Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
I squeeze his hands in return. “I appreciate the offer, and I’ll consider it.”
He glances over my shoulder and nods toward the opposite side of the courtyard. “Now, make your way toward Misha before he explodes from jealousy.”
He winks, and I take two steps away before I spot Misha. He’s speaking with a beautiful fair-skinned female with silky dark hair. Their bodies are angled toward each other as if they’re in the middle of a private conversation. He’s laughing.
He deserves to be happy.
“Look at you,” someone says, touching my shoulder.
I spin and my eyes go wide. The queen. “Abriella!” I squeak.
“Surprise!” She leans forward to press a kiss to my cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d be coming tonight?” I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I’d known. Likely I would’ve feigned sickness and stayed in my room.
No. I would’ve risked saying the wrong thing to the princess’s sister. I would’ve risked exposure. Just for this last night with Misha.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure we were going to be able to make it and didn’t want to risk disappointing you.” Abriella glances over her shoulder, where Finn stands. He surveys me with silver eyes that—
My stomach clenches at the sight of those silver eyes. Just like his uncle’s. I’ll never be able to see eyes like that without remembering the horrors Mordeus made Jas endure. Did she think of Mordeus every time Finn looked at her?
Brie exchanges a look with Finn, and when she turns back to me, she lowers her voice. “We were helping Sebastian with a problem in the Court of the Sun. It seems there’s a sector of his population demanding he take a wife.”
I paste on a smile, though I have no idea who Sebastian is. “Does he have any prospects?” I ask.
“His advisors made a suggestion, but I’m not sure I like it.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“I’m not sure you would like it either.” She cocks her head to the side, studying me. “Especially if what I hear about you and Misha is true?” My cheeks heat, and all my worries about not knowing any Sebastian skitter away. A grin splits across the queen’s face. “I’ll admit I always hoped you two might truly see each other.”
I bow my head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me to a less crowded corner. “You don’t need to be ashamed, Jas. Tell me everything.”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“The red in your cheeks says otherwise.” She glances over her shoulder, and I follow her gaze to the male in question. I realize he’s watching me—no, watching Jas. “The way he looks at you says otherwise.”
“It’s nothing. We’ve become friends.”
“He’s searching for a wife, and he’s spending all his time with you instead of the females he should be courting. That means something.”
“Well, you did ask him to, did you not? Spend time with me? Get me out of my room and away from my books?”
She waves this away. “I need to know what you think about this. I know you didn’t want to leave the shadow court, but you look so good and seem to be settling in beautifully here. If Misha is interested in pursuing something more, would you be interested?”
My heart aches. Misha is caring and thoughtful, and he deserves better than the games I’m playing. I don’t know if he and the real Jasalyn would make a good couple or not, but I hate that I’m interfering with his future like this. Worse is that, deep down, I know that I would stay longer if I could. I would give myself more time with Misha. Even if none of this is real. Even knowing it would hurt that much more when the time to leave comes.
Tomorrow. This will be over tomorrow.
I stare at my shoes. “I don’t think so.”
I can feel the shadow queen’s disappointment, but I don’t look up.
“I won’t push you,” she finally says, “and I will always fight for you to have full agency over your future. I don’t want you to be a political pawn, but, Jas”—she waits until I meet her gaze—“you need to know that as long as you’re single, advisors of every court will attempt to use you that way. If you have a chance to pursue a relationship that is truly based in love, that is what I want for you.”
I nod but avoid her eyes. “Thank you.”
With a sigh, she squeezes my shoulders. “We need to make our rounds. Unfortunately, Finn and I can’t stay long tonight, but we are planning to return next week for a proper visit.”
“I’m glad you got to come.”
She pulls me into a hug and whispers in my ear. “You deserve all the happiness. If you catch even a glimpse, run after it and grab it with both hands.”