“You weren’t in there for long becauseIrescued you,” Arenn declared, stepping closer. “And, might I ask,” he addressed Lukas, “where were you, while your so-called fiancée spent the night in a cell? Dancing with another princess, perhaps?” Pain squeezed at my chest. “Maybe more than dancing?”
“He was here in the library.” I snarled. “He told me that himself.”
“Did he now?” Arenn grinned, glancing at Lukas. “Callie is awfully pretty though,” he mused, ignoring the rage rolling off Lukas. “And I can’t be the only one aware of your reputation? Marigold told me the last time you visited Hallshire, you were courting a new lady with each sunrise.”
“That’s not who I am anymore,” Lukas said, loud enough for his words to echo through the library.
“It’s alright,” I whispered. “Don’t let him get to you.” I didn’t care about his past love affairs. All I cared for was how he was now. Ignoring Arenn’s smirk, I attempted to tug Lukas back to the desk, but there was little point. Lukas remained rooted to the floor, his steel gaze fixed on the grinning prince.
“This is your last chance to walk away,” he told the faery, his voice simmering.
Arenn chuckled darkly. “If I walk, Naria walks with me.” He motioned to the books spread across the desk. “Since you’ve been doing your research, you should know by now what those crystals on her wrist mean for us.” My stomach twisted. Swallowing down the dryness in my mouth, I was able to hold Lukas back until Arenn uttered three awful words, “I. Own. Her.”
All his rage broke free. Lukas charged at the prince,and within seconds, Arenn was pinned against the nearest bookshelf, his fingers clawing at the hands now wrapped around his throat.
Everything was moving so fast. I couldn’t breathe. “Stop this!” I tried to yell, but all that came out was a squeaky rasp.
“You don’t get to speak about her in that way,” Lukas roared.
Books tumbled to the floor in a mess of fists and pages as he slammed Arenn into the bookshelf once again. Something hit my back, and I gasped. But when I turned, there was no one there – only Arenn’s wheezing laugh as it filled the reading alcove.
“And what gives you the right to stop me?” he croaked, rasping just as I was. “No matter where you take her, she’ll always come running back to me. Me!” Cackling, he tipped his head back. “You might spend each night in her bed, but I’m the one who haunts her dreams.”
“She’s not yours to haunt,” Lukas hissed. He released Arenn for a brief moment as air rushed into my lungs.What?“You don’t own her. Stay out of her mind,” he growled. “Touch her again – even in her thoughts – and I’ll make damn sure there’s nothing left of you to crawl back with.”
Stumbling against the desk, my hands pawed at my now clear throat. But I figured it out heartbeats too late. When Lukas raised his fist, Arenn’s eyes met mine with a playful glint. All I could do was yelp as a cold punch slammed acrossbothof our faces.
Screaming, I fell to the floor.
“Quiet, human or he’ll figure it out,” Arenn taunted,the blood dribbling down his chin matching my own.
Lukas snarled, “Don’t you dare talk to her!”
I yelped again as another punch cracked across my cheek. “Stop, please! This is a trick!” But my whimpers were drowned out by another painful hit and Arenn’s hysterical laughter.
“She’s never going to forgive you for this.” Arenn spat blood in Lukas’s face.
“Fight back, you coward!” Another hit. Another yelp from me. I could barely see through the stars in my vision.
“Lukas, stop!” I screamed, just as Arenn crumpled to the floor and a knee swung into his stomach. Groaning, I doubled over. “We’re connected! You’re hurting us both!”
Lukas’s boot froze mid-stomp. Slowly, he turned away from Arenn to face me, his heavy gaze dropping to the puddle of blood by my feet. I could almost see the gears in his mind turning, the horror on his face growing as he pieced it altogether.
“Damn him.” He ran to my side, voice ragged. Immediately, he reached for me. But then he stopped, and pulled his shaking hands back. “I’m so sorry, Naria. I never meant to—”
“Beat her senseless?” Arenn finished for him, words clipped as he pushed up to his feet. Fresh bruises stained his face, but he seemed otherwise fine. “Now who’s the monster, human?”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to charge over there myself and finish the work that Lukas had started, but my body was roaring with so much pain I could barely stand.
“Please.” I turned to Lukas. “Will you take me to myroom? I have poultices for…” I winced as another wave of pain cut through me, “for this.”
My voice was barely audible, but he must’ve heard me. Nodding, he wrapped his arms around mine before scooping me against his chest. Both of us ignored Arenn’s audible hiss of disapproval.
“I should take you to Ivy and your other friends, or the medical bay?” Lukas said, struggling to meet my gaze.
I shook my head slowly. “I don’t want anyone else to see me like this.”
“Naria, you can’t possibly still want him!” Arenn spat, panic and confusion battling across his features. “He hurt you!”
