He raised an eyebrow. “So you accept?”
My marriage enchantment was the most precious possession I had. Not only was it the only barrier keeping me from being the property of the Hytons under Lycaster law, it was the tie that bound my heart to Riyan’s.
Because of my blood bond, I could feel again. I could cry again. I couldbreatheagain.
And Daigen wanted to take it away?
I kneaded my crimson wool cape, smelling the lingering scent of nectar and wheat and the memory of Riyan’s warmth filled my chest. Even as I savored Riyan’s smell, Daigen’s words took root in the back of my mind.
No, I could not even consider his accusation. I loved Riyan. Fraleigh’s marriage enchantment had nothing to do with it. I loved his dimpled smile, and his twilight eyes, and his voice…
The memory of his voice, both rich and smooth as satin, filled my mind. “Anything you want, you can have it! Just let Serafina go!”
I let go of my cape and let out a pensive breath. Riyan had not questioned the price of my freedom with the Queen of the Giants. How could I question the price of his?
Whatever Daigen had planned to do with my blood bond…Riyan’s freedom was worth it.
My shoulders sagged but I raised my chin, looking Daigen in the eyes. My voice was sharp as my blade that lay in the snow. “Take it.”
Daigen let out a breath and dropped his hands. “What a good, sacrificial heart.” He raised his claws again. “Brace yourself.”
I raised my chest and closed my eyes. Hopefully Riyan would not feel any pain on his side of the bond.
“Open your mouth,” he ordered.
Slowly, I parted my lips. A claw colder than the icy wind shoved past my tongue and down my throat.
My hands flew to my neck. I held my trembling throat as the claw gripped that golden rope around my heart.
The claw pulled.
Dark ice burned my insides and I screamed. Just when I thought the pain could not be worse, the claw pulled again.
Tears wet the corners of my eyes. Golden light sapped from my toes, my fingers, my legs, then my arms. It pooled in my chest, winding tighter and tighter like a spool of thread.
“Let go!” Daigen shouted. “You have to let go of the bond!”
Deep within the diamond in my heart, a tiny red spot glowed. I followed that small heat and my chest opened like an uncurled fist.
A gasp reverberated through my whole body. The claw dragged the ribbon of golden light away from my heart and out of my throat. My jaw opened so wide I thought it would unhinge.
The lingering golden fire from the bond warmed my tongue before it dissipated off my lips.
I took in a ragged breath and my knees gave out as I folded forward.
Cold snow bit my palms as I panted, but little air filled my lungs. I pressed my hand against the hollow chasm in my chest, checking to ensure he had not carved out my heart.
Hooves crunched the snow beside me. “How does it feel to no longer be married?”
I pushed onto my knees and glared at him. I reached into the bleakness, looking for an insult to lob at him, but where I should have found a passionate anger, I felt nothing.
My face fell. I pressed my hand against my chest again, feeling against my sternum like I was rifling through an empty wardrobe. I searched for sadness, hope, pity, fear, longing…anything I had felt with Riyan before, but instead I felt nothing.
I feltnothing.
No, I loved him, I…thought I loved him.
My stomach dropped like I was falling backward. Nothing existed within me. Riyan was truly gone.
