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I sat up straighter, my hands curling into shaking fists. My breaths came hard and fast.

“What can I do?” Alaric pleaded. I’d never heard him sound like this before. He was practically begging.

I climbed to my feet, bracing my hand against the cool glass window for support as I turned to face him. My entire body was quivering with years of pent-up rage. “She… was a monster,” I said through clenched teeth.

Alaric heaved a sigh. “I know.”

“She took—she lied—she—” Gods, I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even form the words. A frustrated scream built in my throat, and I clutched at my head, my fingers tugging wildly at my hair. Fury rose up inside me, climbing higher and higher. The volatile emotions felt powerful enough to explode. “Too much,” I rasped, my heart practically seizing in my chest. “It’s too much.”

Alaric did not move. He only watched me, his brows drawn together and his eyes full of despair. “I am so sorry, Cerise.”

“I don’t want you to be sorry!” I shouted, flinging my hands in the air.

“What do you want?” he asked softly. “I will give you anything.”

Bring my father back. Bring my mother back. Erase Elvira from existence.

But none of those things were within his power.

“I want you to scream with me,” I said. “I want… I want to unleash everything. My body is a cage, and this—this raw, unhinged emotion coursing through me is ready to burst free.”

Alaric was silent for a moment. Then, he nodded once and turned from the door. “Come with me.”

I blinked in surprise. “What?”

“I can give you what you need, but you have to come with me.”

My feet were already moving. Though I was curious and a bit confused, I trusted him completely. Together, we left the room and strode down the hallway. He led me down the narrow servants’ staircase where Fiona had taken us. His fingers immediately laced through mine, as if it was pure instinct to clasp my hand in his.

I loved how natural it felt. Just the feel of his skin against mine soothed the beast roaring inside me, if only for a moment.

We descended another staircase and entered the servants’ quarters. Several Mages flitted past us, but we paid them no heed as Alaric guided me down the hall and toward the back door. He pushed it open, and we stepped into the moonlit air. I breathed in deeply, already feeling freer just being out here. I hadn’t realized how constricted I’d felt in my chambers until there was nothing but open space around me.

Alaric guided me around the back of the castle. I gazed up at the towering turrets that pierced the sky, partially blocking the light of the moon. We kept moving until we reached the stables. From within, horses nickered, and the smell of hay and animal droppings met my nose.

I cast Alaric a bewildered look. “Why are we here?”

He paused and faced me fully, taking my hands in his. “Do you trust me, Cerise?” He lifted a hand and swept a loose curl away from my face.

“Yes,” I said at once.

A half-smile quirked along his lips, and he tugged me inside the stables. My body went rigid as I took in the massive beasts within each stall. Alaric stopped in front of the huge black stallion we’d taken to the Oracle.

I must have made a small noise of fear because Alaric turned to me and said gently, “He won’t hurt you. I promise.”

He had said the same thing before, and I hadn’t believed him. But unlike the last time I was here, I knew Alaric would protect me. I watched as the horse’s all-black eyes fixed on Alaric, his nose nudging against him as if searching for treats.

Something within me softened, and I released a long breath. “What’s his name?”

“Onyx.”

I smiled slightly. “Hello, Onyx.”

Onyx nickered in response.

Alaric prepared the saddle, while I edged backwards to give him and Onyx space to step out of the stall. When everything was secure, Alaric approached me with a questioning look in his eyes.

I nodded once, taking a deep breath. His hands gripped my waist, and he easily lifted me onto the saddle. For a frightful moment, my stomach was weightless, and my shaking fingers scrambled to grip the saddle horn. Then I settled in, my legs on either side of the horse. A moment later, Alaric slid behind me, his strong arms surrounding me. His musky scent of spice and loam filled my nose, and I leaned against his hard chest.