Before I could respond, I was thrown against a wall.
“We don’t tolerate stalkers here.” The guard double my size started hauling me toward the door.
“I’m not a stalker, I just need to speak with the lady. Please, it’s urgent.”
I was prepared to fight, but I didn’t have to.
“Holdyn, stop.” The guard froze as we both turned to look at her. “You may have five minutes of my time.”
Five minutes was all I needed to convince her. She didn’t give me her story, but she made her feelings toward the Trioris clear. They clearly harmed her in some way, but I didn’t pry.
It’s impossible not to feel sorry for her. Someone too kind and beautiful and delicate for such an ugly world. Someone forced to relinquish their power in order to survive. To resign themselves to being seen and used as an object for pleasure.
It sickens me. She doesn’t belong in this place.
“Any word from the castle?” I ask as she drops into the sand beside me.
“The madame received a request this morning. A dozen girls in two days’ time”—she pauses, nervously glancing from me to Jace—“for a wedding.”
My heart rate ticks up. “A wedding,” I repeat mechanically.
Jace shoots forward. “Whosewedding?”
“I doubt it’s Mal and Ilspeth’s,” Dover mumbles sardonically.
“It’s Kylian’s wedding,” Ilayna confirms.
No.
No, no, no. This cannot be happening. This is why he wanted her? Why he took her? I’m going to be sick.
“Damn it,” Jace hisses.
“Oh gods.” Mar lifts a hand to cover her mouth.
“There has to be some mistake. She would never agree to it.” I shake my head, baffled.
“You think he’s giving her a choice? He’ll force her!” Jace shouts. Then he turns to Mar. “Do another scrying. We need to see what’s going on.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I need to make sure she’s alright.”
“She’s being held against her will and forced into marriage. I doubt she’s alright, Jace,” Dover grumbles.
This has to be a misunderstanding.
But no matter how desperately I want to deny it, in my heart I know it’s true. It makes perfect sense.
He wants to bind them together using the Bloodfast—the ritual performed by royals and High Fae with powerful bloodlines to keep their lineage strong. If he marries Serena and they complete the rite, he will not only bind them together, but he’ll come into his full generational power.Andgain a dragon in the process.
He’ll be unstoppable.
Mar turns ghost white as Jace rears his head in the direction of the sea. “Look. All the water you could possibly need.”
A moment later, Mar is kneeling in the shallow tide with us huddled close behind. She dunks her hands into the cool water, and the sea surrounding us begins to bubble and glow. Mist swirls around the surface, then clears to an image of Kai on a stage, arms suspended from a rope, rocks flying at him until he goes limp and passes out. I can barely watch the grotesque display, cringing as a large rock bashes in part of his skull.
“Oh, Kai.” Mar gasps, clasping her mouth.
