Page 132 of Hollow Court

“I would never miss a chance to dance with you,” I said, bringing our entwined fingers to my lips.

Still, it took everything I had to turn my back on Tavish, leading Lina away to the floor.

All the way there, I felt eyes on me, like a phantom dagger between my shoulder blades. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing something important.

Something that might cost me more than this vote.

FORTY-THREE

Galina

My mind spunthe entire walk back to the estate.

The festival had been a dizzying combination of highs and lows, but mostly the former. After Davin’s altercation with Tavish, we had lost ourselves in dancing until the shadows faded from his eyes.

His cousins had joined us out on the floor, and eventually, the villagers, too, seemed to forget all about the thirty-second incident. Davin was still a bit more subdued than usual, but he eventually managed to enjoy himself again.

And now we were walking back, arm in arm, while I faced the prospect of the decision I had put off all day.

I imagined the life he was offering me. Waking up in his arms each morning. Juggling court politics with him during the day. Falling asleep next to him each night.

Davin stopped outside my door, leaning in to kiss me on the forehead.

“I’ll see you later?” he murmured quietly.

Yes, I wanted to say.And every night after that.

But I hadn’t been given the luxury of feelings for most of my life, nor choice, and I found that I was unaccustomed to dealing with either. Indecision warred within me, the hope I wanted to give in to facing off against the memories of how Davin had systematically dismantled my defenses until I was left with none to deal with the crushing, encompassing devastation that overtook me when Aino came to my rooms.

I wanted to trust him now. Ididtrust him now. But I wasn’t sure I trusted myself with that feeling.

“I’m…not sure,” I said.

He examined my features before nodding. “All right.”

And I could see that it was. That though he was disappointed, he would never be angry with me for changing my mind, for telling him no.

Take all the time you need,he had said.

As Anna helped me undress, I forced myself to take deep breaths, sorting through everything I knew.

Davin was not the same person he had been then, and neither was I. For the first time since I saw him at the Obsidian Palace, I allowed myself to leave the past behind, shutting it firmly away where it belonged.

What did I know about who Davin wasnow?

He had threatened someone tonight, for me. Not for his pride or any sense of ownership or duty. Just because he cared. About me.

He had confided in me when he didn’t have to.

He had lain in my bed and chased away the nightmares and expected nothing of me in return.

Then there was the matter of his unflinching loyalty to the people he loved.

Some things hadn’t changed since my original perception of him. He had always been charming and witty and gorgeous. And yes, he was still cocky and downright spoiled, when he wanted to be.

But I loved those things about him, too.

Slowly, I pulled on my robe and my slippers. This time, when I headed to Davin’s rooms, it didn’t feel reckless or impulsive.