Page 227 of A Touch of Poison
As soon as he reached me, he would attack.
85
Bastian
It felt like Kat was gone for a very long time, but I fully accepted that was down to my infatuation—one minute felt like forever. Between fetching more drinks and deciding to dance, the rest of the group filtered off until Faolán, Rose, and I remained at the back of the ballroom.
She stared off to one side, nursing her drink. Faolán examined his, brow furrowed. I couldn’t stop scanning the room for Kat’s return.
“Oh, hmm. Yes.” Rose craned over the crowd towards the entrance chamber. “I think Perry needs my help over there.” She pointed, but I saw no sign of the woman. “Back shortly.” She flashed me a bright smile before lifting Faolán’s chin and forcing him to meet her gaze. “I’m sure you two have plenty to talk about.” She nudged his chest before slipping away into the crowd.
Once she was gone, I sidled closer to him. “Look, I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry,” he said at the same time.
We laughed, and it was almost like we hadn’t argued.
“No, I’m sorry.” His scowl deepened. “The marriage laws were the only thing that kept Rose safe when she came here—the reason wegotmarried in the first place. It terrified me to think what might’ve happened if…” He shuddered, hand scraping over his chin, which was already stubbled even though he’d been clean-shaven at the start of the ceremony. “Suppose it made me cling to those traditions too hard.”
“Well, I’m sorry too. Part of me couldn’t let go of them until I almost lost her entirely. And… I was taking my own guilt out on you… especially with her hurt like that.”
He rubbed his chest. “She looked awful. Must’ve been in a lot of pain.”
“Not that she’d let anyone else know about it.” I scoffed, even though my heart tightened at the memory of her injuries.
“She was right though. Her speech, I mean. Some of our rules and beliefs are outdated.” He frowned at his glass before emptying it in one go. “It was unfair of me to hold heror youto a contract she never chose.” He met my eye, fingers tightening around his glass. “And for that I’m sorry. After everything we’ve been through, I should’ve trusted your judgement.”
Muscles easing, I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m not sureItrust my judgement when it comes to Kat.” I gave a rueful grin. “I think I’m starting to understand why you lost your mind when Rose was in danger.”
The corner of his mouth twitched, then he was hugging me. He slapped my back, making the air burst from my lungs. “Never thought I’d see the day.” He pulled back and gave a wolfish grin. “The Serpent of Tenebris is regretting his comments about ‘human brides.’”
Scowling, I muttered into my glass.
“Don’t look so grumpy—Rose says that’s my job.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Honestly, I’m happy for you. Kat is… I like her a lot, and so does Rose. And I like you. It’s a good match.”
“Considering you dislike most people, that’s high praise indeed.”
He made a sound halfway between a growl and a laugh, and we stood there for a while, watching the dancers in companionable silence. It was a weight unloaded to no longer have this tension between us.
“Hmm.” He eyed me sidelong. “Do you think you’ll make heryour‘human bride?’”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
“Not for the next couple of centuries.”
“You know she gets a say in the matter, don’t you?”
“And I’m pretty sure I know what she’d say, if you asked.”
I wasn’t so sure. Not after her experience of marriage so far. “You’re married for a couple of years and suddenly you’re the expert on relationships?”
Chin lifting, he straightened to his full height. “Actually, yes. Rose and I are very happy. In fact, we’re—”
The high whistle of something moving at speed cut through the music. Adrenaline surged through me as two arrows streaked overhead and pinged off the king’s throne.
Fuck.
“Shit,” Faolán growled.
