"There was an emperor once," he said quietly."Raxaan.Three centuries ago.He was matched to a woman from a powerful clan.A political alliance, like all imperial matches."A muscle feathered in his jaw."But his heart belonged to another."
Emily's stomach turned to ice.
"He was discovered.The woman he loved was exiled—sent to a colony world where she lived out her days in comfort, if not happiness.And the emperor..."He stopped.His throat worked."In our culture, the fault lies with the male.Always."
He didn't finish.
He didn't have to.
They killed him.The realization hit her, stealing her breath.They killed an emperor for it.
"So you see, I do understand cages," Daaynal said softly."Think about my offer.There's no pressure.No timeline."
He moved toward the door and then paused with his hand near the door control.
"For what it's worth..."He turned back, and something soft entered his expression.Something almost vulnerable."I'm glad it was you they matched me with.You have a good heart, Emily."
The door slid open, and then he was gone.She stood alone in the middle of her quarters as the words rang in her mind like an accusation.
You have a good heart.
She didn't.
Her skin still tingled from Raaevik's touch, and his fingerprints had bruised her hips… Her stomach lurched.
She made it to the bathroom just in time, collapsing to her knees on the cold tile as everything came up.Not much, she hadn't eaten since yesterday, but her body heaved anyway.
Betrayer.
The word pounded through her skull in time with the heartbeat in her ears.She was a liar.She sat back on her heels, pressing her forehead to the cool edge of the sink.
Raaevik.
If this came out—whenthis came out—he would be the one to pay.She was valuable.Political.The Emperor's intended.But Raaevik was expendable.
Pushing herself up on unsteady legs, she caught her reflection in the mirror.She was pale, her expression haunted… the image of a woman held together by spite and not much else.
She had to stop.Had to pull back.Had to build the wall between herself and Raaevik so high that neither of them could climb it.
She would accept Daaynal's offer.Throw herself into the work, into the purpose he'd given her, and become the Empress they needed her to be.
And let Raaevik go.
