Shaking my head on a sigh, I release my grip on Karl and step back.He flopsinto the bathtub.The both of us ignore him.
“The alternative is a thousand cuts,” I press, really liking the idea of continuing.
“But you don’t have to give them all at once.And you definitely aren’t required to chop something off each time.”When that does nothing to sway me, he adds,“If he dies, Ariennawillnever see youasanythingbuta monster.”
“And that matters why?”I snap.“She’s going to be executed.”I can’t change that; the Court decideswho is to be executed so the queen or king can’t go on a mad rage, eliminating their political enemies.
“We could retract our statements.Without them, the Court has no evidence of a crime.”
But then they’ll know she’s a weakness of mine.They’ll use her for far worse things.
Although I don’t say the words, Jace reads them on my face anyway.Hisvoice lowers.“They already know you care for her.You risked yourself forfucking wasps.”His eyes flickerto the coward in the tub, passed out already.“And you draggedher sorry excuse of an exback hereto kill him in a fairy ring.”
Panic explodes within me.What have I done?I’ve never been so damn emotional and reckless.“She’s driving me crazy,” I whisper.
A small smile curls a corner of his lips.“I know.So let him go –for her– and then we can figure out a way to save her.”
My fingers tighten on the hilt of my knife.I really want to carve the worthless coward into pieces.Instead, I wipe the blood off on my tunic, then sheathe it.“Fine.Clean him upand throw him out.Thenget someone to redecorate this whole floor.I don’t even want to be able to sense his aura here once he’s gone.”
Headingfor thebathroomdoor, Igrit my teeth.Close my eyesand try to ignore the hope that Jace has set off inside me.But it grows with every step, building into a light that’s fucking blinding.I stopwith my hand on the door handle.“Have a healer reattach his tongue and penis.Make sure Arienna’s there to see it.”
Jace chuckles.“I don’t think she’ll take that the way you want her to.”
I turnin irritation.“Why not?It’s proof of my mercy.”
He cocksa brow.I scowl.“How about I patch him up and get him some fresh clothes?”Jace says.“Then I’ll have him tell Arienna you just let him go.”
“Brownies don’t lie.”
Jace’s smileischilling.“Trust me.This one will.”
Sliding my gaze over to the pathetic pulpin the tub, I nod.“Fine.Do that.”
Exiting the suite, I head for the balcony.Flying up tothe next floor, I head towards myrooms.The guards nod at me.Irin opensmy door.I walk inside, heading straight for the shower.Itug off my blood-stained tunic andstep under the spray of magically heated water.
By the time I finish washing off all the grime, get dried, anddressed, Jaceiswaiting for me.I stop in the doorwayof the ensuite, staring at him, assessing the damage between us.When hesits on the bed andsmiles,I relax.Slightly.The blood in my veins still seems to be crawling with restless energy.With so much goddamn fury at a system that only wants to break the good and call it freedom.
All of our abhorrent laws are there to “make us strong”, to protect us from “being invaded by our enemies”.But what can they fucking do that we haven’t already done to ourselves?I was drafted into war as a child – as allofmy generation was.I had to kill my own sisters.I’m going to have to kill my own wife.
“Arienna doesn’t belong here,” I rasp, the words tight in my throat and chest.Being queen will break her.How can it not when Aurelia wasn’t even strong enough to bear the crown?She was a warrior princess, raised to be a queen since she was born.Arienna is too innocent and good and weak.Raza will destroy her just like it’s destroyed all of us.“Death will be a mercy.”It is life as Raza’s queen that will be the worst torture.“I canget a witch to numb her body before I execute her.”
“You can stop being an idiot who shuts out everyone in fear of losing them.”
“Like you have?”I snap, only to regret it instantly.“Shit.Sorry.”
His teal eyes darken, but he lets it slide.My sister is the only one he’ll ever love.“We’ll protect her,”hemurmurs as if it’s that simple.
And I hate that.Ihateit.Because if I manage to save her, then why the fuck couldn’t I savemy sister?Why couldn’t we have protectedher?
Seeing the pain in my eyes, the thoughtsin my head, Jace stands, his own anger flaring out of control.“Don’t do that,” he says lethally.“Youdo not get to do that.”His body is as relaxed as a viper knowing it can kill in a single strike, and I take a step back involuntarily – even though part of me wants him to do it.To punish me for what I did.
“She was mine to protect,” he growls, so much pain and fury in his words.“Youdo not get to fucking use her –” He cuts himself off.Looks away on a sharp exhale.“She would have wanted this, so you’re going to fix things with your wife.”
My throat tightens as his gaze flies back to mine.The tension between us ripples taut.Becomes so damn close to breaking.I take a step forward, the scar on mylefthand burning.He gave it to me that day when he pinned me to the ground and tried to kill me slowly.He would have if my sister hadn’t stopped him.“I’m so–”
“Don’t.”He slashes at his leg with a small triangular blade I didn’t even realise he pulled free of its sheath.As a crimson line fills the hole in his trousers, he stands.He does not have to say another word; I can see the raw feralness in his eyes, the one that sits behind his smile every minute of the day.If I talk about Aurelia any more, he will break.
Swallowing down my guilt, I nod.He shoves his usual smile back in place.Aknock at the door hashim going to answer it, his knife sheathed once more.The tension in the room dissipates as he cloaks it in his usual cheer.
