But in this moment, it just might be the very weapon I need.
So I hum.
It starts as a quiet rumble in my throat, then builds into a tune, growing louder and louder. All eyes turn to me as I continue to weave my hummed song, letting its sound fill the coach. My hair stands on end as I feel the magic swirling around me.
“Stop the coach!” Eyes haunted, Marus hammers a fist on the wall behind him. When the coach rolls to a stop, he all but leaps out the door.
Mrs. Coleman darts forward, leaning halfway outside. “Brother Marus! What are you doing?”
“You said she had no magic.” I hear his voice, although I can’t see his face. “She has far more sin than you claimed. If she proves too tainted by fae darkness, I cannot make her my wife.”
“It isn’t what you think!” Mrs. Coleman says, voice panicked. “Just give me a moment to speak with her alone. I’ll get her under control.”
“Pray that you do,” he says, his voice sounding farther away now. “Otherwise, our deal is off.”
My stepmother returns to her seat. “Out,” she barks at her daughters. They rush to obey without question. Once the door is closed and we’re alone, she narrows her eyes to slits. “You will marry him, Ember.”
I reply, but my words are still trapped behind the gag.
Gritting her teeth, she leans forward and roughly pulls the cravat from my mouth. Her nails scrape my cheek in the process. “Say your piece, you vile, wretched girl.”
I take a steadying breath. “I won’t marry him. You can’t make me. All of this is futile.”
She purses her lips, and I can tell she’s fighting to keep a tight grip on her composure. “There are other ways, you know,” she says. “If you’re so determined not to marry Brother Marus, then promise to continue paying my stipend. Enter a new bargain with me, and I will allow you to break off your engagement.”
“What don’t you understand?” I say with a dark laugh. “You don’t control me anymore. There’s nothing you can force me to do. It’s over.”
“I can do worse. If you refuse to comply, I’ll sell you to a brothel.”
“You can’t sell me, for you don’t own me. I’m of legal age and not bound to you in any way.”
“Do you think that will stop me? There are plenty of establishments that won’t hesitate to take you, legal or not.”
I shrug. “Do what you must. It still won’t get you your money.”
She snickers. “How have you not learned? I always have a plan. Always.”
“How haveyounot learned? You may always have a plan, but each one is destined to fail again and again. You’ve already lost, Mrs. Coleman. No matter what you try to do to me, you’ve lost. I can weather any storm. Can you say the same for yourself?”
“How dare you speak to me like that! If you won’t comply, I will purchase a glamour for Imogen to wear and we’ll claim your inheritance in full. Then you’ll have nothing, and we’ll have everything.”
“If you really thought that would work, you wouldn’t have resorted to this. Besides, I’d love to see you attempt to fool the prince. If you’d like a ticket to the executioner’s block, by all means, try it.”
She rolls her eyes. “What are you spouting off about?”
“Franco knows who I am. He’s known all along. He never thought I was Princess Maisie. If anyone enters Selene Palace wearing my face, the prince will know it isn’t me. He knows my energetic signature.”
“Why would he care?” She waves a flippant hand, but I see panic growing in her eyes.
“Because he loves me.”
She pales. “You’re lying.” She tries to laugh it off, but her knuckles have gone white.
“Are you willing to risk it?”
She slams her fist into the seat. “You just had to take that from Imogen too, didn’t you?” Her voice trembles, edged with iron. Tears fill her eyes. “You’ve taken everything from me.Everything.”
“Everything you’ve lost has been of your own doing.”
