“You’ve made that blatantly obvious.”
This was going so well.When he had helped her harness her shadow, she had looked at him in a way that made his insides unravel. He thought there was something between them. Evidently, thatsomethingwas gone now. He had pushed and pushed, so hard that whatever attraction he thought he saw in her eyes had evaporated.
“Tell me, was it an act of compassion to ship you off to the furthest lands possible? Was it mercy that put you on some of the most dangerous roads the night we came to you?”
Her whisper was so low he barely heard it. “No.”
He could tell by her change in posture she was already desperate to leave this exchange. He wasn’t going to let her get off that easily. Though he did attempt to make his voice less threatening. “The night we met... you didn’t look like a joyful bride on her way to meet her betrothed.”
She stilled. “It’s the duty of a princess. A marriage means alliances. I was helping my people.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that fact.
He wanted to understand, so he took a chance and prodded for more. “You agreed to the marriage willingly to help your people... but had no intention of actually going through with it?”
She covered her face with her hands. “It’s complicated.”
“Explain it then.”
She glowered at him suspiciously. “I didn’t agree to any of it. King Oren has kept me shielded in that castle since I was a child. I thought... I was told going anywhere else was too dangerous.”
He didn’t miss the fact that she referred to him as King Oren instead of Father.
“I was convinced I would never leave—I had been told countless times I couldn’t, that I had to stay.” Her voice got quieter, smaller. “But I did something unforgivable. My family shattered because of me, because of what I am. So they sent me away, as far as they could. The decision to marry was never mine.” She hugged her stomach like she might be sick.
Theo was sick too.Feel her. Touch her. Comfort her.
But he had a purpose to uphold and a legion to protect. So he shoved the inner voice down.
Touch her.
His hand twitched at his side like it might reach for her face. He forced it to still.
“When do I get to go aboveground?” she asked, clearly ready to change the subject.
“When you agree to my conditions.”
She pursed her lips. “And what would those be?”
“One, you will not attack any soldier here. You save that for the training valley above.” Her unpredictable violent streak ended now.
She crossed her arms. “And the second?”
He gave her a once-over, lifting his head up and sniffing dramatically. “You take a proper bath.”
He saw the flush of embarrassment creep up her neck. She narrowed her eyes. “Then show me where,” she grumbled, heading for the dresser and rummaging through its contents. Once she found what she needed, she gave one last side-eyed glance at his abdominals and strode out the room.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
BEFORE
Krysta dragged her sister down the stairwell, practically running as she searched for Adriel. Their scattering footsteps on the stones interrupted the nighttime quiet. They turned another corner and heard Adriel’s voice, serious and somber, along with their father’s.
The king wasn’t supposed to be here. It was supposed to be at least another two days before he returned.
Helaina and Krysta crouched down by the entrance to listen.
“Are you certain they have no idea what did this?” Why did her brother sound so distraught?
“No... no, this is different from the other attacks. There was a body this time. They found her sliced to pieces.”
