“That’s okay, I’ll take my old room,” Daelan waved in dismissal, leaning back into his chair. He looked back at Sybil, giving her a sly grin. “Is there anything else that you would like to discuss, Ambrose?”
I glared at Daelan, my blood turning to ice in my veins. “No, that will be all,” I said, gesturing toward the door, dismissing the meeting.
The lords stood, though only Daelan, Ivara, and Lord Troya left. The other five stayed behind, waiting until the doors closed before looking back in my direction.
Lord Bramwell was the first to break the silence. “I believe that just using the guard’s words alone will not be enough to sway the populace to our side.”
“I agree,” Lord Vito said, his eyes straying to Sybil.
“I have also thought of that,” I nodded. “Arianna, Sybil, and I will visit Thanlyl tomorrow, where we will find more rebels and rebel sympathizers. We will interrogate them and add them to the list along with the guards.”
Lord Bramwell laughed, those rotten teeth flashing, though his eyes flicked behind me to study Sybil. “I’m assuming your grand paladin is a part of your court?” His lecherous gaze slid along her body. I could feel his lewd sentiments leaking off him. “There may be quite a few who will have a problem with that fact, Ambrose. I wouldn’t mind taking her off your hands. She can join my court.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” I smiled darkly, ignoring his suggestion. Sybil belonged tomeand would stay by my side. “But I’m sure those with any issues will find themselves…silent on the matter.”
“And our land?” Lord Oziel pressed, his hunger for more oozing from him.
“Will double once the Seelie Court is ours, and the rebellion has been squashed. But only then, Lord Oziel.”
“Of course,” he chuckled. “My soldiers are yours to use,KingAmbrose.”
“I appreciate your support,” I returned. “All of your support. I’ve prepared rooms for you all to stay in until our public assembly. The servants will show you the way.”
As if on cue, Hale and Evander led a handful of servants into the room, summoning the lords to follow, leaving the three of usalone. I stood, turning to Sybil and Arianna, and leaned against the table.
“That went well, my king,” Arianna purred. She took a step toward me, but I raised my hand, stopping her.
My eyes were on Sybil, though hers stayed focused on the doors.
She’s going to betray you. She’s not yours. You will fall. You’ll fail. The would-be king will tumble, tumble, tumble—down, down, down he goes. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. She’s not yours. Not yours. Not yours. Not yours. Not yours. Not yours.
I growled, cutting off that infuriating voice, transferring myself in front of Sybil. She gasped at my sudden nearness, yet I felt nothing from her. Nothing except that fucking void. Surprise flashed in her eyes, her face paled, but no emotion, no sensation, none of the fear from our time in the dungeon reflected back at me.
Snarling, I grabbed her throat, pushing her back into the marble wall behind her, cutting off her air. She struggled against me, but I leaned down to her face. “You will allow no one else to touch you. Is that understood? You belong to me and me alone.” Pushing her harder against the wall, I asked again, “Is. That. Under. Stood?”
“Yes,” Sybil choked, her voice small and meek. Her gaze flicked above my shoulder, her eyes widening slightly, but quickly returned to mine.
I lingered, holding her stare a moment longer before throwing her to the floor, her pained grunt echoing through the room. “Prepare to leave tomorrow. We will depart by mid-morning and be gone for two days.”
I turned, walking out of the council room with Arianna close on my heels.
Chapter 8
Sybil
Picking myself up, I groaned, my palms and hip aching from my fall. I rubbed my throat, shuddering. I felt sick, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the way the lord with limp blond hair leered at me, how the other one with the rotting teeth offered to take me into his court, or if it was their plan to “find” supporters of the rebellion and murder them for show.
All three had my stomach churning. All three had me questioning whether I could continue with this act. I don’t know how Samian does it, to pretend that he stands with Ambrose and his wicked ways.
Swallowing down the bile that rose, I left the council room, keeping an eye out for any of the lords that may have lingered. I swiftly walked through the halls, making sure my face remained blank as I passed by servants and guards.
War. Ambrose was preparing for war. Would Kieran’s forces be enough to handle a full-out war? The way those lords spoke, there were more soldiers outside the palace for Ambrose to use. If most of the rebels stayed at the manor, then it wouldn’t be enough to stop him. It wouldn’t even be enough to survive a single battle. They would all be slaughtered, and Kieran would be?—
I took a breath, pushing away the thought before I could finish it. The queen didn’t say that Samian and Kieran would die, though she didn’t really tell me much aside from mypotentialdeath. My heart ached, my mind drifting back to our conversation, wondering how I would know when the time came or if I could even stop it from happening.
Reaching my room, I opened the door but stopped at the threshold, my gaze colliding with dark green eyes, bright with amusement.
My heart leapt into my throat as Daelan Astaroth stood in the middle of my chambers. Samian jumped up from the chair he was in, putting himself between Daelan and me. A soft, breathy laugh sounded from further in the room.
