“Brockton,” I cried. “Please. Please. Don’t do this. Don’t.”
“Sorry, Asherah.” He slid his blade down my chest, and the thin material which remained—all that covered me—was shredded in half, leaving me exposed. Naked.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe.
“She looks beautiful, Your Highness,” Dario said, his voice too loud for the room. “Her corset is perfectly placed. You truly have an eye for such things.”
Imperator Hart stilled, his hands remained on my dress as he watched me in the mirror, watched my chest heave, watched my breath come in short, labored gasps. His hands slid up to my collarbone, his fingers dancing against my skin as they moved to my shoulders. He pulled me back against him and whispered in my ear.
“Be convincing today, little slayer.” He kissed my cheek and it was all I could do not to recoil. “I’ve received word from Imperator Kormac concerning your canceled engagement to his son.”
“Have you?” I asked, my voice high, my body far too aware of every place he touched me. A slimy feeling was starting to run down my neck.
“He is most displeased.” He smiled widely in the mirror.
“As we expected,” I said carefully.
“Exactly as we expected. You’ll be happy to know he has renounced his claim on you. But he will take you back, despite the insult, quite willingly. He said specifically to let him know if you decided you don’t prefer the company of Arkturion Kane in your bed.”
I stared ahead, refusing to meet his eyes.
“I know we’ve told everyone how chaste and pure you remain—how untouched by my son you are. But you are free to test out your betrothed’s bed anytime you want. Or mine.”
“I’m rather traditional,” I said.
“Hmmm. Of course. You remain the model of virtue. In that case, to keep Kormac from beginning any legal claims, we may have to move your wedding up.”
“Oh?” was all I could manage, but my stomach was twisting and turning, my mind too able to imagine the horrors Kane would unleash on me.Please, please. Not before the Valabellum. Not before I found a way out.“Surely, such an event will take time to plan?”
His eyes narrowed. “Not in a hurry to wed?”
“A girl dreams of this day for years.” I forced a smile. “I would want such an event to be done right. And, I would be honored if the Emperor attended. I believe you would, too. That would surely end all other claims.”
I watched the Imperator’s eyes narrow. “He’ll be there,” he said.
“That’s wonderful. I know his schedule is full and will require careful, advanced planning.” My heart pounded. “For now, we still have a few weeks of engagement events to attend. The Valabellum right after. It would have to wait until then.”
Imperator Hart smirked. “You’d let it wait forever, wouldn’t you?” His breath on my neck was too hot, too close. And somehow still, his aura was too cold. “Do not give Kormac a reason to claim you,” he commanded. “Because he still very much wants to get inside your … country.” He tilted his head. “You look upset. This little thing you’re doing, the way your pulse is racing, your breath catching—is that worry for Bamaria? Or,” he whispered, “is that a parting gift from Brockton? Is it my hands on you? Or is it when I …” he pushed my corset forward, exposing the top of my breasts, “adjust your clothing?”
I felt faint. Could feel the brush of tears against the back of my eyes, hot and burning, pushing forward. No matter how hard I fought against it, I was so fucking closeto crying. But I couldn’t. I knew if I started, if I let one tear fall, I’d never stop.
I took a deep breath, my skin crawling, and lifted my chin. “Imperator Kormac will have no reason to claim me—not by any action I take.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And to ensure that we keep him away, do remember your part in all of this.” He gritted his teeth, his mouth even closer to my ear. “Stop watching my son when you think no one’s looking.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I nodded.
“And while I have you here,” he squeezed my shoulders again, hard at first, and then he was crushing them between his fingers, his bones digging into mine.
I bit back a cry, Dario watching us. He’d taken a sudden step forward. His hand on his sword. His aura blaring with something that felt almost protective. His fingers curled around the hilt, the tip of his starfire steel blade glinting in the fire, and then just as quickly, he let his hands fall to his sides as he stepped back. Dario’s eyes moved pointedly beyond us to an old painting of a gryphon.
Imperator Hart squeezed me harder and harder until I winced. Another bruise would form there, right in the spot that had just healed from Kane.
“I’m telling you now,” he said. “I have given you everything you need. Warrior training. Access to secret materials—maps, and schedules that only Imperators have ever been allowed to see. And I’ve given you a team to assist you. There’s nothing more you need other than to do as you were told.”
I nodded again, my face pale from the pain, beads of sweat forming at the nape of my neck. “You’ve been most generous, Your Highness.”
“It brings me great joy to hear you say that you agree. And that you feel the same, hmmm?”
