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Several beige flecks move.
Crap. Trolls. I hope Benicio doesn’t suspect I’m up to something.
He adds, “And now you will go with the Flier. The king will hold a feast. You and the other proxy will be the guests of honor.”
Why do they fail to tell me these things? “I can’t be alone with Benicio,” I say. “I can’t…”
“Resist him?” Alwar completes my sentence.
I stare at the dirt and nod shamefully. I’ve never been addicted to anything. Dave’s stupid company is the closest I’ve come to enjoying anything remotely bad for me. Benicio is different. I can’t even think of him—the smooth skin with muscular tone, the silky black hair, the haunting pale blue eyes. His body and presence are a hypnotic song, and I want to listen to them nonstop.
“Lake, the marriage vows we took were not merely words. We are bound together, you and I. It is what drove you to cross five kingdoms and risk your life to free me. Trust in that bond. Trust it will give you the strength to fight him.”
I stare up into his eyes, guilt swelling in my heart. Maybe Alwar isn’t who I thought. Maybe I misjudged him.
“Have faith, Lake, the last of the Norfolks. You will prevail. And so shall we all.”
I nod complicitly.
“And now you must go with the Flier,” he says.
I snap my head up. “No. I’m not getting on that thing.”
“It is tradition you arrive with honor.”
“Fuck tradition. Benicio’ll eat me alive.” And worst of all, I want him to.
“The rules do not permit him to touch you. The challenge has been accepted, and now the proxies must be honored, for one of you will sacrifice your life.”
How can Alwar be so blind? He might be an honorable man, but Benicio is not. Also, “You said I didn’t have to kill the other proxy.”
“Once they lose consciousness, you win. It is up to you to decide if another blood draw is taken, likely ending their life. Of course, you will abstain. Leaving both of you alive keeps the Proxy Vow intact. And, either way, as the winner, you will be granted one request.”
That’s when he wants me to demand the Proxy Vow is renewed with new human bloodlines.
He adds, “We will have peace for many centuries more.”
Wrong. Because those human families will be miraculously snubbed out. Then history will repeat. No thanks. Also, the No Ones aren’t game to play anymore.
“You are so close to setting things back on course, Lake. Do not get cold feet now. I believe in you.”
I smile weakly. “I guess I need to take a ride on a Flier, then.”
He nods and stares with deep admiration.
“How can you look at me like that?” I ask, hating myself for deceiving him even though he hasn’t been exactly forthcoming with me about everything either.
“Like what?”
“Like you would do anything for me. We don’t even know each other.”
“I desire you. I admire you and your fearless heart. And someday, when the time is right, I will cross the bridge for you.”
“What do you mean?” He told me he never wanted to be my size or live in my stupid tiny world filled with stupid tiny people. “What about your vow?”
“You were able to negotiate with the No Ones to spare Tiago, so perhaps an arrangement can be made to allow me to cross. So I will cross. We will settle in your world. I merely need to know my kingdom is stable, the wall is protected, and our enemies are no longer a threat.”
“You’d give up your throne, something you’ve worked so hard to get back, for me?” My own mother died trying to get him back in power.
“I have never done anything for myself. It has always been for the good of the War People, your world, and for all the creatures in our kingdoms. You are the first and only thing I have wanted for myself. And you are a prize worth fighting for.”
I swallow hard, my heart crushing.
The logical side of me, or maybe it’s just fear, wants to listen to Grandma Rain’s warnings: The Wall Men will say or do anything to get what they want. But my heart can’t help hoping his words might be sincere. After all, he vowed never to lie to me. Either way, this conversation is making me doubt every assumption I’ve made about my husband.
My mind jumps to my dream of sitting at that small café table in Paris, watching people walk by as I wait for him—the man I’m meant to be with. It isn’t Bard, Benicio, or even Gabrio who shows up. It’s Alwar. Always Alwar.
But what does that really mean?
Dumbass. It means you’re going to have to choose between giving him a chance or your plan. Alwar might never trust me again when he finds out I’ve been lying and making alliances behind his back.
