His hand dropped, and his eyes shadowed once more. An answering pain shot through me.
This isn’t over,he said.
It had to be.We’re here to kill the king. Whatever we had . . .I needed to say I was done with him, but I couldn’t force the thoughts from my mind into his. A treacherous need for him kept rising within me, threatening to drown me in his charm once more.Focus on our goal.That was all I would say.
Alright. Are you ready to go?
What kind of question is that?I injected mockery into my words.Are you ready to let the king drain you, you might as well say. You don’t care about your mind, do you, Tempest? No problem letting him suck it away, right?
From the start, I asked you to trust me.I could feel the disappointment in his voice.
And that was the only reason I was cooperating with this. Some shred of the old Tempest still trusted him.
You promised,he added. It wasn’t hard to read the resolve in his gaze. This man had used every bit of himself as a tool for years. He’d sharpened his magic and his mind, honing them into blades that could slice through anything.
Including the walls surrounding my heart.
That was when I believed in you.In us. Now I was uncertain. I was torn between forgiveness and fear, and I didn’t know which path to take any longer. One alone or one with him by my side?We have an uneasy truce. Let’s not push this any farther.
He watched me, his face stoic and unflinching. He didn’tagree or challenge my words. This man was as stubborn as me. He’d declared himself, and nothing and no one would change his course. He saw me as his, and he wouldn’t stop until I’d admitted it was true.
The thought shouldn’t thrill through me.
When had anyone ever so faithfully remained by my side, determined to do anything he could to claim me?
I hated that I was softening, that I was contemplating giving him a second chance. Where had my anger gone? Where was my resolve to keep the walls secure around my heart?
He’dblinked.
That was the only reason I was standing here with him now, that I hadn’t used my newly awakened flitting ability to flee all the way across the continent.
How much of what you said in the throne room was true?I asked, not meeting his gaze. If I read pain there, I worried I’d slip right back into believing him once more.
As always,he said.I carefully chose my words.
They flashed through my mind.The king said he’d take some of my power tonight,I said.A taste, so to speak.
That is his intention.
You didn’t refute this. You didn’t tell him he couldn’t have me.Rage boiled up my throat, adding to the bitter taint on my tongue. It was all I could do not to let it loose, to let my fury roar through this room, this castle. I wouldn’t stop until nothing remained but smoldering ruins.You didn’t defend me.
That was what hurt the most.
No?
Don’t twist this or play with me.
What would you have me do?Oh, he sounded so sardonic, so conniving.
Tell him you wouldn’t allow him to do this.
Do you believe the king will accept no for an answer?
So, we would’ve died. At least we would’ve done it together.Instead . . . There wasn’t anything left of us to salvage.
You’re not the only one walking on a thin wire stretching across a vast cavern,he said.
I assume you’re suggesting you’re on that wire with me.
