“I am sorry, Ezreal, but I need her,” Melanie said, a tone of desperation in her voice.
Ezreal raised an eyebrow. “An exchange, then? Her life for his? And here I was thinking we were not over. Shame.”
My lips parted as I stared at Melanie’s back. Had I heard him correctly? SHE was the one sleeping with Kalmont?
“When did Blake find out?” he crowed. “Was it before or after I had you in the prince’s bed?”
“Ezreal, please,” she pleaded. “Let us go. I swear I will make it up to you.”
He scoffed, then raised his hand.
Suddenly, Melanie was thrust up and into the stone wall beside me with a sickening crack. She crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
Fuck.
“What did you mean by ‘her life for his’?” I asked.
I knew Melanie wasn’t helping me out of the kindness of her heart, but those words scared me.
Ezreal watched me with his glowing red eyes. “Who knows what deal she struck with the prince, but I assume it was something like I will save her if you marry me, or perhaps it was I will save her if you bed me, or it could have been?—”
“Why are you here?” I shouted, my fists tightening until my nails cut into my skin.
“I came for you,” he said. “Obviously. Since Caelan failed in creating the soul gem with your everi, I am now forced to do it myself.”
“What?” I spluttered.
“This place,” he said, gesturing widely with his arms. “Do you know what it is?”
I tried to remember what Blake said, then grunted. “Who cares. It’s some ancient palace.”
Ezreal began pacing. “It is said a goddess once lived here. Many believe her soul is still trapped here. Betrayed by her lover, she was used for her power. It is hard being special. You become hunted. Enslaved. Used.”
Ezreal took a step forward and I immediately took a step back, startling when my back hit the wall.
“You seem to have far more tenacity than your predecessor,” he said. “It is fascinating how different you are.”
My heart began to race as he lifted his hand.
“If you’re going to kill me, at least tell me where Blake is and why you did this?” I shouted.
Ezreal’s hand hung in the air for a moment before he lowered it.
“Kill you? If I wanted you dead, I would have done that years ago. No, I think I will let you wander off and see what you do. If it makes you feel any better, you never had a chance with theFalls Prince. Even in the off chance you live a long life, you and Prince Rykiren will never have the fairy tale ending you seek. Unfortunately for you, what makes you special will also make you a liability, and most will not recognize your value. Princes of the Realm marry pureblooded maidens, or in Blake’s case, pureblooded sluts who are desperate to hang onto a man in power.”
“Then why keep him here?” I whispered. “You’re supposed to answer to him, aren’t you?”
“I answer to the King,” he said. “The true King.” His expression twisted into a bemused look. “It will never cease to amaze me the way the Ryth’enirs manage to enslave a woman’s heart.”
What was this guy going on about?
“What do you mean?” I asked, threading everi in my palms.
“Your mom was a fool, too,” he said. “Falling in love with someone she could never be with.”
“She was in love with a Ryth’enir?” I asked. “Ryden Ryth’enir?”
Ezreal’s expression danced with curiosity. “How is it that you know that name?”
