I’d promised to protect her. Sworn that no one would hurt her while I still had breath in my body. I’d claimed her as mine—and what did that mean if I couldn’t keep her safe?
She was broken and bleeding because I’d failed her. Because I wasn’t strong enough. Fast enough. Smart enough to see Rabbit’s betrayal coming.
This was my fault.
Alanna handed the bloody cane to Ari. “Put this away. I think I’ve made my point.”
“I’m not your pet,” Ari muttered.
Alanna turned on him, her eyes flashing. “Actually, you are. Your failure was epic. My brother can still steal my crown.”
“You were there.” Ari’s jaw tightened. “You saw what happened.”
“Yes. I did. You failed.” She stalked toward him and went nose to nose, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “I still haven’t forgiven you, Ari. Test my patience, and I’ll strap you to that barrel next. See how you like being on the receiving end.”
Ari’s eyes flashed red—just for a second—before he bowed slightly. “I apologize, my queen.”
I watched the exchange, filing it away. Ari hated her. That flash of red had been pure rage—smothered fast, but not fast enough. Maybe that was something I could use. Someday.
She chuckled. “Much better.” She cupped his cheek, her touch almost tender. Almost. “Now leave us—pet.”
The hatred in his eyes was suffocating. For a moment I thought he might snap. Might wrap his hands around her throat and end this once and for all.
But he didn’t.
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” He hung the cane back on the wall and left, his back rigid as he climbed the stairs.
Alanna had made herself a deadly enemy—one she should never turn her back on. Ari’s pride was wounded, his loyalty hanging by a thread.
Maybe if these two turned on each other it would give me a chance to escape.
To rescue Alice.
I looked at Alice—broken, unconscious, barely breathing. Because of me. Because I hadn't been fast enough. Strong enough.Enough.
Alanna came over to me and put her finger on my chin. “Now, where were we?”
I wanted to crush her like a bug. Do to her what she’d done to Alice. But I forced myself to keep my jaw clenched tight. Because it wouldn’t be me who suffered—it would be Alice.
And next time, she might not survive.
Alanna gestured toward Alice as if she was proud of what she’d done. “You saw what I can do to the little wench. But she’s nothing between us. A distraction.”
She was fucking delusional.
I refused to answer. I hated her. I fucking hated her. One day I’d wrap my hands around her throat and watch the light leave her eyes. For Alice. For all of this.
“Silent treatment, huh?” Alanna tilted her head, studying me. “Well, let me spell it out to you, Darius. I could easily condemn her to die, but there are worse things than death.”
This time I couldn’t keep silent. Not when it came to Alice.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Alanna’s lips curved into a smile that made my blood run cold. She reached into the folds of her gown and produced two small vials, holding them up to the dim light. One glowed purple, luminescent and almost beautiful. The other was black—so dark it seemed to swallow the light around it.
Something fucking horrible. Something that would deepen my hatred for her even further.
“Do you know what these two are?” She turned them slowly, watching the liquid swirl inside each one.
