“What?” I ask, trying desperately to call on my strength, but it’s as if everything within me has gone dormant. The buzz of energy I felt in my veins is gone, like I lost access to that part of me.
“And if she tells the prince?” Dylan asks as he carries me out into the hall and down the corridor.
Stepmother laughs. “She won’t remember a thing.”
No . . . no . . . this can’t be happening. I want to scream, but I can’t open my mouth. I want to claw at the man carrying me, but I can barely lift a finger.
Dylan kicks open the door to a bedroom and drops me onto the bed callously. I lie frozen, my heart beating sluggishly in my chest, and I keep blinking, trying to force myself to stay awake. The sound of curtains being drawn grinds against my ears, and tears leak down my face. Hells. What is he going to do to me in this vulnerable state? Why did I go with him against my better judgment? I’m such a fool.
Dylan returns to the bed and leans over me, rolling up his shirtsleeves, a look of malice on his face.
“What did I . . . ever do to you?” I rasp out with difficulty.
Dylan only smirks as he slowly hikes up my skirts, looking greedily at the length of my legs.
I’m going to be sick. This can’t be happening.
“What did you do to me? Where to even start?” Dylan bites out.
I squeeze my eyes shut. This isn’t happening.
A grunt and a thud have me forcing my eyes back open, and I look in shock as Dylan falls to the floor, but I can’t see who . . .
My world turns black.
Chapter Forty-One
KIAN
Catching Raelyn with Dylan made me see red. That pompous prick. I still haven’t forgiven him for trying to steal her away from me. I trusted him. I thought he was my friend, and he found a way to ruin everything. On top of our history, his father keeps trying to undermine my work as the Shadow, but so far, I’ve stayed two steps ahead.
Dylan should have stayed in Sillamae. I’ll make him regret looking at my wife the way he did and for even trying to lay a finger on her. My only consolation is that she seems to have forgotten him as well.
Once my father finishes shredding me the way he does best, I return to my wing, looking for Raelyn. We obviously need to talk . . . That kiss. I harden at the thought of it. We absolutely need to pick up where we left off. The sooner the better.
Our rooms are completely empty, and a prickle of fear runs down my spine. Something isn’t right. Where in the hells did she go?
I decide to check the library when Sera comes frantically rushing into the wing. “Your Highness!” she yelps. “You need to come quickly. It’s Princess Raelyn.”
Fuck.
“Take me now,” I command, and she runs back out the door.
I follow her up to an unused wing of the palace, growing more anxious with each step. Why would Raelyn be up here?
“Is she okay?” I ask as we race down the hall. Sera is impressively fast.
“I’m not sure, Your Highness. I can’t get her to wake up.”
Fear sluices down my back, and I pick up my pace. I need to get to her. I need to save her.
Sera leads me into a dusty old bedroom, and my heart nearly stops. Raelyn is on the bed, skirts hiked about around her hips, head lolled to the side, and lips parted.
Rage overtakes me when I spy Dylan crumpled on the floor, an old paperweight next to him. If he isn’t dead, he’s about to be. How dare he lay a hand on my wife.
Sera is trying to wake Raelyn, but she’s completely unresponsive. I kick Dylan, and he grunts. Not dead yet.
“I’ve got her,” I say, cradling Raelyn in my arms. Her unresponsive state makes me think she’s been drugged, which only fuels my anger, but what was she doing here to begin with?
