My curse knew it was him before I could manage to put even an inch between us.
“The Onyx Forest is no place for a Starblessed. Especially not alone.”
I looked back at him over my shoulder, and my stomach fluttered under his hold. “I didn’t see you.”
“That’s because you were staring out into the trees.”
“No.” I shook my head softly. “Before.”
“Were you looking for me?” A half smile formed on his lips.
“No.” I told a lie we could both easily see through.
His hand tightened around me, almost involuntarily, as he stared down at me, and for a moment, we said nothing.
Evren had given me no reason to, but something deep inside me told me that I should fear this male. Everything inside of me felt tense and my heart hammered against my chest. But I couldn’t bring myself to look away from his dark eyes even as that feeling sank into my gut.
“Don’t go near the forest again without someone accompanying you.” His voice was a hard warning.
“Why?” My gaze finally flicked away from him to look back to the quiet woods. “What’s in there? Why are the leaves black? Are the vampyres this close to Citlali?”
My spine straightened at the thought. As much as I hated the fae, I was far more fearful of the vampyres. Every story I had ever been told of them had been of their cruelty. While the highest of fae fed from the Starblessed to garner their powers, the vampyres fed from anyone they chose.
For food, for power, for pleasure.
“You have no reason to fear the vampyres here.” Evren spoke softly above me and brought my attention back to him. “There are far worse things that lurk in those trees.”
A chill coursed through me at his words.
“I am surrounded by enemies then?” I took a step out of his hold and tried to clear my head.
“You are surrounded by threats.” He nodded his head once as if in warning and took a small step closer to me. He searched my eyes for a long moment before he lowered his tone. “You shouldn’t trust anyone here.”
“Even you?”
“Especially me.” His eyes darkened and my stomach became heavy with yearning that made me feel like a traitor. This man was no different from the rest of them, and I would do well to remember that.
“Captain!” one of the guards called out, and Evren’s jaw tensed. “We’re ready to push on.”
He looked over his shoulder toward the guard, and I watched as the young guard flinched. I wasn’t sure if it was from respect or true fear, but my hands trembled as I watched the guard lower his head.
I couldn’t trust him. He had just warned me of that himself.
“The future queen needs a moment.” His voice was pure power, and it sent shivers down my spine.
It took a moment for his words to really hit me. I had known almost my entire life that I was betrothed to the future king of Citlali, but I had never imagined myself as anything other than his property. To hear someone call me the future queen, it messed with my head.
“Of course, Captain.” The guard quickly backed away from where we stood, and Evren brought his attention back to me.
His gaze was still dark and domineering, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away.
“We’ll arrive at the Achlys palace shortly. You should prepare yourself.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?” I asked breathlessly.“How am I supposed to prepare myself for what lies inside that castle?”
I didn’t know why I was asking him these questions. Evren was one of them. He was a high fae and loyal to the house of Achlys. But part of me was still desperate for his answer.
“You are the future queen of Citlali. Those who reside behind those castle walls will fall to their knees when they see you, as will all of Citlali.”
“You didn’t.” I lifted my chin as I stared up at him.
A small smile played on his lips as he searched my face, and I could see his gaze roaming over every inch of the starlight that marked my face. “Trust me, princess. It took everything inside of me not to fall to my knees before you.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, and even though I knew I should have retreated, his words made me fall impossibly closer to him.
“Don’t call me that.”
He lifted his fingers until they were only an inch away from my jaw before he slowly pulled them away. “You should get back to your carriage. The night is still young, and as the chosen Starblessed, you have much to face.”