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I held my arm out, and she glanced up as she took it. “You stabbed her in her eyeball.”

Leaning toward her ear, I whispered, “I would have torn her heart from her chest and transformed it into a ruby for you if I’d had the time.”

She sucked in a breath and a tear coursed down her cheek as she pushed her shoulders back. She would get through this.

A carpeted path in shades of crimson and black led to a pair of extravagant onyx thrones; the chair’s back spires rose in jagged points and were tipped with rubies. Soaring candelabras were set against mirrored, square columns that reflected light while a somber classical melody played quietly in the background.

Behind the columns, the First Realm’s prominent families had begun to take their seats. Representatives would be in attendance from every major city from across the entire, infinite Realm, arriving by any means necessary to witness what was an unprecedented occasion.

Many likely prayed for my demise, others would wish for my success. Several, I was certain, were here for the curiosity and spectacle of the event.

Cassia was doing her best to remain composed, but her energy was scattered. She squeezed my hand several times. I was uncertain if she was searching for my strength or just trying to self-regulate. I found myself hoping for the former.

Kalix brushed past us saying, “Remain here.” Most likely for Kiam and Cassia’s benefit.

The woman by my side was growing stiffer by the minute, her breaths exhaling in short, sharp, quiet bursts. As tempting as it was to spell her and take away her discomfort, I didn’t.

Slowly, I felt Cassia relax. She straightened and faced the front of the room. She tried to free herself, but I gripped her even tighter. I felt her eyes on me and glanced down to smile at her widened gaze.

The music stopped and absolute silence fell over the hall. The crowds were all seated. Annalise’s latest toy walked out from a room to the side of the thrones, dressed in black and red ceremonial garb. He descended the short staircase and lifted an arm and said, “Your Queen, Her Majesty Annalise demands an audience with Lord Lukas. Does he agree?”

“Yes,” I answered.

The man bent his head and scurried backwards, to the side.

“Oh shit,” Cassia mumbled. “This is it.”

“Silence,” I ordered, my voice barely a whisper.

Annalise materialized in a shimmery fog directly in front of her throne. I heard Cassia and Kiam’s collective gasps, though the reasoning for each differed.

Cassia’s was fear and awe.

Kiam’s was awe and longing. No surprise, he had a serious fetish for attractive blonds, and the Queen was ethereally beautiful.

Annalise didn’t immediately sit, as was customary for her. Instead, she glided down to the carpet, walked forward three steps, and stopped.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

CHAPTER 10

Lukas

Instantly, I dropped to my knees, tugging Cassia with me. I knew better than to check, but I prayed her forehead touched the floor as my own did. While I waited, Annalise’s energy circled me, pushing and prodding, attempting to infiltrate my secret places, the things I kept locked up in the fortress of my mind.

It’d taken years, and many hours of torture, for her to cease the endless attempts at possessing my very thoughts. However, she remained steadfast with occasional perusals. How would Cassia fare under the onslaught? It was everything I could do to keep my pulse modulated.

“You fear for Cassia,” Annalise purred.

Games. That was all it was. In my distraction, I almost fell for her trickery. I kept silent. Anything I did or said would be used against me.

I’d already broken one of our most ancient of laws by bringing her here. If I were to wed or couple with anyone, they’d be present in the audience.

Every last one of those women bored me. They held no interest other than a quick fuck or drink. Their substance was as weighty as mist; their lives molded for positioning and what they could acquire. I had no desire to be a ladder.

The Queen let out a long, dramatic sigh. “You may rise, my love.”

After I stood, I bowed my head. “My Queen, thank you.”