“I cannot, my prince,” Arax groans back. “I am sorry.”
With a sudden surge of power, Daedalus moves faster than I can see, breaking the deadlock and twisting his body with such force that Arax stumbles. Daedalus spins, his blade catching the light for a split second before it finds its mark, disarming Arax and sending him crashing to one knee.
“No!” I scream, stepping forward, but the prince has already pressed the edge of his sword to Arax’s throat, smoke rising from where the blade connects. Arax doesn’t flinch, even with his life hanging on the edge of Daedalus’ blade. His chest rises and falls heavily, and I can see the endless fight in his eyes. He knows he’s beaten, and yet he would die here if it meant protecting me.
“I do not want to do this, old man,” Daedalus breathes. His eyes soften, just a flicker of emotion on the hard set of his face.“But if youfucking dareto keep me from my wife, I will cut you down.”
The words hang in the air, the fierceness of them sinking deep into my bones.
Wife.
The word hits me like a punch to the chest, forcing me to confront what I’ve been trying to deny since the moment I saw him again. We are bound, whether I like it or not, by the vow we made, by the love we once shared—even if everything that’s come between us has twisted and darkened that love.
Arax looks up at me, his jaw clenched, waiting for my command. My heart hammers in my chest, my pulse roaring in my ears. I do not doubt Daedalus would kill Arax if he had to.
“Arax,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Please… stand down.”
His gaze flickers, and slowly, agonizingly, he lowers his head. “As you wish, Princess,” he says, his voice raw and low.
Daedalus’ eyes remain on mine as he releases Arax, stepping back as his sword dissolves into smoke.
“Leave us,” I say, my head bowed.
“Amara,” Solena says with worry. “Are you sure? I can get…”
“No,” I say, stopping Solena from finishing. “I need to talk to him.”
She nods as Arax climbs to his feet, gathering his sword from the floor. He looks at me, as if to say sorry, but it is a wasted effort. I couldn’t be more proud to have him as my protector.
When the door closes, the room turns cold, and for what seems like an age, Daed and I stand in silence, locked in a gaze that carries the weight of every fear and doubt. I wonder if either of us will ever speak—as if whoever speaks first is the first to surrender. It feels like a game, one where we’re both showing our control by not falling apart, by pretending we don’t care.
But I can feel it in me. I can feel the break, the rip, the tear. I can feel my heart bleeding, and the tears behind my eyes threatening to break their dams.This silence is unbearable.
“You deceived me,” I whisper, and it’s like tearing open a wound. The words taste bitter on my tongue, and my voice trembles with the rage boiling beneath the surface.
Daed’s face remains unreadable, but his eyes flicker. “I did.”
His calm admission sparks something wild inside me. I can’t breathe, I can’t stop.
“You lied about everything! About the bargain—about my life!” My fists hit his chest with a force I didn’t know I had.
“I know,” he says, his voice steady, unflinching, even as I strike him again.
“You—” My voice breaks, my fists pounding harder. “You would’ve let them kill me! You stood by and let them plan my death!”
“I did.” His voice is like a whisper in a storm, and his eyes are locked on mine, unwavering. He doesn’t even flinch as my hands slam into his chest again, harder this time, the anger and pain flooding through me.
“You made me love you!” My hands hit him again, and again, the pain too much to keep inside. “You made mebelieve—”
“I know,” Daed murmurs, his tone still calm, still aching with that damnable regret.
I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop. The fury is spilling out of me now, uncontrollable, the dam at last breaking under the weight of everything he’s done. My fists keep hitting him, weaker now, but still desperate. “You broke me! You broke me, and you don’t even care.”
“I do,” he says, quietly, letting me strike him again. “I care.”
My hands falter, the strength leaving me all at once, and I crumple against him, my fists falling limp against his chest. The tears stream down my face, unchecked, and I hate that I’mcrying in front of him. I hate that he’s seeing me like this—broken, shattered, ruined.
Daedalus takes my wrists, holding them gently, as if he knows I’m too weak to fight anymore. I struggle in his grasp, but I can’t break free. I’m too tired. Too tired of all of it.
