He smirks. “Am I? She came to the castle to kill me. She’s a violent little thing. Simmering with rage and hate. Not unlike others I know. Aimed in the right direction, she’s a tool. A weapon.Myweapon.”
I try to mask my chuckle with a drink.
“What?” He glares at me over the rim of his mug.
“You think you can tame her. Nobody can. Especially not with the magic now flowing in her veins.”
He drinks, then sets it down before wiping his mouth. “And what kind of magic is that?”
I realize my mistake too late. Though I have no idea what her magic is capable of, I’ve seen glimpses. “How the fuck would I know? You know better than anyone it can take years to fully manifest.”
His eyes narrow. “That’s interesting. I remember when you didn’t lie to me.”
“Other people’s magic isn’t ours to share. You know that.” It’s the rule we all grew up with, though some people follow it more than others.
“If you care about her, you’ll give me something. Some kind of hint so I can help her navigate the transition. You know how hard that is to do alone.” He frowns, and there might be actual concern. Then I remember that he wants to use her. It’s all about what he can gain. How he can manipulate her magic to help him.
I drain my mug, then slam it on the table dramatically. “I can’t help you with that. I don’t know what I saw. I just know it’s already started.”
“That’s fine. There’re ways of hurrying the process.”
My blood runs cold. “You wouldn’t.”
“I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep my bride and my kingdom safe.”
Disbelief makes my heart fall into the pit of my stomach. I run my hand through my hair as I put the pieces together. “You’ve been trying to get her to manifest quicker.”
He lifts his brows and shrugs, before returning to his ale.
“Forcing her to watch me in the village, taking Anya…fuck, even letting her be with me. You were testing her emotional responses. Trying to find the one that triggers her.”
“It worked, didn’t it? You saw something when you two were together, didn’t you?” He waves to the server, then points to our mugs.
“Even if I did, you can’t duplicate that, Caiden.”
“I don’t have to. You remember what it was like when the magic came in. The intense feelings, the absolute despair, the darkness we wrestled with, the insatiable need…”
The server drops a round at our table, disappearing with our empty mugs as quickly as she arrived.
I grab mine and slide it across the table. What I wouldn’t give to drink myself to the point of forgetting. “Even you aren’t that awful. You’ve never bedded a woman who didn’t want you.”
He reaches for his ale. “She wants me. She just hasn’t been able to let herself have me yet. With you out of the picture, it’s a matter of time.”
“You’ll never know if it’s the magic acting up, seeking release, or if it’s her desires. It won’t mean anything,” I say.
“I don’t need it tomeansomething. She’smywife. Not yours. Her magic is mine to command. It’s just so much easier to control someone who cares about you.” He takes a drink, holding my gaze. He expects me to lash out. To lose control.
“I should kill you right here,” I grit out.
“You could. But you know the consequences of that.” His eyes dart toward the door where a guard leans against the wall. He’s dressed like a peasant, but I know why he’s here. I step one toe out of line, and he delivers the message that ends so many lives. “Are you willing to let her die to prevent me from having her?”
The mug in my grip shatters, sending liquid pouring out over my hands and across the table. With a growl, I rise from my chair and reach for a napkin to clean myself. I glare at Caiden. He knows I won’t touch him. He has so many loyal men who would enjoy torturing Sabina before killing her. And if he’s not around to stop them, the things they’d do to her would have her wishing for death.
“One of these days, you’re going to cross the wrong person,” I warn. “And then I’m going to stand by and watch as they destroy you.”
“What a glorious day that will be. But until then, I will enjoy my spoils. And the next time she misses her courses, you’ll know it’s my child in her womb.”
I lift the edge of the table and throw it, sending everything on it smashing to the ground. People scream, then the room goesquiet. Everyone is staring at us. A few steps away, right next to where the table landed, is the server, holding plates in her hands. Eyes wide with panic, she stares at the ground. If she’d taken two more steps, she’d be under the table.
