Finally—fuckingfinally—the Issaraeth looked at me. The block on his side of the bond lifted, and his anguish bled through like ink spilled into water.
I slammed my side shut so violently it should have crushed his skull. I wanted the sound to echo there long after this moment ended. His feelings meant nothing, and I couldn’t bring myself to care about him when pain plundered my veins.
The Korona snapped her fingers again, and two royal sentinels appeared from the rear of the nobles. “Escort our newest guest to the Seer’s hall.”
“As you command, Your Radiance,” the male replied, the plume on his helm swaying as he dipped his head. “If you’ll follow me.”
I didn’t look back as I swung myself forward. Each strike of wood against the ground only served to heighten my fury. And when we reached a set of marble stairs, slick with moisture, I called on my wings and flapped them until I’d ascended. I couldn’t think straight enough to make an escape. I’d only end up in a worse position.
After all, I was nothing more than a prisoner. I’d been a fool—an Elessarum fool—for letting myself believe otherwise.
Familiar footsteps pounded the stone behind me, and the chain binding me tohimsnapped taut.
“Leave us,” the Issaraeth barked, his tone leaving no opening for argument.
The guards halted, but I kept barrelling forward on my crutches. I didn’t know where I was going, but it didn’t matter so long as it was away from my mate.
“But the Korona said—” the male tried anyway. EvenIknew it was useless when faced with someone so powerful.
“I don’t give a fuck what she said. If she has a problem she can take it up with me,” he snapped back. “Now go.”
At least he didn’t Command them. It was more than I ever got.
They scampered away, and still I didn’t stop.
“Sylaira,” the Issaraeth called, increasing his pace to catch up with me.
I didn’t look back. The tapestries hanging on the walls smeared in my periphery as my vision tunneled on the endless hall.
“Just stop for a moment and talk to me,” he rasped, parallel with me now.
I turned my head away and continued on. If I opened my mouth, if I sucked in air, I would sob. And I wouldnotallow him to see how he’d hurt me.
Anger was a much better emotion to wield.
“You said you would trust me,” he snapped, rounding in front of me and forcing me to halt.
“That was before you fuckingliedto me. For weeks!” My scream died halfway through, too full of anguish to survive.
I need to fucking breathe. I need to get away from him.
My shoulder slammed into his as I passed, continuing forward, away from him, toward anything but this.
He stalked me again, like the fucking hunter he was. “Sylaira, please,” he said, voice taking on a hard edge. “Just listen for a moment.”
My lips curled back from my teeth as I spit my next words. “If you want it, Command it.”
He froze, and I limped along, leaving him standing in the middle of grotesque marble. Let him choke on my loathing. Sit in the mess of his own making.
He didn’t get to have me andher.
A growl reverberated off the cool stone. Down our bond, pure agony assaulted me.
That only dug the knife in the wound of his betrayal deeper.I hated that I wanted him to chase me. Hated that I wanted him to explain himself. Hated him.
Hated myself more.
I let him touch me. Let him make mefeellike I was safe.
