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Ralf opened his mouth, eyes furious, but no words would come. Another laugh from Galen, the flash of steel, and the knife was thrust up beneath my old comrade’s chin, finishing him off.
Galen stood and turned to the crowd, but even Anika’s mother simply stared at him in shock. He seemed not to care. Instead, he bowed low, clicked his fingers and marched out of the room, followed by his own men.
“Let me go,” I grunted, finally tugging myself out of the grip of the guards around me. I met my uncle’s eyes, but he just smirked, licking his lips. So instead I turned to the guards. “Find Ralf’s family, bring them to the castle and place them under watch until the Nemenia bastards have left.”
They didn’t move.
“Do it!” I roared, but they looked at the king.
He nodded his assent, and the crowd started muttering in hushed tones, going back to their own conversations.
Turning away, I stormed out of the room with my weapons thudding against my thigh. This would not happen. Anika would not marry that fucker.
I didn’t know how I was going to accomplish such a feat, but I did know one thing: she was mine, and Prince fucking Galen would never have her.
CHAPTER 10
Anika
Once the horrified guests dispersed, my mother escorted me back to my chambers, keeping one finger on my spine the whole way in order to keep my posture ramrod straight.
All I wanted was to be alone—to wallow in this horrifying thing that had been sprung on me, like a bear trap clamping shut. But beside me, my mother chattered away, about this person we met or that person we met, apparently unfazed by seeing my betrothed murder a man after admitting to raping his wife. All she seemed to care about was influence and power. It was like she had attended some other dinner; none of what she said sounded at all familiar. I’d been in a blur the whole time and still was. That horrible man was my betrothed. That horrible man was my destiny.
The thought of it made me groan and drop my head, which made my mother tsk a cluck of disapproval and drive her finger even harder into my spine. We rounded the corner into the corridor that led to my private chambers. Now, finally, we were mostly alone. Just me and my mother, and Maria trailing behind us.
My mother turned to face me, her lips tight, her eyes narrow. She glanced side to side, ensuring we were alone and said what I imagined she’d been dying to say all evening.
“You are such a disgrace, Anika Zoja. Such a bloody disgrace.”
“I am?” I hissed in disbelief. “Did you not see what that animal just did?”
“That was men’s business. It’s not for us to opine upon. What I’m talking about is your complete lack of restraint or decorum. That is women’s business. That is what makes me so ashamed to call you my daughter.”
“Well, I’m sorry I can’t be the daughter you want,” I said softly, as Maria unlocked the door to my chambers and held it open for us. “I wish I could be as good at all of this as you,” I added, sarcastically.
She warmed up a little at that, taking it as a compliment. She never was very perceptive.
“If you would listen then you would learn. Honestly, the way you told him off, Anika.” She shook her head. “Such disrespect.”
I glanced at a looking glass and met Maria’s eyes. In her expression, I saw that she’d have done exactly what I did. Or worse. That man was a monster. That monster was to be my husband.
The thought of the word husband made me groan yet again.
“What in heaven’s name is wrong with you?” My mother snapped, staring at me. “These noises you make! You must learn to control your emotions. It’s the most important skill a queen can have.”
By way of demonstration, my mother lifted her chin and swished her long hair, side-to-side, raising one shoulder. It was the same face she’d had the moment that she was first crowned. The instant I’d seen that face, that very same expression she had now, I knew the mother that I’d once loved so dearly was lost to me. She had come out from her cocoon into her full, haughty glory. Nothing will ever be the same, I remember thinking, when I saw that look on her face.
And it never was.
Maria stepped forward to help me disrobe, to free me from the confines of my too-tight corset and the dress that weighed as much as a suit of armor. But my mother swatted her hands away.
“I’ll do it. We wouldn’t want your dirty little fingers damaging all this gold thread, now would we?”
With a silent bow, Maria backed away. I felt my face flame hot with anger. I could take just about any amount of cruelty from my mother, but when it came to Maria, things were very different.
