Truthfully, he wasn’t all dark. Just . . . mostly dark. Him relishing the thought of torturing Vorl reaffirmed that.
But the thought of what Cailis would think of me if I fell for him . . .
My hands tightened into fists. “I could never truly desire you, and I certainly can’t marry the male who killed my family.”
He stilled and lifted his head. A moment of silence passed between us, and then another. Searching my gaze, he finally said, “Do you trust me, Lara?”
I frowned. “Trust you? Of course not. How could I possibly trust someone who wants to torture another?”
His arm around my waist tightened. “Can I trust you?”
My frown deepened. “What in the realm are you going on about now? What does trust have to do with anything?”
His jaw clenched, and something flashed in his eyes before he veiled it. He gripped the sink behind me, caging me in as he leaned down.
My entire body grew rigid, even more so when his nose brushed lightly against my neck again, then his tongue darted out for a taste.
I shivered, and a sound of satisfaction rumbled from his throat. “Even though you fight me, your body doesn’t. You’re primed for me.”
I shoved against him, hard. Tormesh. Mother. Father. Tormesh. Mother. Father. “Let. Me. Go.”
His jaw clenched until the muscle in the corner looked so sharp it could cut through glass. With a rough inhale, he finally released me.
I jerked my chin up as my heart hammered. Every fiber of my body was coiled. Ready. My magic hummed with a vengeance in my gut even though I had no idea how to use it, while my core ached with desire for him. I wanted to stab myself.
But even though I had no rational explanation for my body’s fiery response to him, I did know one thing. I was the maker of my destiny, even if the king and the crown prince were trying to rule my fate. I would find a way out of this—Trial or no.
I crossed my arms and concentrated on controlling my breathing. “Again, why are you here?”
Nostrils flaring, he replied, “I’m here to take you to Harrivee Territory. There’s something you need to see.”
CHAPTER 2
Cailis sat wide-eyed on the bed when the prince and I returned to the living area.
“I need to get dressed,” I said briskly to Prince Norivun.
He leaned against the wall and hooked a foot around his ankle. “Don’t let me stop you.”
I glared at him. “Why don’t you keep Sandus company in the hallway, and I’ll let you know when I’m ready?”
“Do you need me to ring for Daiseeum?”
I rolled my eyes. “Do you really not know how to put on a tunic and a pair of pants without someone’s help?”
His lips curved. “Five minutes. Then I’m coming back in.” With that, he strolled to the door and let himself out.
The second the prince was out of the room, Cailis leaped from the bed. “Blessed Mother Above and Below, what in the realm was that?” she screeched. “Do you want to get yourself killed?”
I rummaged through the wardrobe, searching for the lilac-colored tunic the castle tailor had made for me. “Prince Norivun won’t kill me.”
“He’s a murderer, Ilara. He’s the Death Master of the continent. Of course, he will kill you!”
“You’re wrong. He won’t because I’m too valuable.”
Her forehead scrunched up as I shimmied out of my nightclothes, then pulled on my underthings. Smoothing her forehead, she did a once-over on me. “You’ve gained weight.”
I shrugged. “And you will too. They have far too much food in this castle while everyone else on the continent is starving.”
She looked down at her thin limbs and hollow stomach, then seemed to remember what we’d been discussing and snapped her head up. “And what was with that weird argument between you two? What happened on a balcony?”
“You heard that?”
“It was kind of hard not to. You two were practically shouting at each other.”
A flush worked up my neck as I slipped the tunic over my head. It didn’t fit quite as snuggly as it had before, which told me Daiseeum had made good on her promise to have the tailor return and let out my clothes now that I wasn’t skin and bones. I smoothed the fabric over my waist and hips. It fit perfectly.
“Well? What happened?”
“I don’t know,” I finally said when Cailis began to tap her foot.
“Yes, you do.”
I spun away from her and grabbed a pair of black leggings. “He’s insane. That’s all you need to know.”
“Well, obviously he’s demented, but you don’t actually want to win this ridiculous Trial. Right?”
I hated the hint of doubt that crept into her tone. I hated that she truly thought I was capable of having feelings for a male who’d done what he had to not only our family but to countless others. But then something the prince had once told me flashed through my mind, about how he didn’t enjoy killing fae but did what was necessary.
But is that even true? He certainly looked delighted at the thought of murdering Vorl.
I finished dressing—pulling on a pair of supple leather boots before grabbing the fur-lined purple gloves the prince had purchased for me in Pentlebim’s market.
I snuck a peek at my sister before mumbling, “For what it’s worth, he may be horrible, but he’s not quite as evil as we both thought he was.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What does that mean?”
“I’m just saying that he’s not purely evil, not as we always assumed. I have seen some good in him. He won’t hurt me or you. I’m sure of that.” I cringed. “In all honesty, I have found myself enjoying his company on occasion.”
A flash of betrayal pierced her eyes.
“Cailis, I’m sorry.” I quickly grabbed her hands and squeezed. “I know what he did. It’s atrocious that I don’t despise him even more now that I’ve met him, but—” I didn’t know how to explain it. There was something about the prince, something I’d seen hints of that told me there was more to his story than I was aware of. He wasn’t purely evil. Capable of doing evil things, yes, but I didn’t think he enjoyed it. Well, maybe he would enjoy it with Vorl . . .
Cailis’s lips thinned as she ripped her hands free and gripped my shoulders. “He just talked about torturing a male, Ilara. Have you lost your mind?”
“You don’t even want to know how many times I’ve asked myself that very same question.”
She shook her head. “What’s gotten into you? Have they influenced you? Poisoned you? Blessed Mother, have they cast a love potion on you?”
“A love potion?” I snorted. “Are you serious? I don’t love him. I’m just saying he’s not as horrible as we thought.” I waved my hand at the Exorbiant Chamber. “He’s not keeping me in the dungeons, is he? And he let me write to you. Don’t you see what I’m saying? He’s not purely evil.”
She crossed her arms, then arched an eyebrow. “He murdered our parents, Lara. He murdered Tormesh. Why do I need to remind you of that?” Disgust rolled across her features, and for the first time in our lives, something else did too. Disappointment.