The females released collective sighs of relief as their parents’ discontented demeanors turned prideful.
Sir Featherton bowed smugly. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”
The king cast a side-eye my way, but then his attention drifted to my wingless back, and his interest withered as he returned to the three before him.
As though knowing the Trial had begun to become the prince’s betrothed, the three females all eyed Norivun. They wore masks of curiosity, interest, and even possession. The one in the purple—Lady Georgyanna Endalaver—practically looked like a colantha herself, even though that wasn’t her affinity, but she kept casting feral glances at the other two females, as though sizing up her competition.
“How many affinities does the crown prince have?” I tried to ask Nuwin lightly, but that throbbing sensation had grown in my stomach again. I felt hot. Itchy. And seeing these females look at the crown prince as though they wanted to mate with him right here and now . . . It felt like fire flooded my veins.
“Six,” Nuwin replied.
My head snapped back. Six? I sputtered, then coughed lightly to hide my surprise. Six affinities. I’d never heard of anyone that powerful in all of my life.
“And your mother?”
“Five,” Nuwin replied.
I glanced at the queen, who seemed so harmless and docile. To think that the female possessed that kind of power.
“And the king?”
“Only two, hence, why he sought out my mother.”
As if sensing that we’d been talking about him, Prince Norivun cast a side-eye my way. His eyes were bright. Raw.
My heart beat harder and harder until blood thundered through my ears. Why was he looking at me like that? And why was I suddenly wishing that these three females would vanish?
“I need some air,” I said to Nuwin, discreetly removing myself from his side.
“Ilara,” Nuwin called, reaching for me. “Wait!”
But I’d already slipped past him and headed toward the doors that led to the ice topiary maze.
Nobody paid attention to me as I wove through the crowd. It seemed that the court’s fickle interest in me had already passed, given the arrival of the three new females.
I slid by everyone as that throbbing sensation grew in me more and more. Air. I needed air.
I burst through the doors, barely having the wherewithal to ensure they closed behind me, and then I was running across the cobblestones toward the maze as the first firework appeared above me. The celebration was beginning. The prince was to marry. And all I could picture were those three beautiful females with unrivaled power all vying for the prince’s hand.
He was to marry one of them.
And I was to be his slave. His slave to prevent a war.
Air. I need air. I can’t breathe.
I sucked in breath after breath, but no matter what I did, the fire inside me grew until it felt like I was burning alive.
Another firework burst above me and then another. Voices carried to me, and I realized the throne room doors had spilled open, and the attendants were coming out to enjoy the show as they commenced the beginning of the Trial that would determine the prince’s fiancée and eventually the next queen to the Court of Winter.
I quickly moved behind an ice sculpture so nobody would see me, then pushed away from the sculpture and took off around the maze. Nuwin called for me again, but I didn’t stop.
The laughter and conversation carried on behind me as more and more fireworks exploded above while the crowd jeered and roared their approval.
Run. Just run.
I careened around a corner and was about to start searching for the prince’s private wing when a dark figure emerged in my path.
I skidded to a stop, my feet sliding across the slick cobblestones, and I nearly collided with the stranger when strong hands enclosed me. Familiar hands. And then a scent hit me. A scent that I would know anywhere.
Cloves and tobacco.
Terror slid through my veins as I gazed up at my village’s archon. Vorl smirked, his dark expression highlighted by another burst of fireworks.
I tried to pull back, tried to make sense of how he could be here and now. This couldn’t be happening. I must be dreaming.
“Let me go!” I proclaimed, as memories of the seasons of abuse that I’d suffered under this male’s hands reared within me.
“I think not.” His hand shot up, gripping me by the throat before he pinned me to the maze’s wall.
I clawed at him, trying to free myself as that throbbing sensation grew and grew inside me until it felt as though something were about to be born, unleashed, or awoken, but I couldn’t breathe. I had no air.
No air.
Vorl winced when my nails raked down his skin, but I didn’t cut him deep enough for him to let me go.
“I wondered what he did with you,” Vorl hissed as his mouth met my ear. He pushed his large body against mine as his wings extended, blocking his activities from anyone who might happen to walk by. His erection speared my abdomen, his excitement at what he was doing evident.
“Wa . . . why . . . here?” I choked out. Thrashing, I clawed at him more as he lifted me, dangling me above the ground.
“Why am I in the capital, or why am I here pursuing you?” With his free hand, he scratched his chin, his cruel mask telling me he was relishing his show of power. “I’m in the capital because a courier arrived in our village earlier this week, stating that the crown prince requested Cailis’s presence at the Court of Winter. Naturally, as our village’s archon, I felt it was my duty to accompany her to ensure she had safe passage. And what can I say. I’ve missed you, sweet Ilara. I wanted to see you for myself.”
He pushed into me again, and his tongue shot out, tasting my skin.
I wanted to gag in disgust, but I couldn’t breathe, and my thoughts turned with rapid fire to my sister. I hadn’t seen her.
“Where . . . Cailis?” That burning sensation grew even more in me until it felt as though a volcano was about to erupt from my core, but it was just on the precipice. There, but not within reach.
“She’s probably in her chambers, waiting until the morning to seek you out as she was directed by the castle staff when we arrived. They said you were busy this evening but would be free in the morn.” His eyes narrowed, taking on a predatory gleam. “Imagine my surprise when I saw you tonight, parading alongside the crown prince as though you’re something special. And I see that you commissioned a fairy who actually has strong enough magic to glamour your hair.”
He leaned in closer until his hot breath wafted over my skin. “Do you really think that will hide that you’re defective? Doesn’t your wingless back already say that? Or is that how you won him? Have you whored yourself to him as you pretended to be something you’re not? Is that why he’s so enraptured with you?” Vorl’s hand tightened more around my throat. “And to think you never gave me that sweet cunt between your legs. But did you give it to him?”
His hand locked down harder. So incredibly painfully, much tighter than he ever had before.
A gurgling sensation came from my throat, and then nothing at all. My windpipe was crushing. Closing completely. I was going to die. I knew it. I couldn’t fight him. I never had been able to.
Stars danced on the edge of my vision as I pictured Cailis waiting somewhere within the castle, then I pictured my parents and brother.