“If you don’t do as I say, Eleanor may find herself in the belly of the castle. I’ve become quite inventive in the manner of inflicting pain.” Terym sneered, knowing it was the one thing to always make me yield. I swear Pierce stiffened, but I kept my eyes on the king, he was the true threat. My heart pounded loudly, filling my ears and darkening my vision.
My breaths came in shallow pants as panic set in once again.Gods, why did this always happen?I couldn’t lose my head now.
I had to be calm. I had to be smart. To do that, I needed a cool head.
I drew on Wista’s breathing technique, doing my best to replicate the deep breathing to clear my mind and banish the attack threatening my consciousness. I couldn’t bow down to the king anymore, it wasn’t safe for Eleanor or me, of which I was certain. Everything I had done up to this point hadn’t worked, it was time to change tactics.
My next breath filled my lungs with Shade’s soothing scent, building my confidence and fueling my determination. When I spoke, my voice was strong and calm, even if my heart pounded and sweat pooled in my palms. “If you continue to threaten Eleanor, you’ll never see your other two wishes.”
I think Terym would have been less shocked if I’d slapped him. I had never outright defied him like this, not with my refusal to his proposal or last night. I had never threatened him in return. I steeled my spine for my next words, knowing they would likely tip him over the edge. “And Shade stays. Like he said, you’ve proven how far you’ll go to get what you want.”
“You dare to threaten me.” The king’s tone took an icy edge, so similar to the moment before he first struck me, I had tostop myself from flinching back. I refused to let it cow me, not anymore.
My next words were a risk, but I had to do something to cement Eleanor’s safety. Threaten Terym enough to make him hesitate, to make it clear Eleanor wasn’t an option.
“The next time you demand a wish from me, I could ask for something else. There’s something I know Shade would particularly enjoy granting me.” I couldn’t see Shade’s face, but it must have been something with the wary way all three men took a step back after my words.
The king’s face flushed with fury, a muscle in his jaw ticking repeatedly. I waited for his response, my heart thumping painfully in my chest. Control had shifted, and we both knew it.
“He will not leave this suite outside the lamp again,” the king said.
I opened my mouth, intending to argue his demand, but Terym exploded. “Do you think I am stupid? If I can see how close you are, then so can others. I’ll not be made a fool!” Spittle flew from his mouth, blue eyes bulging against black bruises.
It was clear he wouldn’t budge, not if it affected how his people perceived him. If I had learned anything, it’s that his reputation was everything.
I nodded my compliance, and Terym went to leave, but before he could, Shade stepped forward, his body vibrating as it had the night before. Gensen and Pierce stepped in front of the king, the captain going so far as to draw his sword. Shade ignored them, his attention solely on the king, who froze half turned toward the doorway.
“You know what I can do now,Terym. If you touch her again, not even the Gods will be able to save you from me.” Though his voice was calm, every word dripped with venom.
The king’s shoulders stiffened, then in a low and dangerous tone, he said, “We’re going back to Ferveem Forest soon. You’d do well to remember that.”
After uttering that completely confusing sentence, he stormed from the room.
His guards were slower to leave, eyes not leaving Shade until they reached the other side of the suite. Pierce’s eyes flashed to mine, filled with sympathy and regret, before the door closed behind them.
I slumped into the mattress, the adrenaline and tension from the altercation draining away and highlighting the aches still haunting my body. Heavy with exhaustion, I fell asleep again before Shade made it back to bed.
Chapter 29
Iscrubbed viciously at my skin, the water scorching but not hot enough.
I needed to get clean.
To peel away the unwanted touch. The violation.
The healing scents of tea tree and chamomile disappeared after the third refill of water. The bar of soap was now a sliver, but I continued scrubbing.
It wasn’t enough. Not when every time my eyes fluttered closed, scenes from the night before flashed in my mind.
Terym’s fist on my face. Hard hands tugging at my ankles. The chafing of my back.
That piercing, violating pain.
The door opened, and Wista’s loud gasp echoed around the room.
Yet I still scrubbed.
Soft hands tugged at my wrists, pulling my hands away from my raw skin.
