Page 80 of Nocte

“Please,” I tell him, my voice broken and hoarse.

His teeth grind together. “Where the hell do you think we’re going?”

To deliver his package. To square his debt.

But he has chosen to put me first. My desire comes first. A quick stop. A quick trip. Perhaps he intends to leave me here.

Alright, then. I will accept. He can leave me to die here, and I will accept.

But he doesn’t wrestle his hand away from mine. Instead, we keep walking through a sea of sleepy mortals, unaware of how beautiful their realm is. How beautiful this city is. They march past the building before us, yawning and heads bowed low.

As if it doesn’t matter. It’s as dreary a view to them as the Citadel bell tower is to me. Mundane. Unimpressive.

However, I stare. The closer we come, I gape. My mouth falls open, eyes get wider. Wider. Wider. I could swallow up the entire world if I’m not careful. Swallow up Caspian, who glances back at me, his eyes blazing and draped in shadow. He glances. Looks ahead. Looks back. Stares back. Stops moving.

Oh no. With my face—this hopeful pleading expression—I have offended him. Or at least I think so. He inhales raggedly. Runs his tongue along his upper lip. Bares the teasing hint of a fang.

“I’d give anything to bite you now,” he murmurs. Hisses.

I take in those words with my hopeful heart, and I don’t react to them like I should. I don’t shiver and shudder in disgust. I don’t rush to deny his request. A sinful request. Forbidden.

Because I know him, this creature, Caspian. When my heart is happy, it makes me smile. Until my mouth hurts, I smile.

When he sees me or any other creature happy, it makes him violent. Hungry. Impatient. It makes him reckless.

He drained ten people dry,Colleen warned me.

It is fine as long as he is only hungry for me.

I owe him my life already.

“Maybe,” I say, my tongue heavy, lips tight. “Maybe I will let you.”

No. No. I decide here and now.

“Before we return… I will let you.”

He doesn’t look satisfied. Gratified. Happy.

He scowls and glowers and tugs me along. “Come.”

I follow him again eagerly. Too eagerly. Something strange happens. His steps are too slow for me. I start to outpace him. Slip past him. Soon I am the one dragging him along.

“Wait,” he commands me. “Wait. Wait!”

“Hurry,” I choke back as he tightens his grip. “Hurry! Please.” My eyes are on the building ahead of me—so much closer but still so far away. I need to get there quickly. Before this dream fades and becomes a nightmare, I must get there.

He slows at first, impossible to pull. Then he surges, dragging me behind him again through a sea of mortals and right up to those marble steps.

I am here. My heart breaks with joy as I look up and see those familiar, foreign entrances. I am here. But as Caspian steers me inside, I realize something else.

He has fulfilled his purpose to me. His only purpose.

Then he’ll go. Leave.

There is no reason for him to stay.

CHAPTER30