Shadowlander by Theresa Meyers Page B

the black shirt and black pants laid out for him on the dresser, as if her manner hadn’t wounded him. He hastily buttoned his blue wool military jacket with shaking hands, trying to block out the bruising hurt that overtook his chest.
    She didn’t want to be here. She was as clever as any politician and had used his greatest weakness, his fondness for her, against him. Sucking him in like a fool to believe he loved her.
    The thought that she might leave him, even after all they had shared, struck an arrow to his heart. He’d promised to help her find and save her friend. He’d been too blinded by love and need, and yes, too damned stupid to see that Cate intended to return home once she found her.
    He deliberately ignored her question.
    “The servants have left out clothing for you as well.” He paused, not sure he could let this time end so easily without telling her the truth. He shifted his weight and ground his teeth.
    “Where are you invading?”
    “Upland.”
    “Why would you invade our world?”
    He glared at her. “Because it was ours to begin with! We only want what is rightfully ours. And to save both our worlds.”
    Cate bit her lip, her eyes troubled. “You knew this all along didn’t you?”
    Rook nodded. What else could he do? It was the truth.
    “So what does this have to do with me being a Seer?”
    He tensed, his entire back going rigid. “Maybe it has nothing to do with it.”
    Cate glared at him, and instantly Rook felt like a toad. He’d abducted her. Taken her from her family. And now she was going to face three trials in front of the Shadow Court to test her as a Seer.
    “You’re worried you’re going to get in trouble if you help me find and free Maya, aren’t you?”
    He grunted. “It’s not that.” He knew there would be retribution regardless of what path he chose now.
    She came to him, putting her small hand on his chest and looking deeply into his eyes. “What is it? You can tell me.”
    Her trust overwhelmed him. Even after she knew of the invasion, she still touched him. But her trust came at the worst possible time. The words revealing his betrayal were right there on his tongue, as bitter as ash, but he couldn’t stop himself from telling her. She had a right to know the consequences.
    He reached for her, curving a damp curl of her hair around his finger. “Cate, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
    She gave him a small, encouraging smile. She could have just as easily been a Glaxon, ripping the heart from between his ribs with its great claws. It would have hurt less.
    “When a Seer is found, they are examined—”
    “You mean like a test?”
    “Yes, but—”
    She shrugged. “That’s no big deal.”
    “Dammit, woman, hush and let me say this thing.”
    Cate snapped her lips shut and crossed her arms, acting as if she were already a crowned queen rather than a damp woman clothed in a bathing towel.
    He closed his eyes, flexed his hands, and let out a slow breath to steady himself. Then Rook opened his eyes and stared at her. “Once you are proven a Seer, you are normally presented to the king. But now that we’ve been bound together, he won’t be able to bind with you. The only way he can access your powers is through our combined effort. You must wait for the right time for me to ask him to free your friend. We can use this combined power of ours as a bargaining chip.”
    “Wait. I didn’t hear anything in there about being free to go home myself.”
    Rook hung his head, unable to meet her penetrating gaze. “I only told you of the plans for the invasion because they won’t let you return home, Cate. Not now. Not ever.” He caught her gaze, hoping that what he couldn’t say would be understood. “They need you. I need you.”
    Cate pulled away from him, her green eyes mutinous and her face stormy. “You promised. I will not be your means of destroying my world.”
    “We will not destroy your world; merely bring it back under our rule.