My father’s mask dropped as he turned to me and the weight of his fury was smothering.
“What have I told you about speaking when not spoken to, girl?” Spittle sprayed from his lips.
“I’m sorry, Father, I?—”
“Ten lashes.”
The words landed like a punch, and my muscles turned rigid in anticipation.
Aldric turned away, eyes fixed on the dancers. He always turned away.
“I’ll present to the priest,” I said, swallowing against the bile rising in my throat.
“No.” My father waved a hand as if flicking away a fly.
“Your disobedience will not ruin such a sacred night for the Priest. You will dance with your future husband, then retire. First light, you report for punishment.” My heart rate galloped as I curtsied, the thing inside me screeching at the thought of being whipped again.
“As you wish, my king.”
I descended the steps as if walking to my execution, each footfall a drumbeat of dread. The whispers returned. This time they sung that same damned song I’d heard since childhood.
A melody in my blood.
It’s not real,I told myself, yet I was unable to stop from humming along to the tune floating only to my ears.
Viscount Barden grinned as though I were already his as I curtsied, barely masking the revulsion curling in my gut.
“You requested a dance, viscount.”
“Princess,” he replied, seizing my hand before I could offer it. His fingers were clammy as he led me to the centre of the dance floor, curious eyes clinging to our every movement. He pulled me against his body, hand splayed far too low on my back. I willed my body to conform against a man I did not want to touch. I tried not to glare at him, moving in sync perfectly to the music like I had done a thousand times before. He guided me through the dance with grace, and for a moment, I let myself pretend he would offer me love and protect me from my fatherand the priest.
“What occupies your spare time, Viscount?” I asked politely.
“That will not be necessary.”
I gritted my teeth, counting five slow breaths before I responded to ensure I did not snap at him. “Excuse me?”
“We do not need to get to know each other. Accepting this marriage is a last resort to protect my people against the Commander of Death and his legions. Other than that, you will be a warm place to put my cock and a womb to sow my seed. Nothing more.”
My hand tightened on his shoulder, causing him to grin darkly.
“Are you going to fight me on our wedding night?” he asked. “Because that would make you far more interesting.”
Make him bleed,the thing inside me demanded. The room spun, and nausea clawed up my throat. The melody haunting me rose, clashing with the string orchestra in a way that gritted against my nerves.
My vision darkened, and Isqueezed.Hard enough that my fingernails dug into his shoulders and made him hiss. He shoved me backwards with a force that made me stumble.
“You stupid cunt!”
A shiver ran through me. The darkness inside me had answered. Perhaps one day it would take over me completely.
Aldric was suddenly at my side, taking my hand and giving Barden a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“The princess must retire now, before the Ascension begins.”
The viscount gave me one last leer. “We’ll finish that dance soon, won’t we, my bride?”
I leant in close, just enough that only he could hear me. “I will never let you have me.”
