Theo was so hypnotized—so angry.
“It can’t be controlled. Whatever weapon you think is inside me, it won’t listen.” Her voice was growing hoarse and tired. She had been in the water too long.
“You can make it listen. You could have gotten yourself out of that mess back there, easily, but you panicked.” Theo leaned in close to her, feral face etched in undiluted rage. His whisper was so low it was barely perceptible. “I’ll show you how. I’ll make you better. I’ll make you stronger and faster. I’m going to make a warrior out of you, Helaina.”
The girl looked like she had stopped breathing.
The captain rose up above her. “Then I will give youexactlywhat you have been begging for since the moment I met you.”
She looked up in confusion.
“After you become what I need,thenyou can die.”
Callum could tell she didn’t understand Theo’s meaning. It didn’t stop her from holding his challenging gaze.
She couldn’t hold it long, though. Her blood loss was too great. Her eyes rolled back, and for the second time, they watched the princess slip into unconsciousness.
The moment her eyes closed, Callum let himself do the same.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
BEFORE
Four years. It had been four years of passing glances and lingering stares.
Adriel and Krysta made it impossible for Helaina to see Dolion alone. He had stayed on as permanent staff, but the protectiveness of her siblings didn’t fade in all that time. When they were gone, her guards only permitted her in the stables to saddle Elsie and swiftly exit for her daily ride.
Even without a single word spoken between them, the yearning in his eyes said it all, and it only intensified as she aged.
Helaina had had enough. She didn’t want to wonder anymore if she was imagining his feelings or if they were truly there. She was a woman now. She saw how Dolion looked at her, and she had to know.
The first time she proposed the idea to meet in secret, she had left a note. It didn’t say much, just a location, near the tree line by the woods that stretched to the north side of the grounds. The benefit of being under constant guard was knowing the exact routine of the soldiers and their perimeter checks. She knew that clearing would be unoccupied at night.
She and Laurelai looked similar enough. Long hair, same height and shape.
While the castle slept, she dressed Laurelai in her own nightgown and snuck out the emergency tunnels, leaving her handmaiden tucked under her covers in case the guards came in to check.
At first it was terrifying, disobeying like this. But the fear turned to an absolute thrill the moment she cleared the tunnels, coming out just under the bridge near the gates.
She knew this could cost her if she got caught. Still, she had to see him—had to talk to him again. It had been far too long appreciating him from afar.
Then the self-doubt consumed her. What if he didn’t show? What if her interpretations of the brief passing moments were wrong?
It was too late to go back. She stood there near the tree line, waiting—hoping. She fussed over her appearance, ensuring her fishtail braid was perfect.
It seemed like hours passed into the night, as she waited, gazing at the lit towers in the distance.
Hands clasped over her eyes. Everything went dark. Her whole body tensed from fright.
“I was starting to think you didn’t want to speak to me ever again,” Dolion said.
He came.
She turned to face him. He looked so pleased to see her.
“Of course I’ve wanted to talk to you.” She wiped her sweaty palms on her summer dress. She didn’t know if it was her breaking the rules tonight or his presence that made her so nervous. It was most likely both.
“Then why don’t you? It’s been years, and you haven’t even uttered my name.”
