Page 107 of Of Masks and Fury

Boots thundered in the corridor. Eight guards burst through the door, their weapons drawn. They surrounded us in seconds.

“Take this man to the dungeon,” Father snarled, gesturing at Trew. “Immediately.”

“No. He’s done nothing wrong. I asked him to accompany me?—”

“You asked your bodyguard to climb through windows four floors above the ground in the middle of the night?” Father’s laugh came out ugly. “You’ve been compromised.”

Trew’s gaze met mine, saying everything we couldn’t speak aloud.

Father’s arm snaked around my throat before I could blink.

Cold steel pressed against my skin, just below my jaw.

I froze, every combat instinct screaming at me to break the hold, to disarm him. My body knew how. Thorne had drilled the action into me. I could break his grip in three moves and have him on the ground in five.

But shock held me immobile. My own father held a blade to my throat.

“Be still,” Father hissed in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “Or I’ll order his death this instant. Your bodyguard will die choking on his own blood while you watch.”

I went rigid.

Trew’s eyes met mine, fury and calculation warring in the golden depths.

Father’s arm tightened, making it harder to breathe. “Try anything, Blain, and I’ll hurt her.”

He couldn’t kill me or he’d lose his pawn in whatever nasty game he was playing. But he’d already proven he could cause me considerable pain, and Trew knew it.

“Don’t.” Trew lowered his arms.

My father eased up on the knife’s pressure but kept it close, grabbing my arm hard enough to make my bones grind together. “You’ve disgraced yourself and our house, Amarissa.”

“No more than you.”

“One more word and I’ll gag you.” He addressed Trew. “Drop your weapons. Now. Or I’ll drag her to the dungeon beside you and let my guards beat her first.”

“Don’t,” I whispered to Trew. “Please don’t.”

But I saw the decision in his eyes before his blades clattered to the stone floor. He was choosing me over himself. Over his freedom. Over everything.

The guards surged forward, grabbing his arms, forcing him to his knees. They quickly disarmed him of the rest of his weapons and bound his hands behind his back.

“No!” I lunged against my father’s grip, but his fingers dug deeper into my arm, pulling me close.

They hauled Trew to his feet. He didn’t fight or struggle, just kept his eyes on mine as they dragged him toward the door.

Our gazes locked again. In that moment, a thousand promises passed between us.

Wait for me. I’ll come for you.

I love you.

Don’t give up.

They shoved him through the doorway and he was gone.

Pherin launched from my shoulder with a screech, flying toward the open window.

Get help,her voice rang through my mind.