“Oh, fine,” she huffed, pursing her lips into a pout. “I’ll give you some space to dress. But hurry, we’re leaving soon.” She laughed again, leaving me alone in the bathroom.
“For fuck’s sake,” I whispered to the water, my face burning. I leaned forward, making sure she was truly gone before stepping out of the tub and getting dressed.
Dressed in my black leathers with my bag hanging from my shoulder, I stepped out of my room, my cheeks still pink after Ivara’s intrusion. I glanced around the room, hoping to find the shadow cat, but all I saw was an empty room. After entering the palace last night, the cat hid itself within the darkened walls, disappearing from sight. Even as I dressed myself, it never reappeared.
Once I was ready, I found Daelan, Ivara, and Samian waiting for me in the hallway. Daelan wore a uniform like mine, his powerful muscles on full display, while Ivara wore a set of traveling clothes. Her creamy pants were loose but cuffed near her ankles, and her light blue shirt looked as if it wrapped around her body. She wore a belt with a small metal rod hanging down from her hip.
My eyes paused on the rod that seemed so out of place. “What is that?”
Ivara pulled it from her belt and pressed a hidden button along its smooth surface. The rod shot out, growing into a long spear with a small, sharp blade at the end. My eyes widened as I studied the beautiful designs carved along the metal. “I never go anywhere without it,” she smirked, her eyes sweeping along my body.
Ivara chuckled, the sound velvety soft as she threw an amused glance toward Samian. Catching her stare, Samian smirked and tilted his head to the side before his eyes met mine. “Have anyinterestingdreams last night?”
My mouth gaped open while Daelan glanced between the three of us, his eyebrow raised in question. My face turned a brilliant red when I realized he must have seen my dream, and I looked away, cursing. But I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting my smile.
I felt Samian walk up behind me, the pull of the mating bond tugging at my soul, wanting to draw us closer. When I turnedto him, he rubbed the back of his neck. His body was tense, and he looked nervous. My heart cracked, my stomach twisting in shame. I did that. I was the one who caused him to feel so uncertain about us.
I could still hear Vivi’s soft voice whispering in my ear.Follow your heart, she said.You need to follow your heart to survive what’s to come.When she said those words, too soft for anyone to hear, it was all I could do to hold back my tears and keep the fate Queen Cassia told me to myself. But I still wasn’t ready to tell them. Not yet. I still needed to face it myself, though I would rather hide away and hope that it never came.
My guilt doubled when I noticed Samian’s throat bob before he spoke. “Be safe on your journey,” he said. There was a slight crack in his voice, as if it was destroying him to stay behind.
“I will,” I murmured, giving him a reassuring smile. I stepped closer to him, rising on my toes and pressing my lips against his cheek. It was too soon for anything more, but I could at least do this.
Samian’s eyes were wide when I stepped back. I wasn’t even sure he was breathing. But before he could say anything else, Ivara laced her arm around mine and led me down the hall. When I glanced back at Samian, Daelan had his hand on Samian’s shoulder, speaking in a low voice. Samian nodded, his eyes meeting mine before I turned the corner, leaving the hallway behind.
We stayed linked by the arm until we made it to a hallway filled with servants. To keep up with our guise, Ivara unlinked her arm from mine, stepping in front of me. Her face slid into a soft, pleasant look, one worthy of her noble title, though she gave several of the ladies a flirtatious smile, making them blush as we passed along the way. Daelan stayed behind me, however, and by the way the court ladies giggled, he was probably flashingthem the same charming smiles. It was an effort not to roll my eyes.
We finally made it to the front, where a unit of soldiers waited, along with two carriages. They looked so pristine, reeking of power and money. A servant came up to us, taking my bag and Ivara’s, though Daelan kept his on his shoulder.
We followed the servant to the last carriage, watching them strap our bags to the back, my nerves eating away at me at the thought of this journey. The door to the other carriage swung open, and Ambrose stepped out, his eyes immediately finding me. I froze, keeping my face as blank as I could. My palms prickled under his perusal, but I fought against the urge to move them.
Ambrose made his way toward me, his lips thinning, his eyes cold and pointed. His face was paler than usual, more sunken in, as if he hadn't slept in days. “Since these carriages hold only two at a time, you’re to ride with Lady Ivara,” he said flatly. I nodded, but kept my mouth shut, which only seemed to provoke him more. He roughly grabbed my jacket, pulling me to him. My heart leapt into my throat, and I could feel his breath, hot and wet, against my ear. “Remember what I told you about letting others touch you.” Pushing me away, I swallowed down my revulsion and stepped into the carriage.
Ivara climbed in behind me, dropping into her seat with a sigh. I sat opposite of her but didn’t dare look at her. Instead, I looked down at my hands, frowning. The black bands around my wrists poked out from the cuffs of my jacket. Disgust churned in my stomach at the sight.
“They’re not noticeable with that jacket,” Ivara murmured.
I took a sharp breath, pulling the sleeves down further to cover the markings. “They may not be noticeable to others, but I know they’re there.”
“I understand,” she said, staring out the window. There was a distant look in her eyes, one filled with such sadness. “You can’t see it, but I have the mark of a bargain as well, though it's hidden.”
My throat tightened from the misery in her tone. “From Ambrose?”
“Gods, no. I would have killed him already if that were the case. No, this bargain is with my brother, who's the head of our family.”
“The one that was supposed to be at the meeting?”
“That’s the one,” Ivara sighed, her eyes still peering out the window. “He came to me in the middle of the night. There was such terror in his eyes. He was in a panic, pacing back and forth, telling me he needed to leave right away. Made me promise not to come looking for him for at least two years. He knew without that bargain, promise or not, I would search for him the very next day. But the agitation in his voice—I finally agreed to it, and he was gone by morning light.”
“How long ago was that?” I asked softly.
“Six months,” Ivara whispered, finally meeting my gaze. “I’ve been acting as the head of the household ever since.”
“I’m sorry. That must be hard not knowing where he is or why,” I murmured.
I couldn’t stop my thoughts from drifting to my family. Did my brother know about me? Know that I was no longer on Mide? Were my friends looking for me? It had only been three weeks since I had come to Nemos, but that was enough time for them to wonder why I had gone silent in our message groups. I blinked, pushing those thoughts away. It was no use worrying about it now, not when my time was to be cut so short. Swallowing, I focused back on Ivara, though her attention was on the mark of my bargain that was now hidden under my jacket sleeve.
“It is, but when I find him, I’ll make him talk. Make him tell me everything and then thrash him until he can’t walk.” Ivara huffed, her eyes hard and full of fire.
