A Curse of Shadows

His smile is friendly and calming. “I’m sure you will.”

Asher clears his throat loudly, making me jump a little and release Noen’s hand. “Well, we didn’t mean to interrupt your morning,” he says. “We’ll let you get back to your breakfast. My mother should be by in a couple of hours to take you to the Academy.”

Oh. Right. The royal school. Not something I’m really looking forward to, but at the same time, if learning is the key to remembering, then I’m not going to argue.

Declan takes Estee’s hand and kisses her knuckles. “I hope I’ll see you again soon.”

“Maybe,” she flirts back, but she keeps a couple of feet of space between them.

He grabs onto Noen’s shoulder and drags him from the room as I wave goodbye.

“Nice to meet the both of you,” I call after them.

“You too, Isla,” Noen manages to say before being shoved into the hallway.

Asher still stands close by and he takes another step toward me.

Estee makes an odd noise, then spins toward the bathroom. “Don’t mind me. I’m just going to shower and pretend the two of you aren’t sucking face while I’m naked in the next room.”

“Estee.” Asher and I both snarl her name at the same time.

Our situation has gone from pushing each other’s buttons to wanting to strangle each other to being restrained and almost too formal, then to making out on the stairs. Now, it seems we’re going to go through our awkward phase until we decide if there’s going to be more than kissing happening.

Of course there will be, I think and surprise even myself.

Well, I didn’t think I’d thought that far ahead, but apparently, my subconscious has and if I’m being honest, I’m not mad about it.

It’s not like I’ve never had sex. I’ve just never had sex with a king who’s also born from the gods and supposed to be my…mate.

Until thinking of him that way doesn’t make me uncomfortable, I should probably restrain my libido.

“I’m sorry if we overwhelmed you,” Asher says once we’re alone. “Noen was upset with me for not telling him you were here sooner. He’s been gone on business and I should have told him, but I wasn’t ready to share you. I’m still not, but I also know I can’t control you, nor do I want to.”

His candor is a bit of a shock, but a welcome one, especially when I was thinking some of the same things after his reaction earlier.

“Thank you for telling me,” I say earnestly. “And don’t worry about overwhelming me. That might be just what I need.”

He steps closer. “Does that only apply to meeting new-to-you people or with all things?”

His question makes my skin spark with energy and my breathing heavier. I know the answer I want to say and I almost don’t because I also know I’m still confused, but that doesn’t mean I stop the words from tumbling out of my mouth.

“All things.”

“Those two words have never sounded more perfect.” His chest rumbles and he grabs my face with both hands, holding me as if I might break, but when his lips crash against mine, there’s no holding back.

I hold on to his shirt, pressing against him, as our tongues meet with a renewed vigor. His fingers grip on to my long strands and the pinch of pain has a soft moan rising from within me.

He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead against mine, attempting to catch his breath. “Gods, Isla. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

I really don’t, but I’ve certainly tried to guess.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember,” I tell him, but he’s already shaking his head.

“Don’t ever apologize for that,” he demands, his voice rough. “We might not know for sure what happened yet, but I know it wasn’t your fault. No matter what we find out, nothing will change how I feel.”

And I think that’s what scares me most. Asher can’t truly promise that to me because while his theory makes sense that someone may have murdered me, I have to consider the alternative.

What if I did choose to leave? What if Estee knew and followed me? What if finding out what really happened changes everything?