I hesitated, then took the luxurious silken dress from her. It was thin, like most of the clothes the people wore in the Air Realm, and would cling to my body. It was beautiful, and I couldn’t exactly meet the royal family dressed as I was in my dirty, worn hunting leathers, but I was reluctant to accept it. Even when Brin beamed and began searching for shoes to go with the gown.

I didn’t want anything to do with Brin. I didn’t want to accept her gifts or spend a single second longer in her presence. I wanted to hate her for having a claim on Auric, but that was hard when she was being so friendly and kind. It wasn’t her fault that Auric had kept their betrothal from me, and she was trying to help me.

So I swallowed my pain, clutched the dress close to my aching heart, and simply said, “Thank you.”