I cross my arms over my chest to hide the slight tremble in my hands. “I’m not sure what you mean. You could have my parents killed as you did with Devlin. So why is the fact I’m no longer fighting you a concern? What do you want from me? Do you want me to beg for my parents’ lives?” A bitter laugh escapes me as I meet his stare. “I’m not foolish enough to believe you care for their well-being outside your machinations. So what do you want me to say to you?” I glare at him, hoping my anger is believable.
Still studying me, his eyes soften, and his words lose their sharpness. “I do not wish to harm your parents, but you left me little choice but to cast threats, just as Devlin and the male in Grager left me none.”
My brows furrow. “Male in Grager?”
His lips thin as if regretting mentioning it. “No one speaks against you or anything I consider worthy and continues living. The death of such a male is of little consequence to this world.”
My head draws back, lips parted on a sharp inhale. “You killed him?”
Niethal stands straighter and rolls his shoulders back, holding his chin high. “Anyone who openly shares contempt of what isminedeserves whatever end they meet.”
The way he saysminechills my blood. I step away from him. “I am not athingto be owned, Niethal. I will never belong to you, no matter what you do.” The words fly off my tongue before I could think better of it.
He blows out a long breath and steps closer. “You are already mine and have been for some time.” A thick ring of silver swirls around his irises as he places a hand on the small of my back again. “Come, let’s get you to your room.”
I pace my room, wringing my hands. If Niethal knows anything, he isn’t saying, and I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.
At the very least, he knows I want to escape. But with my parents’ freedom as ransom, he knows I won’t risk their safety.
Damnit.
I can’t stay and open both the borders and Anaeris, essentially dooming the humans of Esmarae by handing him the bloodstone and whatever other relics are in the vault.
My magic writhes, begging for release, so I form a fireball and roll it in my hands. The warmth is a soothing caress that reminds me I’m no longer weak. If I can—wait, no—whenI get out of here, I’ll get my parents from their home before Niethal does. He doesn’t get to own me, the relics, or Esmarae. He may think he always wins, but not this time.
I continue pacing and rolling the fire, allowing the flames to intertwine between my fingers, flowing and coursing as they please. The orb shrinks until it’s the size of a button, blazing an intense white. The heat is so tremendous my forehead beads with sweat.
“Now,that’simpressive.” His voice breaks the silence in the room, and the fireball expands before imploding, sending a heated gust of air through the space. I whirl around and find Isiah leaning against the balcony door.
“How did you get in here? My room is three stories up.” I step around him and peer over the balcony railing to verify that the ground is, in fact, a long way down.
“Yes, I had to get creative.”
“That’s impossible.” I turn from the railing to face him, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation.
He bounces lightly in place and grins. “You see, Mikal found some rope, and Liam is exceptionally strong.”
The thought of Isiah climbing from another room makes my stomach churn.
“You could have fallen!”
“I could have, but I didn’t, and look where I am now.” He opens his arms wide, and I step into them, inhaling his scent and relaxing. His chin rests on the top of my head. “Falling is the least of my worries with you.”
“What are we going to do?” I shouldn’t involve him in my mess. It’s not on him to save me. I need to get away from here, and if he comes with me, Niethal will hunt us both. He may need me, but Isiah would just be in his way.
“We are in this together. I will follow if you run, so don’t think about it.”
Pesky bond.
“Not fair to listen in when I’m unaware. Let’s agree to announce when we are dropping in.”
“Agreed. Apologies, my queen.”
I snort and smack his chest. “I am no queen.”
“Aren’t you? You are the last magic-wielding heir to the Anaeris line. It seems you are important to many of the fae right now.”
My head flinches from his words and what they mean. “I don’t want to be. The only thing I want is to get away from here, from Niethal. I’m not even sure what the ritual is or if I can do it.” Isiah stills beneath me, and I pull back to peer at him. “What? Do you know what the ritual involves?” The slight downturn of his mouth makes me uneasy. “Tell me.”