‘Enfys!’
The smile dropped from her face and she lowered her head. My hand twitched, ready to offer her comfort, before I jerked it back, remembering who her new husband would be.
A blast of icy realisation blew through me. Would I forever be the possession of one king or another? Romero had owned me since I’d been a month old, controlling, manipulating my every move, punishing every rebellious act. And now, he’d sold me to another king as though I were a prize horse. Nothing more than an asset. A trinket to be bargained with.
‘I don’t have time to waste here.’ The king produced black leather gloves from his pockets and pulled them on. ‘While you’ve been living the high life in the Tower, I’ve been working with The Alliance. Ensuring the damned Empress of Carush has no reason to invade. We’ve an important meeting I must prepare for. Your new husband will be there too, of course. I’m afraid it means there won’t be much of a honeymoon for you, but these are pressing times. Sacrifices must be made.’
‘If you’ll give me a few moments, I’ll fetch my things.’
‘There’s no time.’ Romero stopped, his arm pressing against my own. I fought the urge to shiver as he leaned in, and I saw the corner of his lip rise. ‘You’ll be a queen, with a husband desperate to make amends for all he’s done. You can buy new things. I’ve wasted enough time on you.’
‘But—’
‘Enough,’ he barked.
With that, the king marched from the room.
Enfys reached for me.
‘I know the way out,’ I said, needing a moment to gather my thoughts. I’d end up with my hands wrapped around his throat before we’d left the island otherwise. ‘I’ll catch you up.’
Her fingers found mine. Nodding, she took a step forward.
‘I get it, but Sorrow, please hurry. His temper is rapidly unthreading. It’s taken more than you can ever imagine to get you out of here. Don’t test him. He’s ready to change his mind at any moment.’
She swept from the room, and my heart twisted. As children, Mama had been driven to distraction trying to prise us apart during our almost constant fights. After Mama’s death…after that day…I’d had no choice other than to keep myself away from Enfys, expanding an already too vast chasm. But here she was. Sighing, I met Pab’s amber gaze.
‘It’s not much of a choice, is it?’ I said as he nuzzled my hip. ‘Refuse to marry and my only epitaph will state I was Drufaera’s honoured Tribute.’
Pablo scratched the thick wool of my plain skirts. He was right. I needed to follow them. I’d failed to escape the Tower three times. Despite my conviction I’d find a way out, Evella had ensured I faced another fate. At least this path led away from the volcano. Whoever this husband was, Cai or – I shuddered – Seth, they were sorely mistaken if they thought they were about to get a simpering, mild queen.
‘Let’s go, Pab. We’ve got a wedding to attend.’ He whined, his claws scratching the wooden floor. ‘Unless I escape first.’
CHAPTER 4
After comparing all the historical, theological, and geographical information from the northern plains, correlating this with the dramatic rise in diafol attacks on livestock, I’m certain I’ve discovered another potential Vyrium site at the coordinates indicated on the enclosed map. You’ll be pleased to learn I’ve already sent a copy of my findings to the crown’s engineering master, instructing them to send a small company to test the area immediately.
— LETTERS FROM THE ROYAL RESEARCHER, SORROW VILLENTE, TO HIS HIGHNESS, KING ROMERO IV
Dawn crept across the sky, sweeping away the darkness like a lover stealing away in the night. The damned unceasing rolling of the boat had temporarily stripped me of the deep well of anger and nerves. But now that we were back on the mainland, and the meagre contents of my stomach weren’t threatening to make a reappearance, they had returned with a vengeance.
I peered through the gloom at the tiny port, breathing in the cloying mix of salt air and damp fishing nets. I blinked, and a ramshackle collection of mismatched houses emerged, staring down onto a rocky harbour. A group of Romero’s guards mingled around the onyx carriage that would transport me to my new husband. I clicked my tongue as I gazed about. There was no chance of me making a break for freedom – not yet anyway.
The king permitted us a few minutes to eat a modest breakfast before the two-day journey to the rendezvous point, where I’d be presented to the king who’d bartered away a fraction of their control in return for the bastard princess. Heat rose up my neck as I pictured greeting them. I doubted the vulgar gesture I envisaged would be deemed appropriate.
Pablo licked his chops as I fed him chunks of salty bacon, any hunger of my own gone. I scoured the harbour, sliding down the damp wall to crouch next to Pablo, throwing him the last of my food.
A small group of children gathered further along the wall, pointing towards Pablo and shoving each other. I ran my hand down his back.
‘Be careful, Pab. You’re attracting more attention than the king. Perhaps you should scare them away before it pisses him off.’
By the way he cocked his head, he’d obviously decided to ignore me. One of the children leapt down and strode towards us. The lad hopped from one foot to the other, before turning back over his shoulder and puffing out his chest.
‘That a wolf?’ The shake in his voice betrayed his otherwise confident stance as he jutted his chin in Pablo’s direction.
‘And I thoughtmysight was bad. Yes, he’s a wolf. His name’s Pablo.’
‘Pablo?’
