by Erin Hayes
Chapter Eight
CONALL RODE WITH Allyn back to Aude and Khia’s building, and she couldn’t have been more grateful. She wanted to prolong their time together for as long as possible. She saw within him a soul just as lost as she was. When he held her hand, she was at peace.
She smiled at him from her spot in the back seat of his car as the driver drove down the empty streets of the city. She was sure that she was dreaming and prayed that it would never end. She just needed to get through the winter without a hitch, and they could build on the bond they’d forged over the past few days.
They’d started something beautiful and wonderful.
What could go wrong?
“Conall,” Allyn called.
“Yes?”
“Do you remember kissing me in your tree house?”
He smiled at her and nodded. “Who could forget their first kiss?”
Allyn sat up, surprised. “Really? I was your first kiss?”
Chuckling, he shrugged. “We were ten. Had you kissed anyone before me?”
“No. I didn’t kiss anyone else until I met Byron. How sad is that? I was twenty-two,” she said with a laugh.
“It's not sad. It just goes to show how different you are from other women.”
“I am different,” Allyn whispered. “But it hasn’t won me any medals so far.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Conall said, reaching for her hand. “You have me now.”
Allyn held onto his hand, afraid that if she let go, he’d vanish.
Once the car parked before the Aude and Khia’ building, Conall stepped out of the car and into the snow storm.
“I’ve got it,” he said to the driver.
Allyn watched him walk around the front, unaffected by the torrents of snow. It was as if he didn’t even notice that the world was raging around him. He opened the door for her. She stepped out and together they went into the building. The doorman bowed, his eyes wide when he noticed that the imperial prince stood before him.
Wiping snow from her face and hair, Allyn looked to Conall who stood there with his hands in his pockets. She could tell that he didn’t want to leave her.
Why did he have to go? Why couldn’t he just take her back to his castle?
She bit her tongue and kept her questions to herself.
“Thank you for walking me in,” she said, and before she could say anything more, Conall wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.
His kiss was soft, sweet, but there was a desperation there that broke her heart.
“Don’t go,” she whispered before she could stop herself.
Conall pulled away, his face flushed. Her heart raced as he stared at her, such conflict in his eyes that it scared her.
“I have to,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Allyn. Wait for me.”
With that, he left.
Despite the heat inside the building, Allyn felt cold.
Alone.
She ran to the glass walls and pressed her hands to the glass as she watched the car pull away.
Why did she always lose whatever good came into her life? She remembered being disappointed when she and her father left the palace years ago.
This was worst. Her stomach muscles were clenched with anxiety for watching him leave.
“I’ll wait,” she said, tears filling her eyes. “I promise.”
CONALL WASN’T SURE why leaving her was so difficult, but a pain in his heart nagged him the entire ride back to his castle. Thoughts of her sweet smile and even sweeter kiss haunted him as they drove through the woods with trees that stretched high into the gray sky.
Conall needed something good in his life, and seeing the girl he’d met as a child was a beacon of hope that things might get better.
He just had to make it through winter.
He hadn’t planned on actually connecting with a woman right after breaking up with Hannah, but that’s exactly what happened with Allyn. There was something about her that made him comfortable around her to the point where he knew that if they spent more time together, he’d actually open up.
That was scary, but that’s what he’d been searching for his entire life. For as long as Conall could remember, he’d been a private person. He never revealed his true feelings to anyone, except his mother. When she died, so did his hope to find another woman to love him.
Edan called and Conall answered via his implanted device. “Are the preparations made?”
“Yes,” Edan said. “Everything is set up. I made sure that the guards are prepared to look over the castle once you leave.”
“Good,” Conall said with a sigh. “I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay, your highness. How did it go with the young lady?”
Conall closed his eyes, clinging to the memory of her green eyes, and the adoration she shone upon him. Hannah never looked at him that way. How could a few days together have such an impact?
“She’s perfect,” Conall said. “It went well. Too well. I almost let her stay too long.”
“That isn’t your fault, your highness.”
“I know,” Conall said with a sigh. “Thank you for your help, Edan.”
“Anytime. You know that my family and I owe you ours lives. I’m happy to help.”
“You don’t owe me anything but your friendship.”
“We do, though.”
Conall shook his head. He hated to hear Edan speak that way. It was his duty to look after good people.
“Edan,” Conall called.
“Yes?”
“Look after her while I’m away. Just check on her from time to time and make sure she has what she needs. She mentioned being in between homes. I fear she might be in financial trouble.”
“Of course. I’ll make sure she makes it through the winter, comfortably.”
“Do your best to keep Lennox from her, will you?”
There was a brief silence. “I will try.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Conall ended the call and sighed. At least he had someone to check on her for him. He glanced at the sky. The moon was visible in the daytime just before the Winter Winds came to ravage his kingdom. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain in his chest.
Like an itch that he couldn’t scratch, the pain tormented him, and it was stronger than ever now that winter was settling in.
He ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes against tears once he looked down to see clumps of his thick black hair laced between his fingers.
It had already begun. His sickness was manifesting, and there was nothing he could do.
Conall balled his hand into a fist. At least Allyn didn’t have to see him like this.
He’d never felt such an intense spark with any other woman. Why did he have to feel it now?
With her.
Timing was never on his side, and winter was his least favorite season.
Winter was when the curse did its most dastardly deeds.
Chapter Nine
TWO WEEKS PASSED, and Allyn hadn’t heard a word from Prince Conall. She just clung to the promise he’d made her. Their time together kept entering her mind and making her smile. She wasn’t sure why he couldn’t be with her during the winter season, but she forced herself to stay busy.
She sat on the couch, reading a book while Aude and Khia curled up together and watched a movie. A ringing of the doorbell startled her. She looked up but relaxed when she remembered that she no longer had to worry about the debtors. They’d already taken everything from her. She had nothing left to give.
There was an odd solace to that.
Khia frowned. “Who could that be? Are you expecting anyone, babe?”
“No,” Aude said, shaking her head as Khia crossed the room, her black heels clicking along the dark wooden floor.
Conall? Hope sprouted forth and Allyn perked up, closing her book. She sat on her knees and watched Khia go to the door. Her heart was in her throat as the a
nticipation flooded her body. Please. Please.
When she opened the door, Allyn gasped. The color drained from her face.
No.
A tall, thin man with shaggy brown hair stood there, his once dreamy brown eyes red-rimmed as they looked Allyn’s way.
“Baby,” Byron called, stepping inside the door, barely acknowledging Khia who was the same height as him.
Khia put her hands on her hips and glared at his back. “Excuse me,” she said. “But no one told you that you could come in.”
He held a hand out to her. “Just give me a minute. I’ve come for Allyn.”
The nerve. How dare he come back after weeks with no word?
Allyn stood from the couch as he approached. She shook her head, backing away. “Taking me where? We have no home. You made sure that I ended up with nothing.”
“Darling,” he said, smiling.
Allyn pursed her lips as she looked at him.
“I am not your darling anymore.” It hurt to say that after giving him her body, heart, and all of her money. Tears stung her eyes but she willed them away. “God, I’m tired of crying over you, Byron. You can’t just come back and act as if nothing happened.”
“I know, baby. Come here.” He approached her, his arms wide. “I’ve missed your pretty face.”
“Where have you been?”
He wrapped his arms around her, ignoring her question as his hands smoothed her back “You smell delicious,” he said, kissing her neck.
“Don’t touch me.” Allyn pushed him away, her brows knitting. “Are you high?”
Byron shook his head, though she could smell it on him. “Of course not. I’m good.”
“Then what the hell are you smiling about. The landlord evicted us and the debtors came and took all of our stuff…the stuff I worked my ass off to pay for.”
“Hey,” he said, reaching for her. “I am smiling because I have good news. I have a job waiting for me in New Prussia. We are set. It pays enough that you won’t have to work two jobs anymore. I can finally pay off all of my debts, and take care of you.”
“Bullshit,” Aude said, her brows knitted. “No one believes your lies anymore, Byron.”
“Shut up,” he said, his smile morphing into a scowl. He shot a look at Allyn. “I told you that you should stay away from these girls. Look at them, trying to turn you into a lesbian.”
“God, you are stupid,” Aude said, her cheeks reddening.
“Byron. I’m going to ask you to leave one more time,” Khia said. Her voice was surprisingly calm considering how he’d insulted her and her girlfriend. But, the look in her eyes betrayed her words.
“Just give me a minute,” he shot back at her. He reached a hand out toward Allyn. “Come on, Allyn.” His voice turned harsh.
That’s the Byron she didn’t miss.
“Get your stuff and let’s go.”
“Don’t you dare go with him,” Aude hissed.
Allyn’s heart raced. She had no desire to patch things up with Byron, not after connecting with Prince Conall.
“No,” she said, surprising herself. For once she was prepared to stand up for herself.
Byron looked shocked. “What?”
“I’m not going with you. Please, just leave.”
Byron shook his head with a sigh. “While I had hopes that you wanted to come with me to New Prussia, I found out something that I thought you should know. I just didn’t want to have to tell you in front of your friends, but your father is sick.”
“What?” Panic filled Allyn’s veins at the mention of her father. She grabbed Byron’s forearm. “Tell me what’s happened.”
“I went to your old village to tie up some loose ends at the night club I used to play at. I heard that your dad hadn’t been to the school in weeks. He has some kind of brain tumor.”
“Damn it,” Allyn said, covering her mouth with her hands. She looked to Aude and Khia. “I have to go. There is no way around it.”
Aude hurried over to hug her. She squeezed Allyn tightly. “I know, honey. You don’t have to explain anything to us. You go take care of your father.”
Khia hugged her as well, wrapping her arms around the both of them. “Take care of yourself, Allyn. You’re always welcome here.”
Allyn fought tears. “Thank you.”
“Get your things,” Byron said.
Glaring at him, Allyn walked to the door and opened it. “I don’t have anything left. Let’s just go.”
With a smug look on his face, he followed her outside.
As she left their studio apartment, her heart thumped in her chest. She hoped there was enough time to make it to her father before the Winter Winds reached their peak speed and ferocity.
She cursed under her breath as she watched blankets of thick snow fall from the sky. She couldn’t believe how Byron made his way into the city.
“Come on, babe. Let’s make it quick.”
“Are you sure? It looks pretty bad out there.”
“Yeah. This car has a shovel grill, it will smooth out and push away some of the snow.”
She put her gloves on. “Okay,” she said and he opened the glass door.
The howling of the wind through the buildings was a deafening roar, and the sudden burst of chilled air assaulted her face.
She fought the snow and wind to get across the sidewalk and into his car. “How did you get a pass to be out during the season?”
Byron winked at her. “I have connections.”
She looked into his eyes, and something took her breath away. A hidden truth stared her in the eyes, but she couldn’t tell what it was.
She looked ahead, suddenly doubting her decision.
“Ready?” Byron asked as he turned on the car’s ignition and pulled out of the parking spot and onto the street.
Allyn swallowed. “Yes. Let’s hurry before the storm gets worse.”
He nodded, and away they went down the snow-covered road.
Two weeks ago she thought she’d be happy to see Byron again. Now, he was the bringer of bad news and she was left desperately trying to make sense of the warnings that churned inside her stomach.
Chapter Ten
HOURS DRAGGED ON in silence as Byron drove from the city. They entered the Briar Woods that encircled all of Elastria. The birch trees were bare except for thin icy branches, with etchings along their white trunks that reached toward the sky.
Byron seemed to tense, his eyes checking his dashboard every few minutes.
“Is everything okay?” Allyn asked. “Do we have enough fuel to get to the next station?”
He nodded, scowling at the dashboard. “It’s the check engine light I’m a little worried about.”
She sighed. “Of course. I’m starting to wonder if we are cursed, Byron. Since the day we met, everything has gone wrong.”
His eye twitched, his jaw tightening. “Nothing to worry about. We are going to make it.”
“That’s what you say about everything, and it hasn’t been true so far.”
“I can handle this.”
As he said those words, the car sputtered to a stop in the center of the pitch black road.
“Like I said,” Allyn whispered. “Cursed.” She couldn’t believe that they’d broken down seconds after she asked him about the car’s condition.
“Fuck,” he said and slammed his hands into the steering wheel.
Allyn pursed her lips, looking out her window into the darkness of the woods on either side of the car. The hairs on her neck stood on end as the little bit of heat that the car had struggled to putter faded. She shivered and glanced at Byron who sat there in silence.
“We can walk,” he suddenly said and Allyn’s brows rose.
“You’re kidding me.” Allyn threw up her hands, fed up with his awful decisions. “Walk where? I haven’t seen any stations or signs for anything in miles.”
He looked at her. “I have a friend that lives close by. He will let us stay with him for the night and I can ca
ll a mechanic in the morning.”
“We can’t afford a—”
“Enough, Allyn! Just shut up for once.”
She was startled by his outburst.
“I know what I’m doing.”
Bottling her own anger and annoyance, she looked away, her skin starting to heat with rage.
Best to just keep quiet, she thought, balling her fists. She closed her eyes and exhaled. How many years had it taken for her to learn to control her rage? If the nuns at the convent were good at anything, it was teaching her to bottle her anger.
Byron had no idea what he dared to awaken within her.
Deep breaths, Allyn.
A sudden surge of wind blasted into the car as Byron opened his door and got out. Cursing into the air, he stepped into the night and slammed his door. She watched him come around to her side and she dreaded getting out when he opened her door.
“Come on,” he said. “The faster we start walking, the faster we will get there and get warm.”
Her eyelashes flickered as the wind blew at her face.
“Bloody hell,” she muttered, wishing she’d stayed with Aude and Khia.
The kindness she’d wanted to see from Byron had ended the moment he’d gotten her into his car. Now, he seemed to be agitated.
“Who is this friend of yours? You never told me that you knew someone that lived on the outskirts of Elastria.”
He walked from the street and into the woods without looking back to make sure she was close behind. Afraid to be left alone, Allyn hurried to catch up with him. Her heels stabbed the icy earth as she scurried into the woods.
The sting of frostbitten flesh made Allyn wince as her cheeks tightened and seemed to crack. She rubbed her hands together, desperate for some small measure of warmth as Byron led her down a worn path through the woods. She pulled her coat closer, shivering, as her eyes scanned the darkness that smothered them.
Trees surrounded them—skinny trees that reached high to the black sky were now covered in a cloak of white snow that continued to fall in fierce torrents.
“Did you hear my question? Who is your friend?” Allyn asked, her teeth chattering.
