But Varian’s ambition was as obvious as his envy.
“I wonder,” he said, “if every citizen cursed with a freakish anomaly in their body would agree with you.”
I reminded myself that it was useless to argue with him, but something in my face drew a laugh from Varian. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking he had planted a doubt.
“We don’t see any of them rallying behind you, though,” I said. “Guess they don’t think there’s anyone better.”
His grin stretched wider, as if he were savouring this. It wasn’t anger that drove him. It was something far colder, far more dangerous.
“It won’t work,” I said, the words steady despite the tremor of rage burning in my chest. “He’s not the same person whodestroyed the court years ago. He’s better. And he won’t fall for this.”
The room seemed to darken, the faint light from the window dimming as if the storm clouds outside had finally swallowed the moon. A low rumble of thunder shook the cabin, and rain began to echo against the roof.
For a moment, all eyes turned to the window. Even Varian glanced outside, his gaze flickering to the storm approaching beyond the glass.
“Oh, I think he already has,” Varian said, rising to his feet and turning to the others. “Keep an eye on her. I won’t be long.”
He strolled toward the door with infuriating calm, disappearing through the other side and leaving me alone with the Scions. Their gazes settled on me, thick with disdain. All except Caius. His lips curled at the corners, something like malice flashing in his eyes.
I clenched my fists.
The moment he stepped forward, I snapped, “Stay away from me.”
Caius sneered. “Varian was right. You think far too highly of yourself for a human. Someone needs to remind you of your place.”
I squared my shoulders, forcing my breath to steady. Reagan’s protective ward was gone. My location relic was not with me. No weapon, nothing to shield myself with. Nothing except the months of training Gwinifer had drilled into me.
But then I smelled it.
Metallic. Sickly sweet.
Caius approached, his eyes unsettlingly still as they focused on me. The air around us thickened, the scent of his power stronger. My pulse hammered against my ribs. I recognised this feeling—the creeping numbness in my legs, the sharp sting blooming at my temples.
He was trying to compel me, to force me to his will. Except—
“Drop to your hands and knees,” Caius commanded.
A tremor ran through me, my body straining against the power. Nothing. I was resisting it.
My rune scar.
He grimaced, his eyes scanning me, but I didn’t think he knew the reason for his failure—and I couldn’t stop myself. I grinned.
“It seems you have another ward around you or...something else.” Caius smirked. “I guess we need to find out how you did it, or tonight will be a problem.” His head tilted to the other two, one side of his mouth lifting as if pulled by a hook. “Let’s see what else she protected. We’ll need to search the bitch.”
A snicker echoed behind him.
My fingers curled and uncurled at my sides, every muscle in my neck tightening. My rune would protect me against their spells, but not againstthem. I had to bury the rising panic before it swallowed me whole.
The three Scions approached, and I searched for anything around me—any weapon, any doors—but they cornered me like an animal.
The air shifted. A sharp whistle.
Then two lunged for me, and while I managed to evade one, the other grabbed me and threw me to the ground.
A boot slammed into my abdomen, and shooting pain twisted my insides, the hard assault sending my stomach back. The nausea rose fast, my muscles spasming violently. I collapsed onto my side just as another brutal kick crashed into my ribs.
Air fled my lungs, and pain—pain like I’d never felt. My vision blurred. Every instinct screamed at me to curl inward, to shield whatever I could—but there were three of them.
