“Aren’t you married?”
“Ah, yes, I’m collecting women desired by the gods like it’s a godsdamn hobby. Farris will be happy that my attention is on someone else. She won’t mind sharing with Elowyn.”
Unable to stop myself, I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him toward me.
“You better fucking watch yourself, Lord Philip. Fate can change.”
His eyes gleamed.
“Shouldn’t you be concerned with your own mate?” he smiled. “My sister.”
“Let me guess, Loma brought me here so you guys could see what you were up against?” I smiled. “Elowyn will always pick me, and I will always choose her. You and your sister can go fuck yourselves.”
My eyes gleamed as my grip tightened on Philip’s collar, my voice low and edged with warning.
“You don’t know what you’re playing with.”
His smirk never faltered, but I caught a flicker in his eyes—respect? Maybe a warning. I released him slowly, stepping back. The tension between us buzzed like a storm ready to break.
From across the room, Loma’s laughter drifted over—light and sharp, a cruel reminder of how out of place I was here.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Philip said smoothly, voice like silk with an iron core. “Because this game is far from over.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Then let’s see who breaks first.”
He raised his glass in a casual toast before slipping back into the crowd.
I watched him go, the weight of the night settling deep in my chest. Elowyn was out there somewhere, caught in their web. And if it meant burning it all down to get her back, I’d do it without hesitation.
Loma came out, her eyes narrowing on me.
“Come on.” She tried to grab my arm.
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed.
She turned to me, her eyes locked in on me.
“If she wasn’t mated to Philip, I would have already killed her.”
I grabbed Loma by the throat and slammed her against the wall.
“If you think I won’t hurt you because you’re my mate, think again.” I glared. “If you weren’t my mate, I would've killed you already.”
Her fake friendliness faded, and I saw the monster of the vyrak under her skin. Disgust filled me. The fates were fucking monsters for doing this to me—to Elowyn.
“I like your hands on me.” She smiled.
I let go of her.
“Watch yourself,” I warned before turning to leave.
“No, you watch yourself. I’m not convinced that I shouldn’t just slit her throat anyways. Philip doesn’t need her when he has Farris. He’d forgive me if I accidentally killed Elowyn.”
My eyes flashed red as my magic pulsed around her. It gripped her by the throat and slammed her violently back into the wall. She cried out as I smiled cruelly.
“You started a war that you never should’ve. I look forward to watching you die soon.”
Then I left knowing I had blown my plan of using Loma.
