“You mistake my intent, Princess. I laugh with joy that I have the most beautiful bride in the nine kingdoms.”
“I will not be swayed by your silver tongue.” I watch her eyes scan over my back through the reflection, her chest rising and falling rapidly with her shallow breaths as she anticipates the moment I turn and face her. “I-I know of your cruelty and dark heart. You’re a monster.”
“That may be so…”
I brace myself as the dream pushes me to turn around, praying to any gods or devils that will listen that my mask won’t shock her out of the dream. I need more time. I crave more of this new dynamic.
“But I’myourmonster, Princess.”
Her hand rises to cover her mouth, stumbling back in horror as I face her.
“Demon!” she cries, tripping over the hem of her gown in her retreat.
I rush forward to catch her before she crashes to the floor, arm banding around her waist and crushing her to my chest.
“I’m hurt,” I rasp, gazing down into her terror-filled eyes. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m still your prince.”
The words fit the scene, but they’re also a desperate plea.
Moments that feel like an eternity pass. Her trembling hand reaches up, and I shudder as her fingertips brush against the mask. “S-Seth?”
The breath rushes from my lungs. “Yes.Yes. It’s me, Ada.”
“I-I don’t understand. Why are you wearing this mask?”
I hold her closer, wishing I could bury my face against her neck and just breathe her in and whisper apologies for all the things I’ve done to her, even if they were at her bidding. “I’m your nightmare.”
She blinks up at me, struggling to understand.
“You made me this way, but I’m going to fix it. I’ll make you happy again, and then we can go back to how things were. I can be your prince again.” I know my voice is growing frantic as I speak, but I can’t stop. “Please, Ada. Let me be good again.I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
She cries out as my grip tightens too much in my urging. “S-stop. Please.”
Fuck. Fuck, I’m messing this up.
I try to get my hands to release, but I can’t. Her blood drips down my fingers, and the darkness inside me swells.
No.
“I’m going to fix this. I’m going to make you happy. I already did the lights and the presents, but you like cookies, right? Those ones shaped like people? I’ll make you those. I’ll make this right.” I’m babbling as I fight to ignore the violence rising in me, the dream demanding to turn into her regular nightmare.
The castle fades, and we reappear in her cabin.
Tears stream down Ada’s face.
I wrap a hand around her wrist and bring it up to my mask despite her struggling against me. “Don’t make me hurt you,” I beg, willing her to understand.
Her fingers catch on the edge of the mask, and then she pulls.
I vanish with a spike of searing pain, gasping for breath and shaking from the adrenaline and despair as I reappear in Rhys’s home.
There’s a shocked yelp and the sound of shattering glass. I turn to see Rhys gaping at me, crystal and dark red wine splattered across the marble floor.
“You almost scared me to death!” he gasps. “Why are you back here already?”
There’s no time to talk. I have something much more pressing I need to get done.
I suck in a breath to try to calm myself, giving Rhys a beseeching look.
