Page 98 of White Raven

“You captured her,” he uttered, taking a tentative step, like I was a wild animal, something exotic and easily startled. “The White Raven.”

His hand reached out and I flinched back, his fingers curling around the hood and tugging it off, my silvery hair tumbling out.

“Huginn-Muninn. She’s so beautiful.” He inhaled sharply, his eyes widening. “The most striking creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

He stood only a few inches over me, but I felt his power, his supremacy in every movement.

I was face-to-face with Gavric Helvig.

The Night King.

“What a pretty little thing to cause such divide in our world.” He touched my face, his eyes flashing with a hunger I couldn’t recognize.

“Now you are mine, White Raven, and soon to be my wife.”

CHAPTER 22

Wife.

That word chimed in my ears, banging in my chest.

“Wha—what?” A hot chill flushed and shivered my body, my mouth struggling to speak, my gaze darting to Onyx. His jaw firm, he stared off into the distance, his eyes not meeting mine. He had known the whole time what the king’s plans were. My stomach opened up like a sinkhole, pulling my heart into the black void.

“What are you talking about?”

King Helvig tilted his head, staring at me as if I was a fascinating specimen.

“What did you think I wanted you for, my beautiful dove?” From up close I could tell he was near my father’s age, silver hair threading at his temple, a few distinguished wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, yet still jarringly beautiful. “Us marrying will unite our territories and bring harmony once again to the people.”

“You mean your people,” I spat. “You think marrying me gives you the power to lead this entire realm?”

“It does. Who has you, has the power.” He gripped my chin gently, but I felt even more unsettled by his action. “At least until you serve your purpose. Within a year’s time, your blood will be sacrificed, watering the dirt of the Dusk Realm at the site of the Battle of Blood, breaking our curse.”

“What?” I croaked out, stepping away from his touch. “Sacrifice my blood?”

The king blinked at me like I confused him, then let out a maniacal laugh. “Your father never told you the full story of your own destiny?” He shook his head, amused. “Of course Vorian didn’t. That man keeps everything close to his chest. Everything is a secret to be used against someone. He is so utterly dull and uptight.” The way he talked about my father was familiar, like he knew him well. “But to leave you so unprepared like this . . . how cruel.” He tapped his fingers to his lips, a smile playing on his mouth like this was a fun game. “I guess it’s up to me to tell my betrothed.”

My teeth gritted, my shoulders pressing back, fighting against the panic wanting to bend me over.

“The day this realm was divided, the blood that was spilt burned the life out of this land. The runes cast over the dying earth foretold the one born of death and sacrifice.”

“Born of death and sacrifice?” I managed to utter.

“A queen giving her life for her child’s survival? Such power and magic in that kind of love.”

My head wagged, my throat closing in.

The king brushed his fingers over my cheek. “Her beauty and power so potent, she would mend the warring nations and heal us with the sacrifice of her blood. Trading her life to restore what was taken.”

“You’re lying.” My mind stumbled back to the night in Blackwater, how the audience at the puppet show cheered on, chanting.

“You have magical blood, I hear. Powerful enough to heal the dying land!”

“Kill her! Kill her!”

“No.” My head shook, spearing a glance back at Onyx. His arms folded, his gaze on the ground, but something in his demeanor spoke truth of the king’s claim. “My father would have told me,” I countered. “Father had the story woven into tapestries hanging in the hall, the foretelling of the White Raven’s glory, how on her nineteenth birthday she would stand by his side, heal the world and bring order to . . .” My thoughts stumbled along with my mouth.

“Bring order and power to him. He just left out the part you had to die,” The Night King finished for me. “How convenient.”