Page 101 of Only Flames Remain

“Aveline?”

She pushed past me, an angry flush coloring her cheeks. I thought we had parted on good terms last night, and I was interested in what it might be that had angered her between then and now.

“I have been searching everywhere for you!” she accused.

Her words weren’t directed at me but at Enora, who had plopped down onto the settee. It was placed right beside the chair I had sat in last night…when I had drank Aveline’s blood.

“You found me.” She shrugged, as if finding her in the crown prince’s quarters was entirely normal.

Aveline’s gaze flitted between the two of us, accusation clear in the crease of her brow. I raised my hands in defense as I padded back toward the bed.

“I just woke up. This one was pounding on my door. No sense of propriety or decorum. You would think she was raised in a barn…”

Enora stood. “I…I…”

“Why are you here?” Aveline asked, crossing her own arms over her chest.

The movement drew my eyes to the shift she wore—and I immediately turned away. It was practically see-through, her breasts peaked behind the thin material. I ran a hand through my messy bed head as I tried to think of anything else.

Trolls. Nixies. My teacher from the first year of school with the wart on her nose.

Gods help me this woman was going to be the death of me.

“Why are you here?” Enora asked in rebuttal.

Aveline’s expression was incredulous. “I asked you first.”

Enora opened her mouth to speak, but words escaped her. She didn’t have a good excuse for coming to the prince’s rooms at dawn. She didn’t want to tell her that we needed to discuss the mating bond. She didn’t want her to know about it yet. Because Aveline was already planning to marry the crown prince of Myros.

Fury rose up the back of my throat at the thought and I collapsed onto the bed, leaning back onto my palms. I was utterly exhausted after last night, the blood just now beginning to run through my system and strengthen me. The wound at my side was painless, though I couldn’t readily see the state of its healing beneath the smeared poultice from last night that had hardened against it.

“Enora…why are you here?” Aveline pressed, moving toward her.

“I…I can’t tell you,” Enora replied, her gaze falling to the floor.

“Can’t tell me, or won’t?” Aveline snapped angrily.

Enora’s gaze narrowed. “Why are you so cross with me? Because you found me in Sorin’s quarters? I have no interest in the prince…trust me.”

“That isn’t why I’m angry with you.” Aveline took an encroaching step forward.

Enora tilted her head. “So…you are angry with me. Why?”

“What was Noor talking about? In the library last night?” Aveline asked.

My head swiveled between the two of them as they engaged in conversation as if I weren’t here. As if these weren’t my chambers.

“I already told you last night. I don’t know,” Enora said.

“Don’t you?” Aveline accused.

“What are you on about?” Enora asked, her gaze flitting to mine.

I raised my hands in defense once more, all but happy to sit here silently if Aveline’s ire wasn’t directed toward me.

“You have been hiding something from me.” Aveline pointed at her as tears rose to her eyes.

I stood before I had even made the conscious decision to do so. I was crossing the room as if I was being pulled by a thread stronger than my own free will. I did not stop until I stood before Aveline.