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More laughter, more smoke. A fading image of me seated beside Kage, wincing. Two mages used long twigs that looked like sharpened pencils to draw over our fingers. The flesh burned a deep, coppery gold, and when the light settled, black ink remained.
Across the room, Gwyn—grown and stunning—laughed at the both of us. She tossed a berry from her palm at Kage’s head. “Such whimpering.”
“You should try it.”
“I have my Soturi brand on my back, My Prince. Ihavetried it.”
“It aches more on the fingers.” Kage coughed when one of the mages dragged her magical ink along his fingertips.
“Worth it, though,” I said through gritted teeth.
Kage turned his gaze to me, dark with desire. “Very worth it.”
When the two mages finished their tattoos we held out our irritated hands, inked with beautiful, swirling bands, straight edged runes, and filigreed curls.
Queen Torie entered, a smile on her painted lips. “We’re so proud of you both.” The queen held her slender fingers to my cheek. “Two weeks and you will be ours officially.”
Others in the room chattered on about garlands and food and gowns, Kage drew me close and cupped the back of my head, pulling me seductively close to his lips. “You’re all mine now.”
“Not yet, you arrogant prince.” I laughed and nipped his bottom lip. “When you make your vow, then we’ll talk.”
“Trust me, the moment you’re my wife, I plan to do little talking . . .” His voice trailed away in the spin of shadows along with my laughter.
I hugged my knees against my chest, back to the wall, sobbing. In my hand was a missive. A familiar letter—a note to the prince who’d joined his father’s army to guard against cruel one’s and forces from Valandril.
“Come home to me,” I whispered to the empty room.
A knock sounded on the door. In a frenzy, I swiped tears off my cheeks and rose. “Hugo.”
Sweat lined Hugo’s brow. He had a bruise beneath his eye, but he still carried the same gentle smile. “Adira.”
I wrapped him up in my arms. “I’d begun to worry I’d sent you to your death.”
“No.” He patted my back and pulled away, waving a hand over his face. “All this was a Soturi tussle. Many of us wish to join the king and prince in the cliffs. Tempers have flared. But I found a cruel one.” His eyes darkened. “I know who they are targeting. It is not the king, Adira.”
My insides twisted. “They want to take him, don’t they?”
Hugo nodded. “There is a prophecy spreading through cruel one camps that the heir of the throne will be the destruction of thepower they seek. Word of his abilities is becoming quite coveted and the desire for him to join their forces is growing. That, or they plan to rid him as a threat. They are targeting him.”
I closed my eyes, fighting against the tears. They would not take him from me. Nothing would. I would do anything to keep Kage Wilder breathing.
Even if it meant I could not keep him.
Smoke swallowed a past Hugo and tossed me into heartbreak—shouts, chaos, pain.
“Don’t.” Kage was on his knees, struggling to reach me. “Don’t do this.”
“Forgive me,” I said. With a wave of my fingers, gilded mist coiled around my marital markings. I called upon the bond between us, called upon the desire for his safety, his life, and fastened him to the ground so he would not chase me.
Kage didn’t fight. He didn’t beg. He merely watched with a look of defeat as the spell wove into the temporary bindings.
Should he try to stop me, I’d falter. I would not see the sacrifice through. I’d fall back into his arms, and I’d be forced to watch him die.
Goddess, I loved him.
The words were rough as swallowed sand, but I tried to repeat the vow we’d planned to speak in two days’ time. “My heart is burned?—”
“No.” Kage shook his head. “Don’t say it.”
