Marius’s arms were outstretched, his wrists bound like hers, and his chest heaved with labored breaths. He was shivering, his head hung between his shoulders, and his skin was far paler than normal. A gagprevented him from speaking, but the material didn’t seem as tight as hers.
She hissed, trying to get his attention.
The prince’s head slowly turned towards her, his brown eyes widening. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days.
“I’m sorry, Viv,” he whispered around the cloth, his voice rough and broken. “This… my… fault.”
He broke off into a cough, the sound rattling his chest.
His fault?
Perhaps at the beginning, when he dragged her onto this cursed expedition, that was true. But in the end, she was the one duty-bound to keep him safe. She’d let herself get distracted and failed to properly assess the humans as threats.
Now, they were tied to poles in the middle of a hostile human village.
This wasn’t his burden to bear. She shook her head and widened her eyes, hoping he understood what she was trying to say.
This was her fault. She took the blame for all of it.She’dfailedhim.
Maybe she deserved the prohiberis collar clamped around her neck. It seemed like a fitting punishment.
Lost in the depths of her shame, Vivienne kept her gaze trained on the ground until the whispering died down. Silence blanketed the square, and the air thickened.
Her shoulders tensed as the crowd split into two groups on either side of her and the prince.
Two men, adorned in heavy fur-lined cloaks, golden watches, and silver chains that glimmered in the moonlight, climbed the wooden platform. One sat while the other strode to the edge and looked over the gathering.
“People of Winterwood.” His voice boomed across the silent square. “As you know, we have suffered a great loss this past week. Several among us lost brothers. Husbands. Sons.”
Muffled weeping came from the crowd. A woman covered her mouth with a scarf and buried her face in her neighbor’s shoulder.
“Yes, Marie. Weep for your husband. Your son.” The man pointed at Marius and Vivienne, his finger quivering. “They’rethe reason why your men will never cross your threshold again. Lucille, it’s their fault Gerome is dead.”
A sob came from the crowd.
“Philippe, your father is gone because of them.”
“Kill them!” came a voice from Vivienne’s left.
“Death to the murderers!”
“Avenge our people!”
More cries for blood came from all around. Each was more desperate than the last.
Vivienne tugged on her restraints desperately. They held firm.
Her head pounded, and her stomach twisted as bloodlust filled the air.
She’d failed, and now…
Death was here.
Vivienne shuddered, lifting her head and seeking out the prince’s gaze.
I’m sorry, she thought.
She never should have let any of this happen.
