Page 107 of Nocturn

“Drusilla,” he bellowed again. Footsteps echoed from the servants’ hall. A quick pitter-patter of slippers rushing toward us.

What he was doing was wrong.

So.

So.

Wrong.

Because he was mine.

I lunged for Cassiel’s arm, gripping the sleeve of his robe.

“Please listen, she is not to be trusted,” I whispered as quickly as possible, so that my words nearly ran into one another to create a jumbled mess.

Drusilla entered as Cassiel jerked his arm up, ripping his sleeve from between my fingers. Eliza came in behind Drusilla, blinking sleep from her eyes that quickly faded when she took me in before Cassiel.

“Please,” I whispered once more and pressed my palms together to stop myself from touching him. My heart pulsed as if an arrow pierced it. “Please, Cassiel.”

A hand lashed across my face, wrenching me to the side which made me stumble. I clasped my jaw.

“He is your king. Refer to him as such, redblood.” The sting radiated to my teeth. A muscle at the corner of her lips twitched, betraying her satisfaction.

My cheek throbbed with heat. I searched his empty eyes staring me down. Despite how badly I wanted to turn away, I forced myself to look. This was the creature that enticed me, and it was a reminder I needed of what exactly I meant to him.

I should have escaped. I had the book, yet I came to him.

“Get her out of my sight,” Cassiel ordered. His gaze did not waver from mine. “And bring me a damned meal.” His teeth flashed. He watched me with such an icy gaze that it speared through me.

Everything had gone so terribly wrong.

“Take her to the pit,” Lady Drusilla ordered. Two officers converged, one at each side, taking an arm.

“I-I apologize, my lord,” I croaked, not recognizing my voice. “Do not let them take me⁠—”

He turned while I was mid-word, offering me his back. A fissure opened through my chest. He gave me his back after every tender moment we had together. I thought . . . Tears blinded my eyes, and I struggled to catch my breath, watching him retreat, the muscles playing under the silk of his robe.

I was loaded onto a carriage, and one of the officers joined me inside, blocking me against the back.

I struggled to breathe, my ragged gasps were all that kept the tears at bay. Not one bit of the Cassiel I had come to know had looked at me. For a moment, I truly believed he would listen.

I choked on a sob, pressing against the side of the carriage near the slim window. I curled my arms around my torso.

What should I do?

Escape at this point was my only option, but how? I did not have Piper. I could render the officer unconscious, but what about the one outside the carriage? Would it give me enough time to run to Piper and escape before they were found?

Then there was Lucinda, but the prophet had been clear: she would be where she must be when that time came. I clasped my temples between my palms. The officer watched me like I was an insect to be crushed. A sneer of distaste, a derisive look. I was less than nothing in blueblood eyes, but it was all a lie. They believed a lie.

Stretching out my leg did nothing to ease the dull throb.

The carriage jolted as it did whenever it crossed onto the paved way leading to the House of Lords. I scooted to the side, sliding across the velvet cushion to be closer to the exit.

“Where do you think you are going?” The officer said, grabbing my wrist. I yanked away my arm, reacting on instinct.

“Do not touch me,” I snapped, clenching my teeth together.

His gaze turned menacing. I pressed my shoulders back against the carriage seat. Rage flitted across his features. He grabbed at me again, and this time, I could not avoid him jerking me closer as he leaned forward. Mead stung my nose.