My teeth grind together.
I can only teleport so far. Typically a few miles at a time. Notthousands. It’ll only be slightly faster than flying.
And hand portals are rare. That’s why I called for Marius. There’s only one in the palace, and I assume that’s the one he took.
But I’ll definitely be checking.
Because if I can reach Viviana, I will.
He told me to help her.Fucking liar, I think. He knew I wouldn’t be able to stop this or assist her in any way. Not when she’s in an isolated part of this world.
An island of trees with a single cabin on the opposite side of the realm.
Fuck.
It’s a place of exile.
A home for an insane Strigoi.
My father.
I try to warn her, to tell her who’s waiting in that cabin. But we’re disconnected again.
And I know why.
There’s a force field around that cabin. A force field that keeps my father locked inside.
She’s already stepped over the threshold. Which means she’s just as trapped as he is.
And so am I,I realize, narrowing my gaze at my grandfather.Only, I’m trappedhere. At the palace.
“Flying to her isn’t really an option, is it?” I voice it as a question. But I already know the answer.
He gives me a knowing look. “You’re a wise king, Ciprian. Wiser than your predecessors.” He starts toward the palace, not bothering to look back at me.
Because why would he?
He’s ancient. Just like Barnes.
I understand now that there’s a reason Fjord, Barnes, and my grandfather were my welcoming party. One is the general in charge of security, marking him as quite deadly. And the other two are among the strongest of Strigoi kind.
I could fight them, and I might even win.
But I would lose the respect of my kingdom.
And it wouldn’t save my intended from the inevitable. It would just make it all worse. It might even guarantee her failure.
Fuck.
There’s only one option—let this trial play out.
I chose Viviana Dalca for a reason. Now it’s time to see if my instincts about her are right.
But watching her without being able to help her is going to be torture.
Pure. Fucking. Torture.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
