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Not that I knew.
The soldiers left.
I forced a full inhale into my lungs, driving out that heaviness until my spine uncoiled. What had I hoped for? For Mother to come through that door and hug me? I could count myself lucky that Lord Brisden had sent such treasure as a sign of goodwill, making certain I would leave here today. Wasn’t that enough?
When one of the double doors shifted, I lowered my gaze, but I didn’t need to see to know when Malyr entered the room. I felt his presence in the tension crackling the air, the way the light died from my surroundings, the chill that settled in the room.
It was his shadows.
They drifted around him and toward the window beside his desk, blocking the light of the sun, the warmth of its rays as they dipped the entire library in dreary gray. More terrifying were those black tendrils that slithered across his face, seeping into and rising from his skin, at times drowning one eye in pitch like some sort of monstrous disease.
That couldn’t be a good sign…
Captain Asker took in the prince’s state, bit his upper lip as if to confirm as much, then lifted his chin in the direction of the envoy. “You stand in the presence of Prince Malyr of House Khysal, only living son of our late King Omaniel and rightful heir to the throne of Vhaerya.”
A presence that caused the priest to stumble back under the mumble of prayers. Even Captain Theolif visibly swallowed as he cast a concerned look over those shadows that seemed to radiate away from Malyr, but he stood his ground.
“Prince Malyr, I am Captain Theolif,” he said with a hesitant bow. “I stand before you on behalf of Lord Brisden, and I speak in his name, so we may negotiate terms.”
My ears pricked at his choice of words.Negotiate terms?But had Father not agreed to the exchange already? Why else send an envoy? Gold?
“Negotiate?” Malyr lifted a brow, the fact that he and I shared confusion was nothing short of disconcerting. “Your lord must have mistaken me, Captain Theolif, for the terms I laid out are irrefutable.”
“The Lady Galantia in exchange for our Raven,” Asker clarified with a strong step forward as he folded his arms behind his back, letting his black-armored barrel chest push out. “If Lord Brisden wishes to see his daughter returned, you will agree to the terms as laid out by Prince Malyr.”
The way Captain Theolif’s gaze sought out mine, his brows downcast and his jaws stiff, dug a hole into my sinking stomach. Why was he looking at me like that?
“It was not my choice, my lady,” Captain Theolif mumbled beneath his breath, but it dulled none of the foreboding dread that made itself a home where my heart should have beat. Should have. “Lord Brisden refuses the return of your Raven. Perhapsyouhave mistakenourlord, Prince Malyr, for he came to understand the true value of your woman. How she was the key to every battle you have won, every stronghold you have taken. Releasing such a valuable Raven is not in our lord’s best interest.”
Such a valuable Raven…
Realization cleaved through my jumbled thoughts, letting memories of past conversations pour out of them in a cacophony of voices. But of course… How could I have been so stupid? As his mate, Marla had strengthened Asker’s gift of visions, making her essential in all of his military strategies, hadn’t she? I’d never stood a chance against someone so precious.
Amid the shock, my gaze sought out Malyr, whose face was framed by a black tangle of shadows that darkened those eyes he held fixed on me. Hate and disappointment sat in the depth of them. Still, it would never reach the amount of hate my parents had for me. How could they do this to me? Why did they resent me so?
Malyr turned away and strolled toward the window, staring at a wreath of dried daisies that hung from a nail, the petals curled. The longer his focus remained on it, the more his shadows slithered and writhed like black snakes from his raven strands. How long until they would lash out at me once more?
“Lord Brisden also commanded me to relay this.” Captain Theolif cleared his throat. “Should you attack Tidestone, Marla will die.”
Asker lifted his hand to the pommel of his sheathed sword, but his breathing remained even. “What does your lord want? And do not propose that we release his daughter for three trunks of coins.
“These are no mere trunks of coins. For these…” Captain Theolif gave a wave at the heavy things, “are the Lady Galantia’s dowry.”
My blood froze over. “What!?”
Sebian settled a hand on the small of my back, steadying the dizzying shift in my upper body as the floor seemed to pull out from underneath me. This couldn’t be happening. No, no, no. Not that!
“My lady, your lord father proposes your betrothal to Prince Malyr,” Theolif said with a calm certainty that turned my legs weak and wobbly. “Such a union will benefit both the House Brisden and the House Khysal. It is our lord’s hope that the alliance forged from it will allow Prince Malyr to let bygones be bygones. So we may all reconcile on past conflicts and offen—”
Malyr’s bursting laugh silenced the room and my heart right along with it. I’d never heard the man make such a sound, and that he did so now was nothing short of terrifying. The way Sebian stiffened beside me and Asker gripped the pommel of his sword harder only confirmed my shudder-inducing notion.
I set my pleading gaze on Captain Theolif. “Please, do not make me marry him. Anything but that. Anyone but him.”
My knees shook under the weight of my body, my fears, the premise of a lifetime at Malyr’s mercy. My soul wouldn’t survive it.
“Reconcile on past conflicts and offenses,” Theolif finished as he held my stare, then he looked over at Malyr once more. “In return, you, Prince Malyr, can rely on Lord Brisden as your bannerman in your war against King Barat. We may discuss the release of your Raven at a later point.”
“No!” I shook my head so frantically, my brain ached behind my temples. “Please, I beg of you, don’t give me to him.”
