Bram points his knife lazily in my direction. “I know what you’re thinking, Ivy. There is no getting out of this. I am not my softhearted mother.”
“But—”
He interrupts me with an exaggerated sigh and looks between me and Lydia. “You know, I’m tempted to pick Lydia. She talks backso much less. But then—” He looks at me. “Lydia left me. Ivy, you’ve been so loyal.”
He fixes his gaze on Emmett next. “She’s never once faltered. She lets me into her bed as easy as breathing.”
My skin burns red and I want to explain that it’s not likethat, but it wouldn’t do anyone any good.
“I—” There’s not enough air in my lungs to form the words. I gasp.
Bram looks to Emmett. “Oh, how I love those little gasps she takes. Don’t you?”
Emmett just keeps staring ahead, his chest rising and falling.
“These games will make it all easier. And it’s so much more fun this way, don’t you agree?” Bram says.
“What if we say no?” I pant, my lungs screaming.
He frowns. “I was afraid you might say that. You’re no fun at all sometimes, you know that?”
The crowd parts, revealing two figures, huddled together and flanked by armed guards. Faith is sporting a purple black eye. Marion’s knuckles are smeared with blood, and I hope that means she got a few good blows in before they dragged her here.
Behind them, Rhion stands, his face unreadable, his gaze only on Lydia. My heart sinks. We were so foolish to trust him.
“You cut your hair,” Lydia mutters.
Rhion’s eyes widen, betraying an emotion I don’t think he meant to show.
“I’ll keep your little friends safe for you,” Bram continues. “You can rest well knowing they’re being taken care of in the dungeons. But if you stop participating... then I can make no promises of their safety.”
I want to say something noble and brave likeYou’re a monsterorI can’t believe I ever thought I could love you. No one could.But I still can’t breathe.
Bram turns to Lydia. “I know what you’re thinking—who are these girls to you?”
“I wasn’t thinking that,” Lydia replies softly.
“Oh, don’t start acting all saintly now,” Bram snarls. “Shouldyouact out, I’ll punish Emmett. Is that motivation enough?”
Lydia blanches. “I won’t act out.”
“Good,” Bram says. “Then there’s nothing to be worried about, is there?”
Emmett’s eyes haven’t left the eaves of that far building. It looks like his mind vacated his body long ago and all that’s left is a husk of him.
“You won’t send him back to the dungeons, will you?” Lydia asks like it pains her.
Bram shrugs. “Not unless you give me a reason to. Emmett has been a loyal regent and I see no reason to punish him unnecessarily.”
Bram looks to me with his brows raised, as if to sayLook how reasonable I am.Then he stands from his throne and claps his hands. “I know you have missed me, these many months I’ve been in England, but let me remind you,thisis who we are. Only I can bring you this. Let the games begin!”
The crowd goes wild, cheering and screaming and sloshing their cups. Someone hanging from an upper window magicks a cannon of confetti that flutters from the sky, leaving us coated in a rainbow of colors.
“Now?” I ask, shocked.
“Would you rather wait around? Your mortal lives are dwindlingaway at quite the clip. I’ll never understand humans’ lack of urgency.”
Lydia looks to me, something dejected in her posture. “Let’s just get it over with, Ivy.”
