But she was wrong, I knew that now. Despite her betrayal, I was finally in a good place in my life, surrounded by people who cared about me. Or—Iwas.
I refused to consider that I wouldn’t be again. I had to get out of here, somehow. This wasn’t going to be my life. A slave tohim. A slave toanyone.
Never. Again.
I was free. Well—okay, I was currently a captive, sure. And Cyrus probably considers me hisslave—but no, I wasn’t. I never would be again. I just had to have faith. Faith in my friends. Faith inCalix.
My king may be torn on his feelings, but I knew he had them. The way he called mehisstar in the ancient language—
Calix would come for me.
Swallowing any trace of panic so Cyrus wouldn’t get the satisfaction, I let my rage take over, forcing myself to meet the gaze of my captor. Lightning flashed in blue eyes I once thought hard to resist, until I learned who he really was. Until I met a king who truly was hard to resist.
“Cyrus.” I snarled, fighting against my bonds, but he just laughed merrily.
“Oh, my dear.” Cyrus smiled condescendingly. “I would wipe that look off your face.” The merry smile faded into an awful expression that spoke of his own rage, along with his embarrassment, his want. I had to be very careful. Cyrus was clearly deranged, and I didn’t want to make this worse.
I stiffened as he leaned over me, flashes of him forcing me down, freezing me in place, my breath growing heavy and fast. Cyrus smirked, like he could scent my fear—and he probably could, I realized. Fae could smell many things, and I kept forgetting that little fact.
“You’re at my mercy now, Asteria. Calix—” Cyrus growled. “Isn’t here to save you. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine, and it’s time for you to accept that.”
His mouth crashed down on mine, and I tried to keep my lips closed. When he forced them open, I savagely bit his lip until he jerked back with a snarl of outrage. He reached up and grasped my neck, starting to squeeze as I tried to gasp for air, but he wascompletely blocking my airway. I tried to move my arms to bat at him, but only succeeded in rattling the chains.
“Cyrus!” A voice yelled from the doorway. Cyrus looked down at me, face still twisted into a snarl, as a familiar voice called his name again. I never thought I’d be so thankful to hear Zerlina. “Cyrus! You—oh for Tala’s sake! You broughtherback?”
Cyrus turned his twisted fury to the doorway, releasing my neck. I gasped in air, following his gaze to where my surprising savior stood. Zerlina had her hands on her hips, and she was glaring fiercely. She was clad in a red and gray gown, still wearing the colors of House Bathala despite the fact she was marrying into House Tynan.Interesting. Seems things weren’t going well—not that I was surprised.
“Whatare you doing here?” Cyrus growled out at her.
“Your mother wants to have lunch with us.” Zerlina huffed, shaking her head. “You scared the slave away who was supposed to tell you, so, here I am.” Her voice was dry, her dislike of her task more than clear as she threw her arms in the air in exasperation. “Let’s go, mydearestbetrothed.”
Her sarcasm made Cyrus snarl, and he whirled around, stalking toward her. He grabbedherby the neck, and it was obvious Cyrus had gone over the edge. Where before he might have feigned civility, now he went straight for brutality.
“Watch your fucking tone, Zerlina.” Cyrus demanded, lightning crackling around him. “If I didn’t need this alliance with your father, I would choke the fucking life out of you.Happily.” Zerlina just smiled widely at him, looping a leg around his.
“Try it.” She purred, while he pressed himself into her.
Ew. This was definitely some demented flirting. Maybe they were perfect for one another after all. Actual monsters—spoiled, privileged assholes, who thought mortals belonged to them and used them as they would.
Watching them made me sick, so I turned my head away. Unfortunately, that meant I didn’t notice when Cyrus approached the bed again. He loomed over me once more and unwanted fear rattled through my bones.
“I’d say be good, but you’re not getting out of these chains until I’m ensured of your loyalty.” He smirked down at me.
I cleared my sore throat, my voice more a croak than the strong tone I’d prefer. “What if I have to go to the bathroom? Or eat? Drink water? Are you going to leave me to die of dehydration?”
“Don’t worry, I have someone to watch over you.” Cyrus chuckled, and my blood ran cold. “You’ll have to wait to go to the bathroom until I’m back to watch you, but she’ll help with food and water.” He waved a hand to the doorway, and I snarled as Emmie appeared.
“You remember our deal?” Cyrus nearly purred as he asked Emmie, who nodded meekly. It looked like she’d been crying, her eyes puffy and swollen. She’d gotten exactly what she wanted, what in Tartarus did she have to cry about?
Cyrus left me with Emmie, who came and sat at my bedside. I glared at her, and she glared right back, neither of us speaking for an extended period of time. I was left to ruminate over her betrayal, and hoping Calix, Harpina, and everyone else were all okay—that they’d gotten out alive, and that they’d hopefully be coming for me.
“This is all your fault, you know. If you had just been happy with what Cyrus gave you, none of this would be happening.” Emmie finally said a while later, her tone gratingly superior.
I ground my teeth, rage sparking at her ridiculous words and uppity tone. “Be happy with being a slave? With being used? At the mercy of a fucking monster? No thanks—I have more self-respect than that. Something you clearly lack.”
“Oh, so superior.” Emmie laughed wryly. “Yet it was you who was just fucking a man who has a soulmate, a man who’s triedso hard to be loyal to her. You had no problem ruining that, did you? Maybe you just wanted a king, was that it? You weren’t happy with the Crown Prince, you wanted more. But the king chose me, and you couldn’t handle it.” She sniffed, squaring her shoulders.
I wanted to claw her eyes out.
