Faramir snickers. “I’m surprised,” he sneers. “Who would have guessed they teach manners in that backwards wasteland?”
Skiesdamned bastard.
Thunder booms in response to my rising anger.
Faramir sighs dramatically. “So glad you’re home, brother. I’ve missed your moody little thunderstorms.”
“Faramir,” I growl. “You’re being incredibly rude to … your betrothed.” The words taste vile on my tongue. “She’s traveled a great distance, at great risk, to come here. Findyourmanners before I rip them out of you myself.”
Faramir’s face reddens, lips peeled back in a snarl. His left eye twitches. “How dare—”
“Yes, about the betrothal…” my father interjects, casting a pointed glance at Faramir. “The plan has changed.”
Tendrils of dread skitter down my spine.
“What do you mean?” Mayah says sharply.
“When you and my son disappeared, I had to makeotherarrangements for Arbinj’s succession.” His voice is cold. Detached. “Faramir will wed the Volcan princess—after we secure an alliance, of course.”
A beat passes.
“You will wed Zevayr.”
Chapter Twenty-One
I’mfrozenwithshock.I can scarcely breathe.
My heart tumbles in my chest, but rationally, I know my father has some ulterior motive, some scheme to play this in his favor—one where Mayah is no more than a pawn.
“Was my father made aware of this ‘change in plan’?” she asks icily, hands clenching the fabric of her tunic.
“Not yet,” my father says, his smirk colder than his heart, murdering hands steepled beneath his chin. “We weren’t even sure you were still alive. We’ll dispatch a message posthaste with the good news. And your decision.” He arches a brow. “You’ll marry my second son, yes?”
I need to do something.
Fuck. Fuck.Fuck.Tormik will never agree to this, and my father knows it. This is a trap. He’ll keep her here until she’s outlived her purpose, then he’ll kill her.
Mayah inhales shakily. “I—”
“I need to speak with Mayah.”
I grasp her wrist, ignoring my father’s protests as I drag Mayah from the room. In the hallway, I slam open the first door we see and lead us inside.
The council sits around a table, their animated discussion halting as we enter.
“Out,” I snarl. “Now.”
Chairs scrape against the stone floor as everyone rises and quickly exits. As soon as the door closes, Mayah turns on me.
“Did you know?” she hisses, jabbing a finger into my chest, eyes blazing with anger.
I raise my hands in surrender. “I swear I didn’t, Mayah. When I left Arbinj, it was to bring you here to marry my brother.”
She swallows hard, pacing the room.
“If your brother marries the Volcan princess, and I wed you, Arbinj will have ties to both Volca and Tundrayn. It’ll be stronger than ever.”
“Yes.” My eyes track her across the room as she paces like a caged wolf.
