What was she saying? How could anyone love someone who had hurt them?
Before I could open my mouth, the rustle of wings swept past my ear and Erik flew to Annalisa. He pinched one of her curls with his beak and tugged her back.
She tried to shoo him away, but he dodged her hand and flew back to yank another curl. Annalisa screamed and picked up a nearby branch. She leaped to her feet and chased after Erik as he flew inland.
“I will knock you out of the sky, you rat with wings!” Annalisa shouted.
Erik flew right in front of her,justout of her reach, as she swung that branch over and over in her blind rage. He led her further down the path to Bloodstone Fortress until she was out of sight.
Safe and sound.
I never thought saving someone would make them hate me.
Annalisa and I rode on the back of her horse all night, but she refused to speak to me. Even though her chest was against my spine and I could feel her breath on the back of my head, I was not too keen to speak to her either. If I did, I justknewshe would start with excuses for what Grigory had done.
No sweet little talks or shining gifts could make up for the bruises he left on her neck and the deeper wounds he placed in her soul.
I wasgladI had burned him and cursed her to keep him from touching her, but arguing with her would accomplish nothing. I just had to get her safely past the Bloodstone Fortress gates andthenget her to see sense.
The sun greeted us as the sky turned pink and we stopped to rest beneath the Bloodstone apple trees.
Brietta and I sat together in the shade of a large tree, catching the falling apples that Erik clipped from the branches with his beak.
I caught an apple in my lap and looked up at my brother. “Maybe you should stay a bird—you are just too useful.”
Erik looked down with an expression that I could only read as annoyance before flying away.
My eyes followed Erik as he flew to a tree deeper into the grove, right above where Annalisa was feeding Diana apples. She had her eyes downcast and her thumb was tracing the bottom of her golden Thornebow pendant.
I was going to throw that damn pendant in a river the instant I got the chance.
Brietta’s apple crunched as she took a bite. “Should I ask why you lit Grigory on fire?”
I fought back a scowl as I carved a piece of apple with the Hyton dagger. Annalisa was too far away to hear us, but I kept my voice low anyway. “He hurt Anna.”
Cold rain ran down my shoulders as I remembered the terror in Annalisa’s memories. How could I have been so foolish? Riyan had told me Grigory had hurt women, but I was so eager to believe he had changed just because he had made my friend smile.
Riyan had been too merciful. He should have brokenbothof Grigory’s legs and forced him to crawl like a slug the rest of his life.
Brietta let out a pensive breath as she held her half-eaten apple. “Do you think the blood bond is making her…act that way?”
Annalisa turned from her horse and walked deeper into the grove, screaming at Erik to fuck off when he tried to follow her.
“Maybe.” I cut off another piece of my apple and slipped it past my lips. The blood bond interfering with her mind was the only logical explanation. “The bonding enchantment was designed to push you toward your husband…whether he was a good man or not.”
The golden bonds flowing through the veins of every Lycaster noble had Alastar’s essence corrupting them—conquest regardless of cost. I scowled and cut off another piece of the apple.
Brietta eyed my dagger as I ate. “Could you take it out?”
I stopped chewing and looked at her.
“Your blood bond was removed, why not mine?” Her fingernails pierced the skin of her apple. “Even though IknowDerrick will have to yield to my demands eventually…what if something happens where he…?”
I swallowed my apple and my stomach twisted into a knot. Derrick had already sent the cavalry after us and the rest of the army was sure to follow. I could not imagine a situation where the inevitable confrontation was bloodless. Still, just picturing a battle with Derrick dead…
A sudden pang speared my chest. No, hewould notdie. I would make sure of it.
“Could you try?” Brietta asked with big eyes.
