“You don’t know what it means to love.” The words come out harsh.
I straighten my back, looking down at him beneath me. Daegel blinks, the mask still intact. Damn he’s good. “Phoenix,what’s the matter? Do you want to argue about this again? I thought we settled the matter last night. I’m dropping out?—”
I ignore his words. “Did you really think I’d be with you if you threw me into a cell against my will and kept me locked until the end of trials, until you’re the Ezkai General? After finding out that your family traffics and sells children?”
Daegel doesn’t answer immediately.
I lean forward until our chests touch again as I pull out the blade I hid in the sleeve of the robe. A ghost of a smile appears on Daegel’s lips when he registers the knife pressed to his throat. All the confusion is gone from his face. The look that takes its place is foreign to me. Cold as the harshest depths of winter.
I press the blade closer to his throat, but Daegel only huffs a laugh. “I was willing to take that risk, princess.”
The humor only makes me angrier.
“You’re sick,” I sneer.
“Maybe I am,” he says. “I’m sick with love for you.”
I shake my head. “It’s not fucking love. I don’t know what this is that you feel for me, but it’s not love. Obsession, maybe. Sick, twisted, possessive obsession.”
His eyes flash.
“You have no clue what true love is,” I say, frowning.
“Oh, and you do? You’re so starved for affection you’ll take it from anyone. That pirate prince before me, then me, and Jax would be next, huh? Well, I took care of him, so that won’t be happening, princess.”
The malice in his tone is like a slap across my face.
“Fuck you.” I sneer. “I should have told you that the first time you lied. All this time, all you’ve done is hide things, deceive, and keep me in the dark. And now you’re planning on locking me up!”
“I told you I’d do anything to keep you.”
Another realization comes to me.
“You’re the one who hired the assassin to scare me out of the trials.”
It’s not a question and he doesn’t need to confirm it. I already know the answer.
I’m silent for a moment. I can’t…deal. But I have no desire to show him just how much this betrayal hurts. Instead, I channel all my rage and anger. It’s a good thing I’ve got plenty of it buried inside me.
“I should kill you right now,” I spit.
“But you won’t,” he says, cocking his head to the side. I’m baffled by the way he talks to me now. I don’t recognize this person. “Because you can’t. Those ancient laws and traditions, always in the way.”
I grind my teeth. The sharp edge breaks the skin and blood tickles down the blade onto Daegel’s neck and the pillow.
But I don’t push it any deeper.
Daegel’s eyes show no fear.
“I doubt you can,” he says, amused. “Even if you’re angry at me, you’re not going to kill me, princess. You don’t have it in you.”
I don’t flinch at his words. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.
I want his soul, Phoenix Wildarrow,Lorca purrs, startling me.
I ignore the trickster god.
“What are you doing with Jax in your basement?”
