Part 25 (1/2)

I have a feeling she's talking about Gus's family-and his mom had pretty darn good reasons for needing her s.p.a.ce.

Just like Audra did.

”You really love her?” Solana whispers.

I can hear the plea in her voice, but I can't give her what she wants. ”I do.”

Her eyes well with tears and she turns away, spinning the gold cuff on her wrist again.

Why won't she just take it off?

Probably the same reason I wouldn't even consider the betrothal.

I wish there was something I could say to make it better. But all I have is the same lame thing I've already said. ”I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

”But you did. I doubt you have any idea how much.” She reaches up and starts tracing lines on the window with her finger. ”Do you know what this is?”

It looks kinda like a trippy clover, with the four leaves made out of four spirals.

”No.”

”It's the Southwell crest. The mark for my family that was woven into the gates of Brezengarde. Or it was, before Raiden invaded the capital and replaced the symbol with his storm clouds. I've been dreaming of the day I would see it restored. The Gales have a huge celebration planned, so our whole world can see that things have been set right. And now I'll get to stand there on the sidelines at the coronation, watching my family's legacy be handed over to someone else.”

My insides get all tangly.

All the times the Gales have talked about making me their king-I never thought about the fact that I'd be taking that role from someone else. No wonder they decided it would be simpler for me to just marry Solana.

”Look, Solana. I don't even want to be king. I'd be more than happy to hand it all back.”

”They won't let you.” She reaches up and smears away the squiggles on the gla.s.s, leaving a big, blank streak. ”You're the last Westerly. The one everyone's been waiting for. I'm just the girl you didn't want.”

Her voice cracks on the last word, and then her shoulders are shaking and . . . c.r.a.p-I can't just stand here and let her cry.

I move to her side, wondering what I'm supposed to do. A hug seems super-inappropriate given the mountain of complications between us. But how else do you comfort someone who's crying?

I finally settle for putting my hand on her back. She doesn't flinch at my touch, but she doesn't stop crying, either, and it feels wrong just leaving my hand there, like this stupid dead weight. So I sweep her hair out of the way and rub her shoulders. It's what my mom used to do when she was trying to calm me, and I figure she's probably way better at this than I am.

”I really am sorry, Solana. If I could change anything, I would. I'll even talk to the Gales, see if there's something they can do. I don't know if there is, but it's worth a try.”

Movement near the doorway catches my eye, and I jerk away from Solana when I find Audra standing there in my favorite Batman s.h.i.+rt.

In only my favorite Batman s.h.i.+rt.

I know I should probably be wondering how long she'd been there or if she was bothered by seeing me rub Solana's back-but all I can think about is how much I love having her in my s.h.i.+rt, in my room, like this is exactly where she belongs.

”How's your wound?” I ask when my voice is working again.

”Better now.”Her hand darts to her side, rubbing where the bandage must be-which makes the s.h.i.+rt hike even farther up her legs.

I forgot how long they were. And smooth. And . . .

Audra must notice where I'm looking, because she blushes. ”Your mom's was.h.i.+ng my clothes, so she gave me this to wear in the meantime. She gave me some of her pants, too, but they slid off my hips. I hope you don't mind.”

Mind?

The only thing I mind is that Solana's still standing there, refusing to leave us alone so Audra and I can get started on all the making-up-for-lost-time-by-making-out that I've been planning.

”I brought you some ice for those bruises,” my mom announces as she comes back into my bedroom. I notice her double take when she sees what Audra's wearing, but she doesn't say anything. Probably because Solana's dress is way shorter. ”And I set up some blankets for Audra on the couch.”

”Audra's not sleeping on the couch, Mom.”

”Oh, really? Then where is she sleeping? Because she's not sleeping here, Vane.”

”We'll play by your rules-one of us on top of the covers and we'll keep the door open.”

”That's not good enough.”

”Why not? It was good enough for Solana.”

”Yes, but you aren't dating Solana.”

”Dating,” Solana mumbles. ”They're a little past that now.”

My mom's eyes narrow. ”What does she mean?”

”Nothing,” I say quickly, but Solana won't let it go.

”You're not going to tell her?” she asks me.

”Tell me what?”

I can only imagine what kind of crazy theories my mom's coming up with, but I have a feeling the truth is going to be just as bad.

Still, I can't think of a lie to fix this, so I take Audra's hand, focusing on my feet as I say, ”Audra and I are bonded.”

The room falls painfully silent, and I swear all the air disappears, because I can't breathe anymore. My mom must not be breathing either, because her voice sounds superstrained when she asks, ”What does 'bonded' mean?”

”It means that we're connected to each other now,” Audra explains when I don't answer. ”Kissing is different for sylphs than it is for humans. It forms a connection between us. A physical bond.”

”And it's permanent?”

I close my eyes as I nod, wis.h.i.+ng I could fast-forward through the epic freak-out that I know is coming-but sadly I can only control the wind, which is feeling like a pretty useless power right now.

”How could you do that?” my mom asks, her voice so highpitched I'm surprised it doesn't shatter gla.s.s.

My palm turns sweaty and I feel like I'm shaking-but then I realize it's Audra's hand shaking, not mine. I glance at her, hating the hurt I can see in her eyes.

”How could I do what?” I snap.

”Vane,” my mom says, squeezing the ice packs so tight they crackle. ”I know you think you're in love with her-and maybe you are. But you're seventeen. Do you really think that the things you want now are the things you're going to want forever?”