“Do whatever you want, Verity Chastain,” I say coldly.
“Altair.” She reaches for my elbow, but I glide to the side, just out of reach.
I look over my shoulder at her, my eyes dark and furious. “I don’t care what you do.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re being childish.”
“Childish?” I arch a brow. “I thought you would be pleased; I’m releasing you to return to your lover and your family.”
“It’s your fault,” she hisses. “I wouldn’t ask to go back if it weren’t for you.”
I bristle, shoulders stiffening. “I’m so repulsive you simply can’t stand my presence any longer? Then I’ll free you.” I turn and shout down the hall, “Navi!” fury lacing my voice.
She strides around the corner, her face carefully blank. “Yes, Altair?”
“Escort Verity to the nearest portal,” I say, waving lazily towards Verity’s irate figure.
Navi’s lips part in surprise. “Altair, surely--”
“Now,” I whisper forcefully. “Do it now.”
“Come with me,” Navi commands, turning to Verity. As they stride away, Navi’s bright green eyes slip towards me.
I avoid Verity’s gaze. She stares at me as she passes, but I gaze resolutely at the wall behind her. When they’ve disappeared around the corner, my shoulders sag in defeat. Verity still insisted on leaving, even after we grew closer. I laugh mirthlessly, what could I have expected, anyway? I brought her here against her will, befriending her doesn’t change that.
I stalk to my room, anger boiling in my gut. Heat washes over me as I replay my time with Verity in my mind. Her initial obstinance. Her charm. The moments she told me of her family. Her lilting voice as she read to me each night. All of it meant nothing to her.
The walls shake as I slam the door behind me. I move to the balcony and peer over it, towards the cliff face below. At the bottom of this cliff is the nearest portal to the human world. I had my scholars create it nearby and within view of my room purposefully. I regret it now. I can’t resist watching knowing that I have a clear view of the portal from my room.
I watch as Navi appears around the bottom of the cliff, Verity in tow. She’s still dressed in her elegant gown. A dress I had specially commissioned for her, to match her eyes. A soft, blue light flares in the darkness below as Navi opens the portal. She gestures for Verity to enter. But Verity hesitates, her head tilting up towards me.
She may be able to make out my figure in the night, but her mortal eyes are too weak to see my expression, or the way my hands grip the railing so tightly my knuckles are white. I can see her face perfectly with my Fae eyes. I can see her forehead creased, with worry or regret or fear—I don’t know. She runs her tongue over her lips, a nervous habit.
And then she’s gone.
The portal flares once more before it closes. and I know Verity has made it safely to the mortal realm. Navi glances up and I can see the concern written clearly over her face. In her eyes, she just released the only woman who could save us from doom.
I clench my fists, imagining Verity reuniting with her lover. They’ll make love and she might tell him about her experience. But she won’t tell him everything. She won’t tell him about the way she kissed me or that we need her. She’ll conveniently leave out the little details. And we’ll be gone by the time she forgets about us many years later.
The rage hits me like a boulder. I roar; a fearsome, sorrowful, and furious cry that echoes through the night. Birds burst from the trees below, disturbed from their nesting. I whirl away from the balcony and plunge into my room, striking anything within reach. I lash out at the mirror, shattering it completely. I catch my reflection in the shreds. A man with a face so twisted with anger and fear I don’t recognize him.
Pain lances through my chest and I go still. I stand in the center of my room, torn apart, breathing raggedly. Verity is gone. It’s likely she’ll never return. How can I trust a mortal? How can I trust a woman with the Bloodbane oath in her veins? I close my eyes as the rage fades. It’s my fault for trusting her. My fault for allowing her to get close to me.
She played me. Just as she intended from the beginning.
Chapter 14
Verity
Dawn in Times Square is the most peaceful time in the busy tourist and business district of New York City. The dirty cement of the sidewalk digs into my bare forearms as I try to catch my breath. The portal spit me out directly in Times Square, onto a thankfully empty sidewalk. The morning rush won’t begin for another hour or so, despite the sun peaking over the city skyline.
I struggle to my feet; the mammoth skirt of my gown keeps getting stuck under my feet. I curse under my breath and manage to right myself. I dust off the grime of the sidewalk from my arms and hike the bodice of my dress up. The portal left me out of breath, sweating, and messy. My hair is sticking out every which way from the braid.
In the distance, I see a homeless man wandering my direction. Normally, I wouldn’t be concerned. But it’s early morning in New York and I’m dressed in a ball gown with genuine crystals. I need to get off the street.
I jog down the sidewalk, skirts in hand, towards a corner where I know I’ll find a cab. All around me, buildings soar into the sky, bright neon lights shining through the murky light of dawn. Discarded cigarettes and chewing gum litter the ground. The owner of a corner grocery drifts out of his story and shakes his head at the fresh graffiti on the wall. Our eyes meet and he
