Dominic’s shadow materializedon the floor as I whirled around to face him. His eyes widened.
My legs were begging me to flee, but I stood my ground. There was no sense in running. I had questions and he had answers.
He shut the door.
“Narcissa,” Dominic whispered. He didn’t want Celeste to know I was here. Was it because he still had the delusion that I was innocent in all this?
I jerked my head down the hall and began walking. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Giselle following several feet behind us. I prayed Celeste would not come out and see her.
We halted at the end of the narrow passage that opened up backstage. I glanced past Dominic’s shoulders. Giselle had disappeared.
There was no time to wonder. “You should be on your way to Delibera. How are you still here?” I demanded.
Dominic stepped closer. “There was a decoy—”
“A magic one. How do the rioters have access to magic? Are they using services they claim to detest? Or is it because of Celeste?”
“Narcissa, listen to me.” He reached for my arm.
“You do not have permission to touch me,” I said icily.
This seemed to intimidate him, though he did not step back. “I can take you away. The royals left you here. They have no need for you anymore, so they abandoned you as I predicted.” The fervent look in his eyes made my skin crawl. “Come with me and you’ll be safe from all this.”
“You and your father are committing treason. It is you who should come with me.”
Dominic took another step forward. “You were promised to me first. Why are you still fighting this? Why are you still doing the crown prince’s dirty work when you don’t believe in his cause?”
“What makes you think I don’t believe in rights for witches?” I retorted. “Iama witch.”
“Not anymore.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “I know you, Narcissa. You’re loyal to whoever cares for you. It was your mother first, then the royals, and now it will be me. Marry me. I’ll give you the life you deserve. I won’t make you risk yourself for anyone’s sake. You can be whoever you want, live however you like. You can be happy.”
Bile rose to my throat. His delusion made him dangerous. “My magic was all I had and I’ve lost it because of your cause,” I hissed. “You are the last person in the kingdom who can make me happy.”
A flash of annoyance passed Dominic’s face. “Then who can? Crown Prince Bennett?”
My fingers tightened around the narrow spray bottle in my pocket. “Stop this, Dominic. Surrender now.”
He grabbed my wrist in an iron grip. “You’re coming with me.”
Just as I was about to slap him across the face, a piece of patterned paper fluttered onto his forehead out of nowhere, embellished with an intricate design. Dominic’s fingers went slack.
“Iknewyou needed backup,” Giselle said, crossing her arms as she came up behind me.
I swallowed, rubbing my wrist. “What did you do to him?”
“My, ah,peacekeepingmagic,” she murmured. “Hypnosis, some call it.”
Dominic hadn’t moved an inch, and neither had the slip of paper. I waved a hand over his eyes. “How does it work?” I asked. “Can you...control him?”
Giselle pursed her lips. “We ought to get out of here.” She turned to Dominic. “Follow me.”
She stepped forward. He followed in perfect synchronization. I stared, amazed, as I trailed along. Judging from how she boasted about her sewing, I was surprised she hadn’t talked about her hypnotic abilities sooner.
We managed to slip unnoticed outside into the hallway. Maddox leaned against a pillar before the stairs. His hand went to his dagger at the sight of Dominic.
“What is he doing here?” Maddox demanded.
“It’s fine. I’ve got him under control,” Giselle said. I didn’t miss that she was avoiding his gaze.
