Gaz.
A flood of emotion surged through me.Fear, hatred, condemnation.And surprisingly, affection and sorrow for the friendship I’d lost.
“You’re unarmed,” he said.I couldn’t argue as I was naked.“And I have this knife pressed into your back.”
I muttered against his hand, and he lifted it slightly.“You won’t hurt me.”That much I knew without doubt.
“I won’t hurt you, but if you scream, Nize will kill the Zulenii woman.He’s up in a tree above her, just waiting to strike.”
I nodded my head, understanding Omira’s life was in my hands.“I won’t scream.”
“Turn around.Slowly.”He removed the knife, and I rose and turned.His eyes flicked down to peruse my body.I could see the appreciation in his gaze.Once I would have blushed and hoped he admired me.Now I wished I could cover myself.I felt nothing when he looked at me.His gaze met mine and held.“Get dressed and come with me.”
“You are either very brave or very stupid,” I said.“If I had my skullcrusher, I would kill you right now for what you did to Finnrey.”
His eyes flashed pain.“I didn’t mean for that to happen.She was my friend too.”
“Well, she was mysister.”My voice broke.“And your stupid, single-minded hatred of Taio killed her.Youkilled her, Gaz.”
“You were the one who brought her here, Mara.You and your Taio.”His voice held a note of scorn.“Has he rutted with you yet?”
I sighed, suddenly very tired and very sad.Not only had I lost my sister, I’d lost one of my best friends in Gaz.I wanted to hate him, Ididhate him, but right now all I felt was a bone-deep sorrow.I wanted no more death, no more pain.“Gaz, go home.If you try and kill Taio, I’ll have to fight you.We all will.”
“I’m not worried about any Zulenii.”
“Are you worried about me?Because I’m one of them now, and Iwillkill you.”
Gaz shook his head.“You won’t kill me.You’ve been panting after me for years.”
My cheeks heated as the implication of his words settled over me.That feeling of nausea that was becoming all too familiar roiled in my belly.I had been such a fool.“Was any of it real, Gaz?When you kissed me, when you told me you wanted me?”When you’d said I was beautiful...
“You’ll be queen one day, Mara.”
I jerked back.He knew I was the heir!How long had he known?Had he known even before me?
“Any man would overlook your flaws for the chance to be your consort.”
My flaws—my height, my mother’s reputation.“And you say Taio is the barbarian,” I retorted.If I survived this, if I ever made it back to Highcastle, one thing I knew for certain: Gaz would never be my consort.“Go home to Highcastle, Gaz, or I swear I will stop at nothing to track and kill you.”
Gaz stared at me for a long moment as though considering what he would tell me next.“I can’t go back without killing him.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I have orders to kill Taio, Mara.”
I shook my head, not wanting to understand what he was plainly telling me.“Orders?What orders?From whom?My mother?”
“From the king.”
I flinched as though physically struck.“No.”I suddenly felt colder than I had in the pool.“I refuse to believe that.My father would never dishonor—”
“Your father did not want to lose you.If the barbarian had picked any other daughter, he might have let him go, but you are the heir.Your father was beside himself after what you did in the arena, but your mother, whore that she is, whispered in his ear and convinced him to send me and Nize to kill Taio and bring you back.You made it all the easier by volunteering us to go as escorts.”
I was still shaking my head.I didn’t want to believe Gaz, but for once he spoke the truth.My mother would do anything to save me, even use my father’s lingering love and affection for her to convince him to abandon his honor and order the unthinkable.
“You see my dilemma now,” Gaz said, reading my thoughts.“I cannot go home without you.”
“Then I have no choice but to kill you.”
