Vasquez stepped forward, practically salivating. “She’s not yours to keep caged, Thorne. She belongs to the Crown. And she should be moulded by those who understand her... potential.”
I didn’t look at him.
“She stays with me,” I said again, voice low, even. “Or you’ll have another monster with no leash.”
Ashton raised his brows, clearly enjoying the show. “And what do you say, shadow girl? Do you prefer the cold steel of the General’s discipline or Vasquez’s... enthusiasm?”
Elira’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “I’d rather die.”
I almost smiled. Gods, the fire in her.
Ashton let out a short laugh. “Very well. She stays with you, Thorne. But you have six months. If she hasn’t learnedobedience by then…” He flicked a finger lazily toward Vasquez. “She’s his.”
My fists clenched behind my back.
“I understand, sire,” I said, cold fury coiled beneath my skin.
I turned to Elira. She looked at me—wild-eyed and ready to fight everything in this godsforsaken court. I didn’t say a word, but I hoped she saw what I couldn’t voice.
Not here.
I’ll protect you.
Even from them.
Especially from yourself.
**
I could barely contain my fury once I got Elira back to her cell.
“You stupid, stubborn, reckless girl! Do you haveanyidea what you could’ve done?”
Elira didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look at me. She threw herself back onto the thin mattress like she couldn’t care less, her arms folded behind her head, gaze fixed on the low ceiling. Her posture screamed defiance, but I saw the tremor in her jaw, the tension coiled just beneath the surface.
She was still burning with that same fire. The same damn fire that had painted a target on her back.
“You can yell all you want, Thorne,” she muttered, voice clipped, bitter. “I’m not sorry.”
I took a step back, running a hand through my hair, trying to breathe. “Youtried to kill the king, Elira,” I hissed. “In full view of the court. Of Vasquez.”
She turned her head then, just enough for me to see the steely glint in her eyes. “I only regret that I failed.”
There it was again. That bravado. That bite. But it didn’t reach her eyes. It never did.
“Elira…” I exhaled, dragging a hand across my face, suddenly exhausted.
“What, Thorne?” she snapped, sitting up now, eyes blazing. “Should I have just done it? Killed that old man in cold blood? Would that have satisfied him? Would that have kept me safe?”
“At least then, he might have seen you asobedient,” I bit out. “At least then he might believe he can control you.”
“Well, he can’t!” she shouted, shoving to her feet. “And I won’t pretend he can. I won’t play pet to that monster!”
She was shaking now, fists clenched, her breath ragged with fury and something far more dangerous—fear.
“If you don’t at least try to play along,” I said, my voice quiet, “he’ll send you to the Mirror Room.”
Her brows pinched slightly, the first crack in her defiance. “What’s the Mirror Room?”
