I always have been.The honesty in his voice cut me off at the knees. My emotions toppled. With a shuddering breath, I regained my footing.In the throne room, you admitted you were toying with me.I stomped right over to him, tipping my head back to lock my gaze on his. I didn’t want to miss one single twitch. One blink.
From the moment we met, I knew the role you’d play in my life.
Back in the throne room, the sneer in his voice had reached into my chest and yanked out my heart. I still bled.This means you’ve been manipulating me from the start.
Guiding you in the direction you needed to go.
Same thing.You told him I was quite sweet. You said he’d enjoy me as much as you have. That you’d gladly let him have a taste of all I have to offer.
But that was when he’d blinked.
Trust me.He swallowed.Please.
My emotions roiled inside me, bashing their way through me in a way I’d never find the will to control. He was weakening me. Not physically and not with magic, but while we were arguing, he was stealthily scaling the walls surroundingmy heart, delicately cutting away the thorns. Reaching inside . . .
I backed away, my hands lifting as if they’d serve as a barrier. The sheath holding his grandfather’s blade tapped my thigh, and I pulled the knife and brandished it between us.
You won’t be allowed to take that to the king’s suite,he said.
You told me I should never go to his bedroom.
I warned you not to, yes.
Yet, here you are, happily taking me there.
I’m not happy about this,he growled.But we have no choice.
I still held the blade, but he was the one gouging deeply. Severing something deep inside me.There’salwaysa choice.
Not in this. Unless . . .His penetrating gaze met mine.Speak the word, and I’ll flit you to a place where he’ll never find you. End this before you’re in too deep.
It’s too late for that.
He held out his hand.Then it’s time to leave for the king’s suite. Again, I ask you to trust me.
Fear pulsed through me with every beat of my heart. There was still time. Icouldrun, as he’d said. He’d flit me somewhere, and I could hide. Me, hide? Ha. My determination and will remained strong. This wasn’t only about me or even Reyla and Brodine. I stood between the evil king and every single man, woman, and child struggling to survive in the Nullen villages.
I’d grown up wielding a sword, killing dregs whenever I got the chance. I was a protector of others. This was taking the battle to a higher level. With one swipe of a blade, I could end the brutal rule of Ivenrail Levestan, and cut the dregs and Lieges off at the knees.
I would do this for myself.
For my fellow Nullens.
And for Vexxion. There was no harm in admitting that I was willing to stand ashisshield, at least in this.
I dragged a swallow down my throat and gritted my teeth to keep them from clacking together. There was no stopping the poke of goosebumps rising across my skin.
With the jerk of a nod, I took Vexxion’s outstretched hand.
“Stay here, Drask,” he barked.
After a long look my way, Vexxion flitted me to the fae king’s suite for draining.
9
TEMPEST
We arrived in a tiny entryway adjacent to the king’s suite.
