I’m about to open my mouth and scream at the prince when I feel a firm hand press on my shoulder, silencing me.
“Ruby, wait,” Kaz hisses into my ear. “Just trust me. I won’t let him take your sister.”
“Trust you?” I snarl, but Father’s voice pulls my attention back to the dais.
“I can’t allow that, Hugo.”
Yes, thank you!
“You’re forgetting we had a deal!” Hugo snaps back. “Would you rather the alternative?” His words make Father’s cheeks pale, as if there’s far more going on here than a simple arrangement between two monarchs. “If you’ve changed your mind about my bride, then I’ll happily take whatever else you can give. Your palace, perhaps?”
“No,” Father says coldly. “It is decided. You may take Liliana. You have my blessing.”
What?
“FATHER, NO!” I scream. This can’t be happening. With a snarl, I pick up my skirts and shove through the crowds.
“Amaryllis, wait,” Kaz hisses, but I’m already long gone. Trust in the Scorpion be damned. He’s already failed me once. If I want to protect my sisters, I have to do it myself.
“You can’t let him take her!” I rasp the moment I reach the dais.
Father scowls at me. “Get back down to the floor, Amaryllis. This matter doesn’t concern you.”
“She’s my sister,” I wheeze. “And he’sa monstrous brute. Have you not seen him with your daughters? How he’s made so many of them cry?”
“Poppycock!” Hugo huffs, but I ignore him, keeping my gaze fixed on Father.
“If he wants a bride, then he can take me instead.”
“Ami, no,” Father grumbles.
“I’m not letting Liliana leave with him.” I fold my arms. “You’ll have to throw your own heir into the dungeon before you can take her away from us.”
For once, the intensity of my glare matches Father’s, but before he can reply, he’s cut off by the sound of Hugo’s grating laughter.
“Oh, Sol,” he cackles. “It appears you’ve been too soft with them. Let me handle this one.”
Hugo charges towards me, snatching my arm and yanking me to his side. Furious, I thrash against his hold, but there’s little point. My willowy arms don’t stand a chance as he drags me towards the exit archway.
“Father, please, stop him!” I beg.
Ignoring me, Father addresses our audience. “Get back to your party,” he declares. “I want to see you all celebrating the upcoming union between Prince Hugo and my dear Liliana. This is a cause for celebration.” His tone is flat, but the crowd still cheers at his announcement – the entire crowd apart from my eleven sisters, who watch me with huge, wide eyes as Hugo hauls me outside.
“Behave yourself, brat,” Hugo spits. The moment we’re out of the ballroom, he shoves me against the palace wall. My back thuds painfully against the golden bricks. “I always knew you’d be trouble, but I never thought you’d be stupid enough to actually stand up to your father.” His cackle makes my insides curl.
“I won’t let you have her,” I growl, pushing my palms against the wall to steady myself.
Hugo laughs in my face. “Try and stop me. Or better yet, perhaps you should come along too? I’ll make you watch while I marry your dear sister. We’ll have so much fun together.” Hegrins in a predatory way. “It’s been years since I’ve had a wife so young. And just for you, once she’s thoroughly broken and much too old for my liking, I’ll have her sent back here as a token of my generosity. Maybe then your father will have some new daughters for me to claim?—”
“Stop!” I sob.
“...Lovely fresh ones, even younger than?—”
He jerks. There’s a strange gurgling sound from his throat.
His eyes turn dull.
Lifeless.
