Page 93 of Heart’s Rescue

Arryn’s head snaps up. She looks like she’s about to cry. I walk out of the hallway and into the throne room, where I spread my hands wide. Just like Arryn in the snow of another world, begging for mercy.

“You can have my heart,” I announce. “To get Arryn back home.”

Everyone in the room is staring at me with wide eyes. Even Aloserin. It makes my skin crawl.

“Shit,” I say, with a shrug. “It’s not like I’m using it.”

“Rowan,” Arryn whispers. “It won’t work. It can’t be one-sided. You have to— to care about me.”

Ouch. Apparently, my heart could break even further, because that felt like a rusty dagger between my ribs. I walk forward, resisting the very strong urge to kick Folwynn’s unconscious body as I pass, until I’m standing in front of Arryn. She’s trembling. Voids, I want to pull her into my arms.

Instead, I raise one finger to brush her cheek. She shivers at my touch. I look up, running my eyes around the room, from the guards to Prince Folwynn’s body to the freaking King of the Fall sitting on his obsidian throne.

I swallow hard. It’s only awkward if you make it awkward, right?

“I’m sorry for what I said,” I begin. My voice is trembling, but that’s all right. I’ll get there. “I would love to go to the Worlds Above with you, Lady Arryn. I would love it more than anything.”

I am very, very aware of how many people are watching the low-born orphan with the freak magic humiliate himself in front of a lady from another world. My gaze drops to the floor. I suck in another breath, then force myself to look Lady Arryn in her dark, beautiful eyes.

“I do care about you,” I say. “My heart— It’s already yours.”