16
Now I know why Grayson embedded the Rath Heartstone in his body. I wrench backward and he lets me go. My legs are jelly. I stumble like a new foal, reaching for the nearest chair so I can drop into it. I grip the armrest, focus every bit of my rage into it, and stare at my hands as they slowly turn white.
I nearly kissed him, nearly betrayed everything I feel for Baelen. Angry tears burn behind my eyes, but I will not shed them. I will not let him see what his sorcery has done to me.
Grayson says nothing. Does nothing. Observing me with no emotion at all.
My voice is like sandpaper in my throat. “What happens now?”
“Now you stay here. With me.”
“For how long?”
He doesn’t move. He may as well be made of stone. “As long as it takes for the Elven Command to take control of Erador.”
“Why do they want to attack the gargoyles? Is it for revenge because of what the Storm did?”
He replies, “The gargoyles have something we need.”
“What is that?”
His only response is a quick shake of his head. He isn’t going to tell me.
My accusation is bitter. “So you’re going to attack the gargoyles even though you already have me.”
“I told you to prepare for war.”
I gasp, growl, and laugh all at the same time. “You think it will be easy to conquer them. You have no idea what they are capable of.”
He tilts his head with a curious frown, the first movement he’s made. “I did not find the gargoyles on the cliff so hard to subdue.”
I’m not ready to stand yet, but I will be soon. “Yes, but that was because of all your natural sorcery. You won’t be there for this fight.”
A frown descends over his perfect forehead. “What are you talking about? Of course I’ll be there. I’m leading the battle.”
I can finally stand, lifting myself up off the chair with all the poise I can manage, desperately trying to ignore my despair. Even Cassian was respectful of my body. He never tried to kiss me.But Marbella, I tell myself,that was because he loved you.Tears burn behind my eyes again. “You won’t be there, Grayson, because you’ll behere, keeping me under control.” I turn to the doorway. Point at it. “Without you, I’ll simply walk out that door. There is no other elf powerful enough to stop me.”
His eyebrows have risen. “I will place you in a containment sphere.”
“Try it,” I dare him. “Try it right now. Watch me destroy it.”
With barely a gesture on his part, my feet lift off the ground and a transparent shield forms around me, dragging me upward. I press my hands against the front of it, demanding his attention. A blast of Incorruptible light shatters the globe around me in the next moment.
I drop gracefully to my feet and stride toward him, well and truly in control of my legs now. Diamond light shines around me as my Incorruptible power continues to respond to my anger. “Put me behind bars, inside a spelled prison, and wrap it up with as much magic as you can. It won’t matter. I’ll get out.”
I’m close enough to jab his chest, the same chest I pressed up against moments before. “The only thing keeping me here is you.Yourbody. Once you’re gone, I’m gone. Good luck to the elves fighting a battle against the gargoyles without you.”
He contemplates me with the first sign of real emotion. It’s odd to see him fixate on the finger I jabbed him with. I see again the moment of emotion he couldn’t hide when I first opened my eyes after he held me just now. I remember the sensory overload I felt when I discovered I was able to touch people after seven years of keeping my distance. I jab his chest again and press my finger there. It’s a stupid move but if he’s going to control me, I’ll fight back with everything I can, including the knowledge that touch isn’t something he’s used to.
I say, “I’m tired and hungry and I’m assuming you don’t want me to starve. So where is the food?” What I want more than anything is to see what’s outside this room—to get a feel for the layout of the house and where the prison might be.
He snatches a glance at my finger. Then, without warning, he sweeps it up to his mouth and catches the end of it between his teeth, closing his lips around it. The air glows crimson again and delicious warmth shoots through me as he kisses my skin.Baelen’s kisses. “I’m hungry too,” he murmurs.
I drag my finger free with all my might, my heart sinking at just how badly that went.
He lets me go with a laugh that sounds oddly genuine. “If you’re going to play that game, be prepared to lose.”
“Got it.” I clear my throat, burying my finger inside my curled-up fist. I step away from him, knowing that from now on, I need to keep as much distance between us as I can. I wasn’t lying though. I’m hungry and tired. I was on my way to dinner right before Grayson snatched me from outside the Royal Residence. It was right after I buried Cassian. Right after Indira admitted to me how much she wanted to stay in her beautiful valley with Erit and never face what was coming. Right after Baelen lost it when he saw me covered in blood.
