Every instinct in my body is telling me to flee. “What is this, Asmo?” I demand, fighting the way my voice shakes—fury, fear, horror, I don’t know.
His eyes don’t move from mine. “What he said was true?—”
I cut him off. “I know. Don’t waste time trying to lie. Tell me thetruth.”
“Years ago, Thera came to visit me in my dreams, just like the Mother visited you. She told me a tale, just like the one the Mother told you. She told me I had a mate, and that we were born to rule together.” His gaze cuts to the candle, where the osseris just was, then back to me. “She also told me that Marik and I were created to rule Hell.”
My pulse slams in my throat, which now feels too thick and my skin itches and my feet beg to run far, far away.
“You asked me once why I was even participating in your courting. My parents urged me, but so did Thera. I said no, and I toldMarik to say no. But I guess Cora and Thera got to him. He agreed. I came to your court to keep an eye on him. He had changed in the years prior, but I didn’t realize how much.” He takes a deep breath. “Mae, I…I didn’t expectthis—” he waves his hands in the air “—to happen. I didn’t know Marik would do what he did.”
Truth, truth, truth. All of it is the truth. “So, you…you knew? You knew about Cora? This whole time?” My voice breaks. I don’t care.
He winces, but he nods. “Kind of. I knew some things about the prophecy. My parents have been spewing this bullshit for years. Cora was not a new face to me. She had been working with my parents. But I didn’t know she was pretending to be your aunt, and I didn’t know that Marik killed the royal family. I had my suspicions, but…I was looking into it.” He rubs the back of his neck, drops his hands to his sides. “I had no clue who she truly was, Mae. I promise. I had no clue that any of this would happen.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Any of this?” I whisper.
His face falls. “Because I knew there was a chance you’d reject the bond if you knew who—what—I truly was.”
Heat flushes through my body and I ball my hands into fists, clenching the fire that rises. “That should have been my decision to make.”
“Mae, if you had rejected the bond, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat Cora.”
“That should have been my decision to make.”
He grips his hair. “See? What the fuck was I supposed to do? Sacrifice yourchoiceor take the chance that you’d reject it and destroy the kingdom?”
His words feel like a slap to the face. He feels like a stranger to me. “You think I would have thrown away the fate of the kingdom because I was pissed at you? I swore an oath to protect this kingdom. You should havetalked to me.I’m yourmate.Or is that some lie, too?”
His chest heaves as he stares at me with wild eyes. I’ve never seen him like this. “I have meant every word I’ve ever said to you,” he bitesout.
“Because you know I can detect your lies! It’s all the unsaid, Asmo. Now answer the question. Am I actually your mate? Or was it a lie?”
He places his hand to his chest. “It was never a lie. I am your mate. You are mine. That will never change.”
If it’s the truth, why does my chest feel like it’s about to explode? Why does my heart feel like it was just twisted and drained? Is it because I thought I escaped a monster, only to find out the haven I thought I had was actually the lair of another nightmare instead?
“So, what now?” I spit at him. “What’s next in your little plan that only you know? Or are you secretly fucking Thera, too? Is that what the Serpent Princes like to do? Seduce poor, unsuspecting Mae, while they’re fucking some ancient deity behind my back?”
He closes his eyes. His jaw clenches. “No, Mae. I’m not. Like I said, I wanted nothing to do with this. But fate had a different plan for me.”
I snort. “You let some goddess dictate how you live your life. You’re a fucking coward.”
He breathes through his nose. “I deserve that.”
“I’m going back to the castle. You can come or stay here and rot. But if you come, you will pretend like nothing has happened. We have to figure out what comes next. I still have a kingdom to rule.”
I don’t wait for him. I funnel back to my wing, trying to untense my muscles as the clay walls fade and the familiar living room materializes. I storm out the doors, desperate to avoid being caught here alone with Asmo.
Ivan is in his office, reviewing weathered parchment as he paces the cramped quarters. “Your Highness,” he says with a smile.
Even though my world just crumbled, again, I can’t help the smile. It feels full circle to see Ivan in this space again. “Ivan,” I say warmly. “I’m really sorry for the change, but would you mind gathering everyone, including Levana, to meet in the throne room? I’d like to discuss what comes next.”
He sets the parchment down. “Of course.”
“Thank you.” I turn and leave, walking through still empty hallways.
My footsteps echo through the throne room as I walk toward myrightful place, its branches and berries as familiar to me as the back of my hand. The High Crown floats above the throne and I summon it, plucking it from the air and placing it around my antlers. Like before, I cast a subtle glow around my features.
