It was going to start soon, within the next day my army would arrive. Those trapped and wishing for a different life would be liberated. That was my only demand.Freedom.
“Your bleeding heart is going to be your downfall.” The servant stated boldly.
“Shut it.” Erik snapped at him before turning to view me. “What of Iona?”
I pulled my lips into my mouth, taking a moment to ponder how best to reply. “I found her, but she did not wish to leave.”
“What?” Disbelief tainted his voice. He even stepped away, as though the words blew him back.
My heart hurt for him. All of this, the scars on his back, were to get to this moment, to find her and rescue her. He sacrificed his body for her. Yet she was no damsel waiting for rescue. Instead, she entered the dragon’s den willingly and made a home there. “Iona said she runs the whorehouse and is happy there. She knew they kept this girl in one of her rooms and did nothing to help.”
“I suppose all of that is close enough to the truth.” Iona’s voice sliced into the room just before she sauntered in. Her stony gaze moved through the space like a serpent’s eye until landing on Erik. “Brother.”
Tension flooded the space, and everyone turned to view the cause.
Erik froze, eyes wide, moving over his sister, recognizingher. He was stunned into silence, and Iona used that to her advantage as she stepped deeper into the cabin yet remained by the door. “What are you doing here, Erik?”
“I came to help free our people,” he stated, staring at her as though seeing a ghost.
Her jaw clenched. “Well then, I am sorry, but you have wasted your time. Please let father know he should be wiser than to send his heir into a world he knows nothing about.”
Erik shook his head. “Father is dead.”
Iona’s eyes widened. For the first time, a look of troubled surprise painted her features.
“What, expectyour Kingto have filled you in on that detail?” I stated, moving to stand at Erik’s side.
He glanced at me as my words sank in and he then turned to Iona. “Your King?”
The trouble melted from her eyes, replaced by a mask. She shrugged, feinting indifference. “He actually wanted me. While dad never came for me.”
The air around Erik warmed, as though he burned beneath his skin. “Father had an entire people to care for.”
“And you don’t?” She tilted her head in wonder.
Erik tensed. “I do, yet I am here, aren’t I?”
Her gaze narrowed, sliding to me. “Are you?” She turned back to Erik. “What are you doing with Clause’s little lamb?”
He went completely rigid at her word choice. “Ariana is not his.” The tone in his voice was absolute and cold, plummeting the room deeper into an icy tension, while the temperature in the space sweltered.
None of the servants made a sound or moved a single muscle. They simply stared in our direction.
Iona slowly shook her head. “You do not know what you aremessing with. Don’t tell me you actually care for this Bavadrin?” She pointed a long thin finger at me.
“That’s none of your concern,” I said, growing tired of her meddling. She wanted me to leave herestablishment, and I did. So why now was she here?
Iona’s eyes doubled in size, looking at me. Her hand fell to her side. “You are going along with this- this fantasy?”
“It is real,” I stated.
She snorted. “And I thought I was the one who messed with the hearts of others.” Was that a comment about what she had done with Kole and Eislyn?
“If you do not want to leave this place then why are you here?” Erik asked, eyes narrowing.
She shrugged. “I was curious to see what the little lamb was up to. And maybe get a front seat to the show.”
“What show?” I asked.
