“Do you see that chain?” Venus's emerald eyes twirled toward me, hair the color of chili peppers draped across her shoulder. She waved her hand at the ground. A fine gold chain appeared and snaked around her ankle.
“This… is a binding charm,” she said slowly, so I wouldn’t miss a word. “Do you see where it leads?”
My gaze followed the cord to the beautiful boy, motionless next to me. My stomach tightened. Confused, I met his eyes.
“Is that… is it true?” I was barely able to force enough air to speak.
Venus looped her arms around Adrius's neck and squinted at me. “When you killed my mother—”
“I didn’t mean to kill her,” I interjected. “I was only…”
“Really, I don’t need the sordid details.” With a shrug she shook her head, giving me a sad smile. “But when you killed her, the binding curse on Adrius became mine. Now it binds him to me. Although…” She leaned her head against his chest. “You’ve always been mine. Heart, soul, and… body.” Her fingers trailed down his cheek.
Adrius flinched. His mouth tightened into a harsh line, and his breath became so shallow he was barely breathing at all.
With a casual, flirty sway, she moved to the pitcher I hadn’t noticed on the table and poured herself a glass. She handed it to me. “Lemonade?” she offered, tilting her head.
I made a face and declined.
Toasting no one in particular, she drank the entire contents in one swallow and set the glass down.
“Had it not been for that silly transgression between the three of us so long ago, we wouldn’t even be having this uncomfortable little chat. Zanthiel always did know how to spoil a good thing.” She gave me a pitiful half smile, the kind that implies sorry about your luck but translates to not that I give a crap.
Reality rained down on me. This was the girl they’d fought over. Seeing her here, so comfortable with him, choked me with jealous fury. And Adrius just standing there… Why wasn’t he pushing her away? Denying it? Doing something? I wanted to scream, but that would take even more air, and I still couldn’t breathe.
“You need to go, Venus.” When he finally spoke, the words came out in a low growl.
“If that’s what you want, my love…” She grinned and flipped her hair as she pivoted. “See, Lorelei…” Her voice was annoyingly smug, like the purr of a cat. “The bitter truth isn’t so easy to swallow.”
“Yeah, well… I’m developing a taste for it,” I mumbled, twisting the ends of my hair around my finger while my anger punched a hole in my chest.
She pecked Adrius on the cheek. He turned away, but not before she marked her territory in bright red lipstick. Then she left, in the way people often came and went here — vanishing in an ominous torpedo of swirling ebony smoke.
The pressure building in me reached boiling point and I whipped around to face Adrius.
“So, you and Octãhvia’s daughter…” I nodded, eyebrows arched. “Nice.”
“Lorelei…”
Every muscle in my body stiffened, my hands balled at my sides at the sound of his voice.
“No really, you make a perfect couple. I thought, foolishly, somehow we might find a way… But it doesn’t matter. It’s great. You and what’s-her-name can fly off into the sunset.”
“Her name’s Venus.”
“I so don’t care.”
“Lorelei, please — calm down. You are taking things way out of context here.”
“Am I, Adrius? Well, then you better enlighten me. How exactly am I doing that?” A toxic blend of insecurity and envy bubbled over. “I saw the chain binding you. She pretty much said you’d be together forever, and I didn’t hear you deny it.” My volume escalated. “Am I missing something?” It was all I could do not to burst into tears. Instead, I threw my hands in the air and with one last accusing glare, I stomped away.
“Lorelei, wait.” He caught my wrist, and when I tried to claw his fingers from my arm, he snagged the other one and pinned them to his chest.
“Are you asking me if I knew? Yes, I knew the effect Octãhvia’s death would have on the curse. She altered the curse when I was trapped in Noctria.” Ratcheting up his sleeve, he revealed a crescent moon shaped scar on his forearm. “A slice of flesh is part of the spell,” he explained, unrolling his sleeve.
Inwardly I winced. I hated that she’d hurt him, and if it weren’t for being seriously annoyed with him right now, my concern might have shown.
“But I couldn’t tell you then because I didn’t want anything getting in the way of what needed to be done. And I didn’t tell you after because it didn’t matter. It doesn’t change anything.”
My laughter came out with bitter sarcasm. “It changes everything. Clearly, she’s still in love with you. You had feelings for her too once… as far as I can tell she’s been the only other one… aside from me.” I choked back rising tears. “How can you stand there and say nothing’s changed?”
“My feelings for you will never change,” he said quietly, leaning toward me.
I exhaled an exasperated sigh, my outstretched palms halting him from getting any closer. “Seriously? That’s it? That’s the best you can do? After everything you said about being truthful?”
“Just let me explain…”
“I-I can’t do this right now,” I said, shaking my head trying to forget what was happening. “I have to go home.”
“Don’t do this.”
“My mother’s still sick and she needs me. I did what everyone wanted. The Nevermore is free from big bad witches. You can all live happily ever after. I’m so done.”
“I’m coming with you,” he said firmly.
I frowned up at him, as if he was speaking Elvish. “No…you can’t.”
“Watch me. You need me to return home, and I promised to find Vervain for your mother’s elixir. I’m coming with you.” There was a determination I’d never heard in his voice before. “Unless, your feelings for me have changed…”
“Of course not, but—”
“Then it’s settled.”
The friction between us escalated as we locked in a silent battle of the wills. Finally, I rolled my eyes, too conflicted to argue any further. Running from Venus and his father couldn’t possibly solve our problems, but this wasn’t the time to discuss it. As stubborn as he complains I am, he is far worse — and I did need his help to get home. I glowered at him, then wheeled around blindly and slammed face first into one of the Elven guards of the Citadel. He looked down at me with a pompous smirk and winked. Still as obnoxious as ever.
“My lord…” He bowed to Adrius. “King Etienne has called an assembly.”
With a sidelong glance, I walked away, but the guard called out after me.
“My lady? The king has requested the presence of both yourself and Lord Adrius… immediately.” His tone was all professionalism and respect, but behind it a smug gleam in his eyes hinted at something else.
Tight-jawed and trembling, I searched Adrius’s expression, but found nothing to soothe my unraveling nerves. The color had drained from his face, his mouth set in a grim line, and the normally unflappable demeanor he wore was visibly shaken. His hand clutched the hilt of his sword; ready to draw. I’d seen that stance enough to know what it meant. It was then I realized the guard was using the term requested quite loosely. For whatever reason, this summoning was not only non-negotiable… it was bad news of epic proportions.