Chapter 23

Davi fidgeted as he leaned against the wall outside the one room he shouldn’t be visiting. What on earth’s name was he doing there?

Two guards stood to the sides of the door.

He pressed up against the cold stone and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. His father had summoned him that evening for the first time since he’d returned. Davi was certain it was to tell him of Lorelai’s betrayal.

When he hadn’t mentioned it, why did Davi keep quiet?

Because he knew what his father would do to her.

He released a long breath. Rissa was on the other side of that door. The fiery-haired princess he couldn’t get out of his mind.

“You okay, your Highness?” the guard outside her door asked, looking sideways at him. “You look like you’re about to keel over.”

“Fine,” Davi pushed out. “I’m… fine.”

The guard chuckled. When they weren’t in his father’s presence, many of the Dreach-Dhoun soldiers dropped their stoic countenances. As soon as the king appeared, they closed themselves off, not even letting a single smile through. Davi assumed they’d seen too many of their comrades punished when his father was in one of his foul moods.

He hated that side of the man. If he hadn’t seen something else in him, he’d be in a very different place. But his father loved him. He was sure of it. That was all he could ask for, right?

Except for today when the only other family member he had stood on an opposing side. On Rissa’s side. Her emerald gaze was seared into his mind. She looked at him as if he held pieces of her world, but he couldn’t remember.

He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it back into a tail. Why couldn’t he remember? Everything else came back to him. Every moment of abuse he’d suffered at the hands of the Renaulds. All the loneliness of his imprisonment. She claimed to have been there too, but all he could see in his mind were Trystan and his father.

His father told him to be wary of the girl. She was an enchantress just as her mother had been. Lovely and deadly in the same breath. He’d seen the longing looks his father gave her as if she was Marissa Kane herself. Each time, Davi’s body tensed up defensively. He couldn’t explain it, but when his father had told him he had to leave again to deal with a magical disturbance at the border, he’d been almost relieved. For at least a few more days, the mysteriously familiar girl was safe.

He shook his head. Thoughts such as those were dangerous, and he had orders from his father. Orders that would finally give him everything he’d wanted since he woke with no memories.

“Your Highness?” the guard pulled him back to the current situation. Davi was a prince of Dreach-Dhoun who had no business consorting with prisoners.

That didn’t stop him. He motioned the guard to unlock the door and then charged into the room.

Rissa stood near the bed in nothing but a silk nightgown they’d supplied her with. Her hair hung damp about her shoulders, but those eyes hadn’t changed.

There was a challenge in them.

She raised her chin and stilled its quivering. “Yes?”

Her gaze asked the same question he continued to ask himself. Why was he there?

“What the hell do you want, Davion?”

His name held so much venom when she said it. A memory caught in his mind. A chastising voice. His lips curved up.

“Davi, you will answer me when I speak to you.” She crossed her arms, her foot tapping against the ground.

“I’m the prince of Dreach-Dhoun,” he said lamely. “I will speak when I deem it necessary.”

Fire blazed in her gaze, and she charged toward him. “I don’t care who the hell you think you are.” She pushed him back. “I know you aren’t Davi any longer, but if you insist on walking around with his obnoxious face, you will leave this instant.”

He touched his face. He was Davi. Just maybe not the Davi she thought she knew.

She pushed him again, and it was only then he noticed the tears hanging in her lashes. He grabbed her wrists when she shoved him again.

“Don’t touch me.” She yanked them back.

“Says the girl who is trying to push me out of the room.”

“You’re annoying,” she growled.

“And you’re angry. I understand.”

“I hate you.”

He shouldn’t have cared, but her words stung, and he stepped away from her. “I only came to make sure you were still here and not escaping your room like that brother of yours.”

That stopped her. “Trystan? Is he okay? What do you mean he escaped?”

He reached for her without thinking and tucked an errant strand behind her ear. She sucked in a breath, and he dropped his hand.

“He’s okay. For now.”

“For now? What does that even mean?”

Davi turned to leave.

“Davion,” she pleaded. “Don’t go. What did you mean? Is my brother okay?”

He stepped through the doorway and swung it shut before she could come after him. Her voice followed his every move.

“Davi,” she cried. “Please. Just… talk to me.” Her voice quieted.

He suspected her next words weren’t for his ears, but he couldn’t walk away.

“Dav.” She sobbed softly. “You can’t do this to me.” She was silent for a moment before she hiccupped another sob. “Earth help me.” He imagined her pressing herself to the ground in prayer. “Make me stop loving him.”

This was a mistake. Davi ripped himself from the door and strode away without a glance at the curious guard. If he stopped even for a moment, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his new mission. Failing his father was not something he could do.