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He slipped his arms through the smooth jacket sleeves, the heavy muscles of his biceps straining the fabric. My gaze lingered a fraction too long, and I struggled to pull my attention away.
“Yes, I can, and you won’t be alone. The Hand will check on you. You have food, clothes, and everything you need here. I made sure of it.”
That was when the pieces clicked, and my breath hitched. Samkiel hadn’t remade this massive palace for himself. He’d made it for me. A warm feeling I thought I’d buried with Gabby stirred.
And a lock on a door in a house rattled.
“... you merely speak my true name if you have the slightest headache, and I’ll return sooner than I intend.”
I shook my head, not realizing he had been talking this entire time. “Samkiel, I’m not your pet.” I squared my shoulders. “I won’t remain locked up, nor will I stay.”
He fixed his collar before dropping his hands to his sides. “Yes, you will. There are about a hundred or more acres of forest surrounding this place. It would take you weeks to walk to the city, and that is if some creature did not make a meal of you first.”
“So I am a prisoner, then?” I folded my arms. “Are you going to bring out handcuffs next?”
“Is that something you would like?” he asked.
I felt my cheeks blaze hot and instantly regretted bringing it up and changed the subject. “How long do I have to stay here?”
“You’re a criminal, both on Onuna and here on Rashearim. So it’s either this, or you rot in a prison cell beneath the council hall.”
“What?”
His brows furrowed. “What did you think would happen after you rampaged across Onuna and damn near destroyed the world? Consequences, Dianna, your actions have consequences.”
I wrapped my arms around myself so tight I could have broken a rib. Samkiel tucked a stack of papers and a book beneath his arm and stepped closer.
“Can you answer one thing for me? Honestly?”
I rolled my eyes. “We’re playing this game again?”
Samkiel didn’t say anything. He just stood there, watching me and waiting.
“Fine. What?” I grumbled. I knew I sounded petulant, and I didn’t care. He was leaving me.
“You weren’t planning to come back to me at all, were you?”
I heard the pain in his voice, and a part of me ached, but I knew it had been the only choice. He deserved so much better.
“No.”
He nodded and turned away.
“You would have been happy,” I said to his retreating back. “If you would have just let me go and kept your warriors out of my way. This would have been over, and you could have made this damned castle for your rightful queen.”
Samkiel glanced at me over his shoulder, a small glow of silver dancing behind his storm-filled eyes. “You’re a fool if you think I would be happy in a world where you did not exist.”
I’d expected anger. I always did when I lashed out, but not this. No, this was so much worse. It extinguished every bit of flame and rage that sustained me. I turned my head away from him.
“This is the safest place for you right now. No matter how much you despise me, I will not have you rotting in a cell. I couldn’t bear it. So I will give you your space while I try to figure everything else out.”
I didn’t look back as his footsteps faded away. A pop of bright light raced past the window, and I was completely alone once more. I reached up, rubbing my hands over my face, contemplating everything that had happened in the last few days, months, and hours.
Dropping my hands, I looked around the massive room. The dark green and gold-trimmed walls, the sparkling chandeliers, and the plush, comfortable furniture were beyond beautiful. My eyes caught on the blanket draped over the end of the long lounge couch. A glass sat on the side table, and a stack of books rested on the floor within easy reach. Samkiel had been sleeping down here. I looked up, remembering the layout of the second level. This spot was right below the bed I’d slept in. If I had made even the slightest sound, he would have heard. My chest tightened, some flicker of emotion trying to claw its way through my shields.
I moved away from the couch, unable to process what that all meant. I sat on the window seat, piled with large overstuffed pillows, staring out at the beautiful day. The distant mountains taunted me, rolling pink clouds obscuring their peaks. If I had to be in a prison, at least this was a pretty one.
My hand rested under my chin as I sighed, contemplating what I should even do here. The sun bathed the forest, but I saw no birds flitting through the trees or small creatures scurrying about.
