“Zev,” Mayah whispers, breath hot against my ear.
“He means to throw it at you,” I growl. “He’ll die for it.” A flash of lightning shears the clouds.
“Please, Zev,” she pleads, finding my hand and squeezing it.
With a sharp inhale, I temper my anger. I can deny her nothing.
The man pales and hides the tomato behind his back before disappearing into the crowd, unable to withstand the weight of my glare.
We reach the palace without further incident, and I ride into the courtyard, ignoring my father’s statue as I always do, though Mayah cranes her neck to observe the monstrosity.
Does she see her future father-in-law? Or her jailer?
I hand the reins to a waiting stablehand. Reluctance weights every step as we walk into the palace, as though I’m trudging through calf-deep mud during a severe thunderstorm.
I’m leading Mayah to a bleak future. With Faramir.
My teeth ache from how tightly my jaw is clenched, hands fisted at my sides. I want to haul her over my shoulder and disappear from this palace. This kingdom. This skiesforsaken realm.
How can I present her to my brother? He’ll be cruel. He’ll hurt her. He’ll—
I can’t even bring myself tothinkit. What he’ll do.
And she’ll bear it. If I’ve learned anything about Mayah in our time together, it’s that she loves her people. She’d do anything for them. Including marrying a monster and damning herself to a life of misery.
I’m fucking useless—the strongest wielder in the realm, and I can’t protect one woman.Thewoman.
The throne room doors loom ahead. At my side, Mayah appears agitated. Trembling hands smoothing her hair, scrubbing at her face.
“Hey,” I murmur. “You look perfect.”
She gives me a soft smile and takes another piece of my heart. I offer a smile back, but my face is frozen.
My hand hovers over the door handle as though it’s repelled by the metal. By what awaits beyond the dark wood.
Is there any escape? A quick scan of the hallway reveals armed guards on both ends. I could easily kill them, but the commotion would attract more, and—
There’s no point in delaying.
There is no escape.
Mayah’s expression is resigned. She’s made her peace with this—perhaps long before our carriage exploded.
I open the door, willing my hands to remain steady.
White marble gleams in the sunlight filtering through the large windows, veins of silver and black snaking across the polished surface. Our mud-crusted boots leave a trail of dried dirt as we approach the circular dais.
My father perches in his throne, watching us with narrowed eyes. His lips curl with disdain as his eyes settle on Mayah, walking two steps behind me. I stifle the urge to summon a lightning bolt through the window.
But Faramir is worse, his cold green gaze flickering with equal parts hunger and curiosity. He homes in on Mayah like a starved mountain lion.
“Father.” I nod in greeting. “Faramir.”
“Zevayr,” my father drawls, mouth drawn tight in the imitation of a smile. “You can’t imagine how pleased I am to see you home safely. The rebels grow too bold.”
His emerald gaze cuts to Mayah. “And Princess Mayah. What a relief to see you delivered safely.” I stiffen at his use ofdelivered. “Your father will undoubtedly be pleased. Perhaps he’ll stop threatening to flood my kingdom.”
Mayah tenses, quickly dropping into a curtsy.
