Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,61

in burns. She claimed that because of the king and queen’s betrayal, she would not only take the child, but the kingdom from under them. A great battle ensued between Tatiana and a court sorcerer, and when the battle cleared, both the fae queen and the baby were gone.”

Goosebumps ran over my arms, traveling up to my neck, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it were really true.

“But again, there’s no proof any of it ever happened.”

“What do you believe?” I asked.

Anna sighed wistfully. “I think it makes a dramatic bedtime story.” Her voice lowered, and she leaned in to whisper. “But there are a few people, Oma being one, that believe the blight marks the return of the king’s heir, and that this is the curse coming to fruition.”

“Yes, it sounds possible,” I said, unsure. Reaching for a piece of bread, I took a bite and chewed.

“But those are just rumors from crazy old ladies.” Anna stood and wished me a good night’s sleep before excusing herself.

She left, and I closed the door, flipping the flimsy wood bar down. Thinking over the story and its possibilities,.

I had curled up on my cot and was almost asleep when I heard a soft knock on my door.

“Aura.”

I recognized Liam’s voice.

Ignoring the knock, I pretended to be asleep. But that lock did nothing to keep someone out. Liam slipped a thin knife between the crack and flipped the lock and let himself inside my room. I sat up and glared at him, but I couldn’t be mad for long. The attic was made for short people like Oma and me, not for giant knights like Liam. As soon as he ducked under the short doorframe, he had to tilt his head so his ear touched his shoulder. It couldn’t possibly be comfortable.

“What do you want?” I asked, trying to mask my amusement.

Liam sat down on the edge of the cot so he could look at me upright. He frowned and reached out to brush a stray strand of hair out of my face. His finger rested on my cheek, and he didn’t pull away. I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek into his hand. Missing him, even as he sat on the bed next to me and touched my face. I felt like there was a giant crevice between us.

“There’s something you should know.” His voice was raw with emotion.

I looked into his eyes, and I saw the regret he could not hide.

My voice hitched, and my heart raced. “What?”

“The king sent me to the Eville household to bring back a powerful sorceress to fight the blight. I was supposed to beg, supplicate, bribe—and if that didn’t work, kidnap one of the seven daughters to fight the curse on our behalf. I’ve come to the conclusion . . . I mean . . . I made a terrible mistake, and—”

“I’m not a mistake,” I interrupted. I found the lack of face unnerving, and my chest compressed with emotion. It was hard to breathe. “I’m not a mistake,” I repeated a little louder. “I am strong. I’m not helpless. I’m not—”

Liam surged forward and kissed me, his hand cradling my neck, pulling me into the kiss.

It was such a surprise that I reflexively pulled back and broke it off. I covered my mouth with my fingertips. I was at a loss for words, and I was never at a loss for words.

“I’m sorry.” Liam cleared his throat and looked over my shoulder at the wall. “You were getting emotional, and I was trying to calm you down.”

“A distraction,” I said, slowly. “I see.”

My heart broke into a million tiny pieces. He didn’t want to kiss me. He was just trying to shut me up. It wasn’t the perfect kiss. It was the perfect weapon, and he used it to stab me in the heart.

I shifted away from him, running my fingers through my hair and tucking it behind my ear, giving him my back so he wouldn’t see my heartbroken face. For once, I was glad that I couldn’t hear his thoughts. I don’t think I could have handled another rejection. I steeled my nerves, lifted my chin, and with an icy voice, dismissed him.

“It worked, so you can leave now.”

“Aura, I—”

I turned and glared at him. “You had no right.”

I was furious. My anger was boiling over at being rejected, and I used my words like a sharpened blade to injure him. To dig at his pride and put as