“What is this place?”
“Our sitting room.” He doesn’t stop looking at me, and I shift, feeling like a mouse caught in a trap. “Through those doors,” he directs, pointing, “is our bedroom.”
“You can’t expect me to share a room with you.” My tone suggests he’s insane. Because clearly, he is.
Just this morning he placed me on his lap, shoving bread and jam down my throat while his arm pinned me to his chest. He can’t think I’ll want to be near him after all that?
Those dangerous eyes turn black as his shadows leap from his body and I tense. “I expect many things from you as my future queen. Sharing a bed is the least of it.”
“Don’t queens get their own space? I demand my own rooms.”
“So thatyou can miss me while you sleep?”
My nails cut into the palms of my hands. “Maybe I want to take another into my bed? Don’t queens have lovers?” I glance once more to his unkept appearance, the flashes of him rolling around with another female appearing in my mind.
It’s been weeks. I’m not delusional to think he wouldn’t have found company with someone else during those long days. He doesn’t owe me loyalty—in fact, I’m very certain he doesn’t know the meaning.
But the idea that someone else has touched what isminestirs jealousy so deep, I have to fight the urge to cut his heart from his chest.
He smiles like I’ve told a joke, eyes alight with deranged humor. “Queens might. But notyou.”
Before I can say something else, he closes the distance. Wrapping one hand around my throat, he pulls me against his chest and I freeze—body fighting the urge to flee and to melt into his embrace.
“If I find someone else in your bed,” he begins, words deliciously dark, “you’ll find their head at your feet come morning.” He plucks my bottom lip. “Don’ttestme, kitten.”
Footsteps echo behind us as he throws me back like a forgotten doll, my chain rattling as I steady myself.
“Ah, good.” He waves the newcomers forward. “Take the future queen to bathe and change.”
“Excuse me?” My eyes bulge out of my skull. What inCella and Ger’s nameis going on here? A servant puts her hand on my shoulder as I bat her away. “I can bathe myself.”
“Queen are expected to be served.” His nose wrinkles looking to my clothing. “I don’t need you looking like an inbred Witch before important members of the Dark Court.”
“No one servesme,” I argue, feet skidding against the floor as another servant pulls me closer to the bedroom. It’s no use, these Dark Fae are stronger than me and I trip over my feet, stumbling to catch up.
He grabs my arm, wrenching me close, whispering, “You can either go with the servants, Max, or I can bathe you myself. The choice is yours. Personally, I wouldn’t mind touching youwithoutclothing in the way.”
ByCella’s graces, bond be damned, I’m going tokillhim.
“Get fucked, heir,” I growl, shoving him away. My face heats and I ignore how my body trembles at his words. “Release my chains and let me bathe in peace.”
He chuckles, fingers twirling as he commands the shadows to break the lock. The weight slips away, puddling at my feet. Rubbing my red and sore wrists, I glare at the asshole.
“Make sure you allow them to scrubeverywhere, kitten. We have dignitaries and lords arriving to prepare for talks of strategy and battle, and I need you looking every bit the capable mate I’ve made you out to be.”
I ignore the hint of pride in his words. There are Fae kingdoms coming to use me to control the world and he’s going to parade me around them.Tonight.
My stomach rolls in unease and disgust as I push pass the heir, seeking comfort and privacy away from him. He has other plans.
Latching on to my arm, his fingers dig into the sensitive part of my inner elbow. “Listen well, Max,” he rumbles. “Your chains are removed, but you are not free. You will never be free of me. Do not attempt to run. Do not attempt to hide. Iwillfind you. And I will bring youback.” His fangs glint, lowering his head so our eyes lock. “And I will make yousufferfor thinking you can rid yourself of me. Do I make myselfclear?”
The conflicting emotions muddle my brain, as the bond flares to life in my chest. Whimpering from the pain, I jut out my chin in defiance. “There’s not much else you can do to me, heir. Not that you haven’talreadydone.”
He broke my heart, obliterated my trust, kidnapped me, and claimed me against my will. How else could he hurtme?
Kaden smiles cruelly, and I brace for what’s next. “She’ll dress in the bedroom.”
Seething, I rip my arm away. “You donotget to dictate where I dress.”
