Page 160 of Blade of the Nightking

“Stop.” My voice barely came out.

His lip curled. “Will you comfort him too?”

“I—” Shame and disgust swelled inside me. He wasn't wrong. Despite everything, Aedric was my mate. I'd chosen him, and I would save him. Even after what he'd done to Levinica. Even after everything she'd suffered because of him.

And in that moment, I hated myself for it.

I couldn't stop the tears from spilling down my cheeks.

He rose suddenly at the sight of them. Titter Mouse startled, disappearing beneath the bed as Rìan crossed the room in three long strides.

And just like that, I remembered exactly what he was. Not the male who'd fallen to his knees in the sea. Not the brother who'd screamed his sister's name until his voice broke.

The Dark Prince.

The male entire Courts feared.

Wrath ignited silver in his eyes as he advanced. I retreated until my spine met the smooth stone. One hand slammed against the wall beside my head, caging me there as he leaned in, his fury burning so fiercely I couldn't look away.

“She’s dead,” he hissed. “My sister is dead. And crying over her will not bring her back. Prayers will not bring her back. Your hollow little condolences will not bring her back.” His jaw tightened, and the silver in his eyes flared brighter. “But there are people still breathing who put her in that water. And I intend to correct that.”

He lowered his face slowly to mine, close enough that each heated breath brushed my skin. My magic stirred at his nearness, responding to the promise of his power only inches away.

“I’ll find Dannis—and when I do, I’ll tear through every last one of them. But I promise you one thing: Aedric will be the first.” His eyes burned and burned and burned. “And I will rip through his mind until whatever is left of it is leaking from his ears.”

I’d been foolish to think anything remotely human existed somewhere beneath all that darkness, to believe there was anything more to him than the ruthless beast everyone had always claimed him to be.

Hatred coursed through me, bright and vicious. “You’re bound to our bargain.” I reminded him, my lips pulling back from my teeth. “You can’t touch him until you’re free of me. And by the time that happens, I’ll make you a promise.”

“Oh?” His mouth curled inches from mine

“You’ll have to get through me first.”

For a moment, he only stared at me. Then he straightened, looking down at me with all the cold indifference of the Prince he once was.

“You’re nothing.”

Power flashed through his eyes, straining against whatever leash he kept on it. The sight sent a sudden surge of anger through me. The most powerful male in Elantis, whose control over his magic was terrifying in its precision, and yet⁠—

“Why didn’t you save her?”

He blinked, the reaction so brief I almost missed it.

“Why?” I dragged the heel of my hand roughly across my face, wiping away the tears as grief and rage crashed together inside me.

I jabbed a finger into his chest before I even realized what I was doing. “You could have controlled her mind. You could have stopped her!”

He took a step backward, every muscle in his body locked tight.

“I saw your eyes,” I continued, the words jagged as broken glass. Something flickered in his gaze, the silver light dimming. Still, I didn't stop. “You were using your power. But she never turned back. Not once. She never even tried.” I shoved him hard. He didn't so much as budge. “Why didn't you help her? Why didn't you do anything?”

A sharp gasp cut through the room. We both turned, his hand flying to the polished ebony hilt at his belt.

Nadja stood frozen in the doorway, her face drained of color, her eyes wide as they fixed on Rìan. One hand covered her open mouth, concealing the absence of her tongue. She stumbled backward as though struck, then caught herself. To my confusion, she lurched forward again, unsteady, almost drunkenly. And then, to my horror, she dropped to her knees. Bending low, she pressed her forehead to the marble floor.

A sob tore free. Then another. Her body shook as she remained prostrate before him, weeping openly.

I lunged forward at once, ready to pull her to her feet. Ready to stop her from bowing to him—from throwing herself at the mercy of the Dark Prince. Ready to shield her from his wrath if I had to.