***

Midday sun streamed down through the glass dome above me, casting coloured light across my forearm and David’s chest. I frayed the tips of my fingers through the reds and blues, turning my hand to angle the colours into my palm. The world could just feel so simple at times, but not more than it did when I was in David’s arms this way. Somewhere outside, though, down the long, winding road leading to the manor, a car was edging closer, all fuelled up and ready to take my husband away for the week, turning this precious moment into one of our last.

I traced a circle around the hollow between David’s collarbones, feeling for a pulse I knew I’d never find. I’d hoped that one day Jason and I would figure out the key to reversing vampirism and that maybe I’d know what it was like to hear David’s heart beat under my ear, but the truth of that wish occurred to me only then: even if those power were still possible, David would be long dead before I figured them out.

My heart sunk, its roots reaching out for something to hold onto inside me. But without hope to find them, they were left floating around like unbound tendrils, lost.

I did feel some relief, though, finally knowing the truth about all this prophecy stuff, and it was much easier being around David with no secrets between us. I could breathe for once, and just exist with him; no longer afraid he’d read my thoughts and find out I knew more than he wanted me to. However, I did still wonder how he learned about his bloodline being cleansed. If Arthur knew, was it something David had always known, too, and was it even true that he and Lilith were meant for each other, or was it just another unfounded theory?

“How do you feel about the prophecy now?” he asked.

“I . . . good, I guess.” I nodded. “I mean, it’s tricky, because I nearly slipped up and said something to Margret and Walt the other day.”

“What?”

“What’s what?”

“What did you nearly say?”

“Oh, I nearly said that it was a relief not be tangled up in some prophecy I didn’t want a part of.”

David laughed.

“I corrected myself, though,” I added. “And said I was relieved that we were finally seeing to the prisoners at Elysium.” I grinned. “But I accidentally called it La Chateau de la Mort.”

He laughed again, propping his arm behind his head. “Was Arthur around?”

“No. Thank God.”

“Speaking of Arthur.” He lifted my top a little, rolling up to look down. “That rash you woke up with after you fell from the lighthouse is still there.”

“I know.” I cupped his hand, stopping him from touching it.

“Is it sore?”

“No. Just itchy. Like I can feel something crawling out through my skin.”

“Well, I want you to go see my uncle and get something for it. It looks as though it’s turning black.”

I cringed. “Okay. I’ll go see him once you’re gone this afternoon.”

“Okay.” He drew his arm from under his head and checked his watch, then tucked it back again. “Then call me right away and tell me what he says.”

“Won’t you be out of service at Elysium?”

“Only in the tunnels.”

“You mean dungeons.”

“Yes.” He nuzzled my head for a second. “Dungeons.”

“Will . . . when you free. . .” I swallowed my heart back down from my throat. “When you free her, will she. . .?”

“Ara, Pepper and I are done.”

“But she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t know you dumped her and fell in love with—”

“Ara, enough.” He slid out from under me and hooked his legs over the side of the bed. “This is hard enough as it is, without you adding your concerns.”

“David, I’m sorry. I—”

He stood up as. “Pepper is a part of my past. Were it not for the fact that she is one of the prisoners granted pardon, I’d not have any contact with her.”

“Why?”

“She broke the law.”

“So she’s nothing to you now?”

He turned away. “It’s just how I feel.”

“Harsh.” I crawled across the bed and hopped out, coming to stand next to David. “Would you hate me if I did something illegal?”

“Just . . . don’t.”

I half laughed. “Why are you so serious when it comes to the law?”

“It’s just the way I am, Ara.” He walked to the blanket box and zipped up the duffel bag there. “It’s the way I’ve always been. You know that.”

“I know.” I stopped behind him, searching the set of his shoulders for an answer I wasn’t sure I wanted. “David?”

“What?”

“You—” Carefully and cautiously, I reached across and touched his back. “You are only going to Elysium, right?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just . . . you’re not sneaking off to kill Drake, are you?”

He turned with a smile and reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “I will return to you this time, mon amour. You have my word.”

Chapter Six

No one could imagine from looking up at the beige wall around the Garden of Lilith that a menagerie of life thrived behind it. Yellow beams of summer light reached down through the pink leaves of oddly shaped trees, turning the shrubs along the path purple, like a canvas of endless colours to distract my lonely thoughts. I balanced my toes over the cobblestones, avoiding the cool, slippery moss growing between each one, and made my way slowly to the water fountain at the centre of the garden. Tiny dots of water rose from the stone statue to catch a ride on the breeze, greeting my cheeks with cool kisses before sweeping out of the garden and far away.

I wiped my face with the back of my wrist and took a seat on the grey ledge, laying my book down beside me. There was something magical and peaceful about this place but, for some reason, despite no one being allowed here without invitation from the queen, I never really felt alone—never really felt like this was my garden.

Beside me, a small splash caught my attention. I dipped my fingers into the pond, sending a school of orange fish scattering under lily pads, making them ripple as if they were breathing. But I didn’t care if the fish ran away. I didn’t even what their company today. I just didn’t really want to see anyone. Didn’t want anyone else to ask me how I was feeling now that David was gone, then look away, disinterested, when I said I felt like crying. The only answer anyone wanted was, “I’m doing well.” I got so sick of saying it; so sick of everyone ignoring the lie they heard in my tone, that ‘alone’ had become the only place I could stand to be. I’d come out here to the Garden in search of the gentle breeze that moved the leaves in a summer song, harmonised with the deep hum of frogs croaking. But as my thoughts stopped for a second so I could listen to that peaceful sound, my ears pricked. I heard nothing. No insects scuffling about. No frogs calling for a mate. No birds chattering and bickering over worms. And my skin crawled with the very distinct feeling that I was being watched.

I stood slowly and turned around, searching every shadow or flicker of movement. “Eve? Is that you?”

“Ara?” A tall silhouette appeared in the glare of sunlight. I shielded my face, turning to run when it grabbed my arm. “Ara. Ara,” he said more gently, pulling me in, wrapping his arms all the way around my head and shoulders.

I pushed out from the firmness of his chest, catching the scent of orange chocolate. And all the fight in me stopped, my lips falling softly part, hands to my sides as I took two slow steps backward. “I’m dreaming,” I stated.

He smiled down at me, his green eyes warmer than they’d been since I couldn’t remember when. “No, my love. You’re not.”

And that was it. My lip quivered, my chest went tight, and a full-scale melt down started off for the finish line. “What are you doing back?” I wailed. “You’ve only been gone for one night.”

He cupped a hand to the back of my neck and drew me to him again. “I got all the way out to Elysium, unpacked my bags in my old room and, when Quaid brought me the prisoner manifest, I suddenly realised I didn’t care.”

My face rolled up to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean. . .” He sighed impatiently, but not like he was irritated with me, more himself. “Why would I be hundreds of miles across the country, releasing vampires I don’t believe deserve it, when I have such little time left in the one place in this world I actually want to be?”

I brushed my hair from my cheeks. “With . . . do you mean here? Being king?”

“No.” He laughed, scooping the last strand of hair away from my lip. “Silly girl. With you.”

My mouth opened but nothing came out.

“I know,” he said, dropping his hands from my face to take a seat on the fountain’s ledge. “The fact that you’re surprised by that breaks my heart, Ara, and proves to me that the man I thought I was is not the king that stands, well, sits before you now.”

I sat down next to him, watching our shadows on the ground blend and meet as one. “You have been a bit. . .”

“Mean,” he said in short. “I’ve been a king but not a husband. A lawyer and judge, but not a man.”

“David,” I said softly, sweeping his hand into mine, and he actually turned in his seat so he could look at me. “I understand, you know. I get it. I do. You’ve not only had to deal with the painful burden of going to your death, but you’re also coming to terms with the fact that you’ll be leaving me alone. Which is hard for you, I know, because I also know you don’t want me to be sad, but you’re duty bound to do it anyway.”

His eyes drifted to our locked hands, a gentle smile holding back the pain I could see in them. “You know me well. But it doesn’t excuse—”

“No, but I know something else about you, David, and I’m not sure even you’ve realised this is a factor in your moods.” I exhaled through my nose, trying to word what was buzzing around in my brain. “Royalty is important to you. And you’re a good king. But you’ll only be king for a short time. I know you want to make sure that, in your short reign, people remember you as one of the great ones. I understand that about you.” I patted his hand. “I understand that you’ve been battling with these two parts of yourself, and it’s hard to be a good king and a kind husband. I couldn’t do half the things you do, David, and I respect you for that. And I know, at the end of the day, you still love me as much as the moment you met me. So I’m okay with your nasty side from time to time. And if you weren't going to die in a few months, I know that, eventually, you’d have found a balance between being a king and a loving husband, but we don’t have that time.” I cupped his hand and squeezed it until he looked at me. “So, I understand, and I don’t want you to feel guilty about anything.”