never officially enrolled there, so you probably went disguised under an alternate identity. There, you transferred all your magical powers over to Yasmin, and you lost the gift of persuasion, which was probably the most unique and powerful ability I’d ever heard of. You could compel anything and anyone to do or think whatever you wanted them to. You could’ve taken control of the entire Outer Realms with your gift; yet you chose to transfer it to some young, vengeful girl, who would go on and use it as a love spell to ensure the future King of Donnelly would marry her before she turned around and wreaked havoc throughout their realm.”
He stared at me with a slight squint, trying to figure me out.
An explanation rose to my tongue as I felt the urge to defend myself.
But honestly, I’d had no idea Yasmin would turn around and do what she’d done with my gift. I hadn’t known my magic was what had been cursed; I thought I had been. Me, personally. I’d only gotten rid of my powers because I hadn’t wanted to use them for evil. And Yasmin had been a lonely, depressed girl when I’d met her, always cast in her older sister’s shadow. I thought my giving her my gift would help both of us. It’d save me from possible future bloodlust and give her some control over her own life.
I’d been so sure she’d go on to use her magic wisely and graciously. But she’d only been filled with revenge and greed. And she’d turned her sister’s education into a living nightmare.
I had chosen wrong; and that was on me. There was really no way to defend that.
When I looked into the High Clifter’s eyes, he seemed to see my regret. Then again, love marks were supposed to help mates feel the other’s emotions, so he probably was sensing my guilt. Dammit. His expression softened as if he’d already forgiven me.
Christ, I didn’t want this. I hadn’t asked for some true love idiot to show up in my life and ruin everything, to try to make me feel fucking forgiven. I deserved punishment for what I’d done. Yasmin had murdered people with my magic.
I suddenly wanted to tell him to stop looking at me like that, or better yet, I should just cut out his eyes so he could never look at me again. It was better than experiencing this lump in my throat, this craving for something sweet and compassionate that hinted vaguely of redemption. This fool couldn’t right my wrongs. He couldn’t fix anything I’d broken. He should stop giving me so much hope.
“Well, it appears he did know everything about you, after all, didn’t he,” Melaina announced, breaking the stare he held me under.
He definitely knew more than I wanted him to, that was for sure, especially my culpability over it all.
“So what?” I muttered, turning away abruptly to finish securing the saddle to my horse. “It changes nothing.”
I didn’t know who this man thought he was, coming in here, invading my life, and making crazy claims—no matter how true they were—but I did not like it.
I didn’t like any of this.
Chapter 8
Indigo
I had to appreciate my true love’s no-nonsense manner. She definitely wasn’t given to drama or theatrics. Her tidy and economical way of preparing for travel was downright admirable, too. But I had kind of been hoping for a little more reaction from her than this.
Upon learning I was her life partner, she decided to pretend I didn’t exist.
That stung.
“We have places to be,” she told her aunt tersely as she swung into the saddle and glanced toward Melaina, totally ignoring my presence in the process. “So let’s go already.”
“Wait.” I stepped toward her, blinking in confusion. “Where’re you going?”
I mean, seriously. What was this nonsense? She’d just found out she had a true love, and so she was going to leave? Didn’t she want to—I don’t know—maybe get to know me or something?
I guess not.
Instead of answering me, Quilla acted as if she hadn’t even heard the question, and she clicked her tongue, urging her mount into a canter.
Blinking, I gaped after her and shook my head incredulously.
She was different now. The first moment she’d spun around on that rock where she was sunning herself dry and had faced off with me, she’d been filled with a far different energy. Confidence, anger, determination. She’d had no qualms about looking me in the eye then.
Now, all that brave, defiant rage was