“You cannot be serious,” she said, panic creeping in. She couldn’t be trapped here. The wards kept her from her magic, and being separated from her smoke and ashes was already taking its toll.
He clicked his tongue in admonishment. “Come now. I just told you all the rumors were true.”
“Cethin, I?—”
Something new flashed across his features. Something feral and wanton. Something she again didn’t understand.
Whatever it was, he recovered quickly. His face twisted back into the harshness of seconds ago, and he took a single step towards her. She took one back, and the answering smirk was cruel.
“Agree to a bargain with me, and you can leave here,” he proposed. “But decide quickly. Your fate hangs in the balance.”
“I will not marry you.”
“The bargain is that the next time our paths cross, these negotiations will go very differently.”
She took the step towards him this time, the dagger still poised between them. “The next time our paths cross, I will stab you somewhere far more painful.”
“Do we have an accord then?” he asked, his demeanor nothing but arrogance personified.
Her brow scrunched. “An accord for what? That I will stab you the next time I see you?”
“The bargain is that the next time our paths cross, you shall either agree to my proposal or stab me.”
“Fine, we have an accord,” she scoffed, slicing her dagger along her palm before throwing it at him. It flipped, blade over hilt, and Cethin caught it by the steel. Blood immediately seeped between his fingers, and he let it drop to the ground with a clatter, never once breaking her stare.
She braced herself for the touch, biting down on her grimace when he closed his fingers around hers. Their blood met, and she felt the telltale tingle of a Bargain Mark marring the flesh along the back of her shoulder.
He lifted his other hand, presumably to halt his advancing guard, but he still gripped her fingers, keeping their connection. He leaned in closer, forcing her to tip her head back to hold his stare. “See you soon, tiny fiend.”
Her answering smile was pure vitriol. “You should pray to the gods that doesn’t happen.”
“No need. Either way, you’ll end up back here. In a cell or at my side, it doesn’t matter to me,” he replied simply. So sure of how this was going to end. So certain he’d get what he wanted.
She’d make sure he regretted every moment of their time together.
Chapter 9
Kailia
“You’re going to leave me here?” she demanded.
True to his word, Cethin had Traveled them out of the gardens where they’d proceeded to make this stupid bargain. It was only now that she realized where exactly he’d Traveled them too.
They were at the front gates of the castle. A long bridge of steep steps stretched out before them, obscured by a wall of misty, dark fog. Looking over her shoulder, the castle towered above them. It was such a dark shade of grey, it was nearly black, but it shimmered slightly in the sunlight. It was nestled into the black Nightmist Mountains. Since Cethin had Traveled them directly inside after the Esbat Festival, she was just now taking in the structure up close.
The front of the castle had three separate archways, side by side, with various towers rising behind them and reaching towards the clear sky. More towers flanked the main ones, various buildings visible, but more than that were the winding stairs that led up to the building. They cascaded down, continuing to the stepped bridge before them. It spanned aravine so deep, she was certain she wouldn’t be able to see the bottom if she looked.
And now Cethin was depositing her at the front gates as if she had served some purpose for him and he was done with her.
“I was under the impression you wanted to leave,” he drawled, crossing his arms. The action pulled at the fabric of his black tunic, stretching it tight across his arms and chest.
“Withmy arrow,” she retorted, mirroring his stance.
“You know my terms for that to happen.” Her eyes narrowed, and she could tell he was fighting another smirk. “Something to say, tiny fiend?”
She couldn’t say what she wanted to, and even though her fingers itched to reach for her dagger, she couldn’t do that either. His guards were everywhere, and despite his promises that nothing would hurt her here, if she harmed their king, she was certain that would no longer be the case. Her skills were well-honed, but one against…all of them would still be a challenge. Probably enjoyable, but a challenge nonetheless.
When she remained silent, his features flickered in irritation. “Then, yes. I’m going to leave you here. I’m a busy male, and I’ve given you as much of my time as I can today.”
