The rain finally relented, dissipating to a light drizzle. Through the fog, the massive tree appeared, canvas swaying like a banner in the breeze.
Between being soaked to my marrow and injured, I should have been a shivering mess. But the Issaraeth radiated heat. And anger.
I cracked an eye and peeked up at him. His jaw was still set in that hard way, his gaze fixed straight forward. Above us, Ilae flew like a silent guard.
My captor was on edge. Fuck, I was too. But that sharpness came from very different causes.
So what if the Issaraeth was upset that I didn’t want to be mated to him? He didn’t deserve love. Not with how much he had destroyed. He was a villain of the worst kind.
More ivory power poured from him as we approached the steps leading into the carved space in the tree. Each silky strand wrapped around me, drawing pebbles to my skin. I hated that the contact with the Issaraeth’s magic made me feel this way.
Once we were inside, he secured the canvas behind us.
“You can put me down now,” I snapped. “I’d rather hop than allow you to hold me any longer.” I had to get away from this male. My fucking fated mate.
He ignored my request entirely. “I need to grab the healing potions.”
Tendrils of ethereal light slid across the age rings anddisappeared inside his bag. When they emerged, finger-like strands were curled around an array of vials.
His mastery was, unfortunately, impressive.
“We’ll start with the poppy.” The velvet of his voice had returned after the raspiness of his post-Command. Magic flicked off the cork of a vial and brought it to my lips.
I turned my face to the side. A growl vibrated against my broken ribs, and I gritted my teeth around the ache. “I’m not taking that.”
“Quit being so stubborn, little fugitive.” The words came out more like an order, one that the Issaraeth expected me to follow.
Little did he know that defiance was my nature. After all, I was Elessarum.
“You cannot force me,” I shot back. Besides, who knew what was in it? None of those vials bore markings. Anything could be inside. He could force me to See and I wouldn’t know until the black closed in and my spine snapped straight. I no longer had the bronze to keep them at bay.
And I’d need to surreptitiously chew leaves from the vials stuck between my breasts.
A scoff slipped out of him, and his arms tightened over me. “Do you forget who I am?”
Ice slithered down my spine as all the air was sucked from the space around us.
“No, wait–”
But my protest died on my lips as the Issaraeth issued another Command. “OPEN.”
The muscles in my jaw trembled as I fought the magic, burning like he had stuck his dagger into a fire and pressed the red-hot metal to the sides of my face.
But resistance was futile when he wielded the power with merciless precision.
With a cry, my mouth cracked wide. The vial tipped forward and poured the contents down my throat.
“SWALLOW.”
I did, against my will. Hating him the entire time. Hot salt clawed down my cheeks.
His expression didn’t alter. That stoic mask remained firmly in place. In fact, he regarded me like I was nothing more than a minor nuisance.
So this was how it was going to be? He was going to use his Command on me if I didn’t obey?
Helplessness swelled inside me. My body was no longer mine. His power was so strong, there was nothing I could do.
The tide of grief swept away, and I lifted my free arm and wiped my tears. “Goddess forsake you, Issaraeth. She cursed me from the moment I was born. First with Sight and then you. I will spend the rest of my days making your life as miserable as possible.”
