“Why?” His eyes open. “Make me understand, Alleria. What did they do to make you turn against your own people?”
“They didn’t do anything. I saw the truth.”
“Thetruth.” He spits the word. “And what truth is that?”
“What we do to them. The cages at the Dell, the collars, the?—”
“The preserves exist for a reason,” he shouts. “The fae aredangerous. They’ve always been dangerous. The collars, the modifications, the hunts. All of it keeps us safe.”
“They’re not animals, Father.”
“No. They’re worse than animals.” He rises from his chair. “Animals kill to eat. Fae kill because they enjoy it.”
“And we are just as bad. We kill them forsport!”
“Whatever they told you, whatever they’ve made you believe, they’reusingyou. I don’t know what for yet, but I intend to find out.”
He strides around the desk and comes to stop in front of me. “Alleria, I—” He frowns, and one hand lifts to brush my hair away from my throat. “What is this?” He turns to the mage. “You said there was no enchantment, but these marks … What did they do to you, Alleria? Is this why you’re defending them? To hide what has been done to you?”
Heat floods my face.
“You should not be ashamed, daughter. If they forced you, if they?—”
I can’t meet his eyes. “I wasn’t forced.”
My father’s hand drops and he steps back. “You let it touch you? You let one of thosecreatures?—”
“He’s not a creature.”
My father flinches as though I’ve struck him.
Behind him, Brennan makes a sound. Low and rough, almost a growl. When I glance at him, his face has changed. Gone is the man I knew, replaced by something angry and ugly.
“Youfuckedit?” His voice is thick with disgust. “You spread your legs for a fae?”
“Brennan. We don’t know that.”
“Then ask her. Ask her what those marks mean. Ask if there are others.”
Both men stare at me.
“Well, Alleria? Did you willingly whore yourself to a fae?” I’ve never heard such an ugly tone from Brennan before.
“It wasn’t—” I swallow, clearing my throat. “It wasn’t like that.”
Brennan’s fingers curl into fists. “You were mine. You were promised tome!”
My lips part, and I look between them. My father, who won’t meet my eyes, and Brennan, whose face is twisted with fury.
“Promised?” I repeat slowly. “What do you mean?”
My father moves back behind his desk. “When you were seven years old, I made an arrangement with Brennan’s father.” He still won’t look at me. “A betrothal contract. It was to be announced when you returned from your birthday hunt.”
“What?” I press a hand to my mouth. I feel sick, nausea churning my stomach. “Yousoldme … when I was a child.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re a princess. Did you really think you would marry for love? And it is a good match. Brennan’s family has served the crown for generations. He would have given you a good life.”
“Wouldhave.” Brennan’s voice is bitter. “Before she let a fae rut her like a?—”
