A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows

I untied my cloak from my shoulders before standing and moving to the bedroll Evren had provided for me. He watched my every move as I laid down with my back facing him and covered myself with my cloak.

“How long until we arrive in Nabál?”

“A few days at best.” Evren spoke softly before I could hear him rolling over behind me.

He wasn’t touching me, not a single inch of skin next to mine, but I could still feel him over every part of my body. He was so close to me. If I scooted back even an inch, my body would have met his.

And I felt desperate to do so.

“And at worst?”

“I don’t know.” He sighed behind me. “I don’t want to think about it at worst.”

“And what happens when the threat is over?” I whispered my biggest fear. I was scared to death of the Blood Court and what they could mean for our world, but I was more fearful of going back to that palace.

I didn’t want to be Gavril’s betrothed. I didn’t want him to feed from me while his brother watched.

“I don’t know, Adara.” His fingers trailed over my back, and I jolted forward at the contact. “I have no idea what’s going to become of us.”

He meant us as in his kingdom, his family, but the word hit my gut as if he was speaking about the two of us alone.

“I’m not going back,” I whispered only loud enough for me to hear, but Evren’s hand stilled on my back.

“Get some rest, princess.”

I allowed my eyes to flutter closed as he pulled my cloak over my shoulder, and with my enemy at my back, I fell into a restful sleep.