Page 130 of Ravenrose

I don’t move.

His eyes narrow. “SIT. ROWAN!” he barks so loudly, I just barely restrain my flinch.

One glance at those unsettling eyes of his stops me cold. They aren’t the familiar light gray I remember. They’re darker now—so dark they nearly swallow the light—almost black. My feet move before my mind catches up, and I stumble toward the bed.

The room is small, and I reach it quickly, staring down at the soft mattress, unable to move any further—unable to actually sit down on his bed.

Slowly, I turn back to face him, and I swallow hard at the look I see on his face.

I’ve spent days relentlessly trying to push him over the edge. Trying just about everything I can think of to get under his skin—to get him to snap that seemingly unshakable emotional control he seems to have over himself.

But seeing him now…

Untethered.

I’m glad I failed.

The molten rage simmering off him could set the whole village alight. Like the storm trapped inside him has finally broken through.

He steps closer. His eyes scan my body again, taking in my wretched appearance with a curl of disgust on his lips.

I’m filthy. Covered in dirt and worse from trekking through the forest with Ayer, and the struggle with Riggs on the dungeon floor. My skirt and corset are ripped in various places, and no matter how many times I pull it up, the torn shoulder of my shift keeps slipping down, revealing far more of my chest than I’m comfortable showing.

I shift uncomfortably under his gaze, giving up on the sleeve and crossing my arms across my chest.

Ayer moves closer, and this time, I can’t hide my flinch.

I hate that I do it—and worse, I hate that he saw it.

Ayer’s gaze darkens as he closes in, and I have to look away—unable to hold his gaze.

What will happen first? Will he punish me for running from Riggs? Riggs told me Ayer gave me to him. I guess he’s decided I’m something to be passed around. Or will Ayer follow through on whatever his original plans were when he asked me to be sent to him earlier? I don’t know that I have anything left in me to fight him off too. I should make him work for every second he tries to take from me, but… I’m so tired.

“When she’s brought to my chambers tonight.”

I prepare myself for what’s about to happen. In his mind, I belong to him. And if he wants me, he’ll have me. I can’t hurt him.

My emotions are running wild, and my exhaustion can’t contain them. A single tear breaks loose, trailing slowly down my cheek, dripping off my chin just as he finally reaches me. His hand comes up, lifting my head with it.

But his grip is light.

“Look at me.”

Ayer’s voice is soft. Softer than I’ve ever heard it. I don’t understand it—I don’t understand him.

My legs shake beneath me. I’m so tired. So damn tired.

My vision blurs, but I force my eyes up.

“Don’t think for one second that any of this is your fault.”

I blink at him, unsure of what I see on his face. Pain, guilt… anguish, even? Seeing an emotion there—any emotion—cracks the crumbling iron wall holding back my own, and my lip quivers.

His attention drops to my arm. I let out a hiss when his fingers brush against the gash he finds there. Riggs’ knife must have cut me in our struggle.

“I’m sorry.”

I freeze, then our eyes meet.