Page 93 of A Fragile Enchantment

Tension slipped between them like a knife. The last time they were alone, he’d looked at her so tenderly, his hair and eyes washed cool and silver. She did not want to remember it all so vividly. The gentleness of his callused hands against her skin, the reverence of his gaze on her. But now, Kit glared at her with pure and utter reproach. She didn’t know how to cross this gulf, or if therewasany crossing this gulf. There was nothing to do but pound on the door he had slammed shut between them.

“Why not?”

“I can’t let Jack take the fall for what our father did,” he said lowly. “He’s spent his whole life protecting me. It’s time to repay the favor.”

Of all the foolish, self-sacrificing things he could do…! If he would not call off the engagement for her sake, perhaps she could appeal to him in another way. “But there is no guarantee Jack’s plan will work! Besides, it is wrong of you to drag Infanta Rosa into this unknowingly. If you had any honor at all, you would let her go free of this engagement.”

Coldly, he asked, “Have you gotten everything out of your system yet?”

“No! Why are you so determined to be unhappy? Why do you think you deserve nothing better?” Her voice wavered. “I know Ihave lost all claim to the ability to make you happy. But if there is any other way to do your duty, to fight for what you believe in, then why are you doing this to yourself?”

Kit looked stricken. “I can’t risk it.”

“Riskwhat,Kit? Can you truly tell me you want to do this?” She felt wild and reckless, like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, rather than a balcony. The force of her feelings swelled like a storm within her. If anyone were to find them here, it would be beyond ruinous, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. She couldn’t let it end like this. “Tell me you do. Tell me you will be content. Tell me you will have no regrets, and I will wish you well. I will leave Avaland at once, and I will not look back. I will remember you fondly, and I will not wish for you to think of me more than you ought.”

He was silent.

“Tell me,” she whimpered, “please.”

“It was cruel of you to come here.”

“Cruel?” She clenched her fists at her sides. “What is cruel is befriending me and treating me like an equal. What is cruel is—”

In one fluid motion, he dropped his cigar and crossed the space between them. Her back hit the wall. He loomed over her, all coiled tension, and the heat of his body flooded over her like a wave. He must’ve read the longing in her, for his pupils dilated. By now, she knew intimately what hunger looked like on his face. There was a fire kindling in his eyes, and fool that she was, she was all too eager to burn. His breath trembled against her lips.

This,she thought.This is cruel.

“What’s cruel,” he said, “is that you let me hope.”

When he spoke, his mouth moved against hers. The softest, feather-light pressure. The ghost of a kiss she would never have again. A punishment—whether for himself or her, she couldn’t be certain. The agony was greater than she ever could have concocted for herself in her worst nightmares.

But then his mouth captured hers, hard and insistent andangry.

Niamh’s eyes widened, riveted on him. Desire turned her molten. Indignation filled her with stubborn resistance. But as his teeth tugged on her lower lip, as he slid a knee between hers, her eyes fluttered helplessly shut. She arched up to mold herself against him. The rough moan she drew from him pooled low within her. Faced with his fervent, unyieldingwant,she couldn’t remember for the life of her what she’d come here for, or what they’d been arguing about.

Then, she heard a terrible sound: the creak of the balcony door opening.

The noise of the club flowed out: laughter, the clink of glasses and coins.

Kit pulled back sharply. Golden light—and panic—sparked in the depths of his eyes. Before she could blink, the wisteriaseizedher. Its vines looped around her arms and waist, then all but dragged her back into the shadows. New growth shot out, delicate and glittering faintly with magic, to conceal her entirely from view. Their petals made her nose itch, but she held her breath and stifled the sneeze. She could hardly resent the rough treatment when he’d saved her. Again.

Jack stepped outside. “There you are. What are you doing out here?”

“Nothing,” Kit said, sounding just a little breathless. “Just getting some air.”

Jack eyed him suspiciously, but came to stand beside him. He rested a hand on Kit’s shoulder, and Kit did not pull away. “I know this has been difficult, but you are doing the right thing.”

Kit’s jaw worked, but he made no reply.

“How can I make things right between us?” Jack hunched over the railing. “After tomorrow, you will go on to live your own life. I do not want us to part like this, with so much regret between us.”

“Just let it go, Jack,” Kit said wearily. “Don’t torture yourselfanymore. Not for my sake. These past few days have helped me to understand you more. On some level, I always have understood.”

“I hope you know that I love—”

“Yeah. I know.” Kit tensed. He stared out into the night, but even from here, Niamh could see sadness overtake his expression. “I do, too.”

Jack turned to face him. “Kit, I…”