The seven of us had survived three yearly “purges” because we were each somehow indispensable to the playing company. In the course of four years we were transformed from a rabble of bit players to a small, meticulously trained dramatic troupe. Some of our theatrical assets were obvious: Richard was pure power, six foot three and carved from
Scene 3Kitabı okuyor
“Because I can’t become something capable of leveling cities. I couldn’t live with myself. You know that. You couldn’t live with allowing me to become that. Neither could Casteel.” I folded my hand over his arm. “Maybe that will never happen. I will do everything I can to not let it. But if it does?
You would be doing the right thing. You know that. You would be doing the thing that needed to be done.”
Kieran’s hold tightened even further. He didn’t respond. Not for a long time. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit, Poppy. I don’t think you will allow it to happen,” he told me, shifting his arm so my hand slipped into his. He tangled his fingers with mine. “But if I’m wrong…” I held my breath.
“I will do it,” Kieran swore with another shudder. “I will stop you.”
yaaKitabı okudu
“It made me think of how when I met you, I was looking for the Maiden, but I found a Princess, a Queen—my wife.” He laughed, and it sounded as if it were one of awe. “I don’t know. It just made me think about how you find things you never knew you needed when you’re looking for something completely opposite.”
“Or not looking at all,” I said, my nose scrunching. “Or maybe I was looking. I went to the Red Pearl that night because I wanted to live. And I found you.”
“I love you, Casteel,” I said. His chest stilled against mine and then rose sharply. “I love—”
Casteel kissed me, his lips moving over mine so gently, so tenderly. It was a sweet and slow kiss as if it were the very first time our lips had ever come together, as if he were learning the shape and feel of my mouth against his. He shuddered, and a wave of tears reached my eyes.
He drew back enough that his forehead rested against mine. “I didn’t...” He cleared his throat as I ran my fingers along his jaw. “I mean, I...I thought you did. I believed that—or maybe I needed to believe it—but I don’t think I really knew.” His voice roughened again as he reached between us, wiping away a tear that had escaped. A moment passed, and his chest rose with a sharp breath. All the many masks Casteel wore cracked and fell away then, as they had in the ruins when he’d thrown his head back and screamed. “I knew you cared for me. But love? I just didn’t know if you could after... everything.”
“Why did you tell me?” I whispered, not even sure if he was still awake or why I was asking. He’d already answered. “Why did you have to tell me that Hawke was your middle name?”
The fire crackled, spitting sparks, and I closed my eyes.
Seconds, maybe minutes later, Casteel said, “Because you needed to know that not everything was a lie.”
"It made me think of how when I met you, I was looking for the Maiden, but I found a Princess, a Queen-my wife." He laughed, and it sounded as if it were one of awe. "I don't know. It just made me think about how you find things you never knew you needed when
you're looking for something completely opposite."
Sayfa 332Kitabı okudu
Why did you tell me?” I whispered, not even sure if he was still awake or why I was asking. He’d already answered. “Why did you have to tell me that Hawke was your middle name?”
The fire crackled, spitting sparks, and I closed my eyes.
Seconds, maybe minutes later, Casteel said, “Because you needed to know that not everything was a lie.”
"You asked me to join you.”
“I did.”
I stared at him. “So why did you ask me to join you if you think it’s a bad idea?”
He leaned against the booth, tossing his arm along the back. “Because good ideas are ideas rarely wanted… or needed.”
