Page 96 of Crimson Kingdom
Then the door closed behind us, and it was just Evander and me.
Alone. On our wedding night.
CHAPTERFIFTY
The room was perfect.
White petals trailed the way to an enormous four poster bed framed by a pale, gauzy canopy. Small, romantic sconces flickered along the walls, and a low table was already adorned with wine, grapes, and cheeses.
It should have all been perfect.
But my stomach still churned from the inconsequential weight of the vial tucked into my dress, the frustrating reality that I could feel so much but still have so little settled.
That for all Evander had shown me, he still held the most important card close to his chest.
Pretending not to notice his scrutinizing expression, I sank into one of the low chairs, my hands going to my tiara.
I should have thought to have someone else remove it for me. Instead, I had to take the time to painstakingly unwind my hair from the silver combs, doing my best not to acknowledge the increasingly uncomfortable silence in the room.
Evander moved to stand before me, reaching his hand out to help, but I leaned away.
“I’ve got it,” I told him.
He froze, assessing me with his too-discerning gaze.
I averted my eyes, knowing that every piece of me would crumble if I looked for too long at his unreasonably gorgeous face.
Wasn’t that what always happened? I fell into him whenever he was around and managed to avoid the things that really mattered?
“Lemmikki.” His voice was between a question and a warning, both of which I ignored.
I finally wrested the tiara free, setting it on the table next to me. Then I put my head in my hands under the guise of massaging it, unraveling the few curls that were still piled up and allowing them to go free.
A warm hand came under my chin, tilting my face upward.
“Lemmikki,” he said the word again quietly. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
This was the last thing I wanted to talk about tonight, or ever. If I could take five minutes to compose myself, I would be...fine. So, I opened my mouth to deny anything was wrong, but he cut me off with a low growl.
“And don’t say nothing, because as I have said, you are a mediocre liar at best.”
Blowing out a slow breath, I willed the kind of bravery into myself that I didn’t remotely feel.
“What happens after this?” I asked.
His eyes flitted to the bed, and I hastened to clarify.
“Not…that.” A sigh escaped me. “After tonight.”
“We return to Socair and have another wedding,” he said evenly, his brow furrowed like he wasn’t sure where I was going with this.
“And then?” I prodded.
Understanding dawned on his features, along with a generous degree of wariness. “Whatever you want to happen.”
I nodded, looking away. He knew that I had objected to this plan, so his maintaining it as a viable option felt...pointed, at the least.
Pulling the small vial out of my dress, I spun it between my fingers.