“My, my, Princess. I didn’t think you had it in you.” Wrath’s voice reaches me as he passes through the doorframe.
“Took you long enough,” I say in annoyance, lowering the dagger to my side.
“Does that mean you’re eager to see me?” he asks curiously.
I scoff, storming across the room to my trunk and flinging open the top. I wipe the bloody dagger onto this hideous dress before sheathing it. I pull out my riding boots and cloak, knowing I have little time to get out of this castle, steal a horse, and ride back home to Cathros.
Everything would be back to normal before long.
“It seems like you’re in a hurry. What for?” Wrath studies me closely. There’s the invisible brush of his magic across my skin as he nears. I loathe the sensation.
“That’s none of your concern,” I bite out, ripping off my wedding ring and throwing it over my shoulder. It clatters to the floor in the distance, and I feel as though I’ve released myself from a handcuff.
“Surely you’re not going to try to return homealone.” Wrath’s words make me pause what I’m doing. I give him a deadly gaze. “What will the seven kingdoms think when they discover the King of Avelisar’s body dead in your chambers?”
“Then drag his body elsewhere!” I snap at him, reaching up to pull the adornments from my hair. I toss them aside as Ifree my hair from its updo. My waves fall to my waist, and I feel immediate relief across my scalp. “And it’s more like five kingdoms now,” I correct him.
I pull on the pants I stole from Valentin’s room under my dress, realizing they’re about two sizes too big. Striding over to Olav’s body, I rip his belt free and loop it through my pants, buckling the belt on the tightest setting, and hoping it stays in place.
“It’s unlikely they’ll believe that the king died, and you escaped.” Wrath is vexingly calm for having just ended a life.
“What are you suggesting then?” I race behind the divider, yanking the dress off. “Fake my death?” I pull on a tunic and tuck it into the waistband. Slinging my cloak around my shoulders, I fasten it in the front, preparing myself for a long journey ahead.
“That’s a fair idea.” He plays along. “Then where will you go?”
I circle the divider, braiding my long hair into three loose strands as quickly as possible before fastening the ends. Packing everything I can into the leather satchel Eleanor gave me, I sling it over my shoulder as I approach Wrath.
“You’re not seriously suggesting that I go with you.” It’s my turn to laugh sardonically. “Does the destroyer of peace require a pet? I didn’t take you for the companion type.”
I expect him to get angry at my insult. That my outburst would end in him attempting to kill me once more. Instead, I see his lips quirk as he holds back a reaction, his eyes alight with challenge.
“I’m not suggesting.” His tone is lethal as he leans close, invading my space.
My expression drops. “And what if I refuse?”
“Fine.” He saunters from the room. “No one will trust you with magic on your skin.”
I glance down at my arm, pulling it out of my cloak to examine it. It’s still there. A shining silver sigil, reminding me I am bound to him. Why hasn’t it gone away? We can be rid of one another now that our bargain is complete.
“Then remove it,” I urge, taking long strides to catch up to him. “Our deal is finished, as agreed.”
“I can’t.”
“You’re the king.”
“Magic is one-way. It’s difficult to reverse,” he explains. “You could always burn it off.”
I huff in annoyance, shaking my head. “This isn’t what I agreed to.”
“It is,” Wrath replies impassively. “I freed you from your marriage, and you haven’t even thanked me.”
“Why would I thank a scoundrel?—”
Wrath halts mid-step, silencing me as he whips around. A chill runs down my spine as his stare cuts through me like a blade. I’m frozen in place, helpless under his commanding will. I’ve done it this time. He’s going to kill me.
“Then take a horse and make the ten-day journey by yourself back to Cathros. See how long you last without food or supplies,Princess,” he says through gritted teeth, rage emanating off him like steam from an oven.
I don’t want to admit that he’s right. I have no map and would soon find myself lost. Until recently, I haven’t even left Cathros’s castle, completely sheltered from the outside world. It is a fatal flaw in my plan. I became so fixated on surviving that I did not fully consider the logistics of returning home.
