“Say something!Anything! Just stop looking at me like that.” I balled my hands into fists, preparing to fight if I needed to. I couldn’t pretend he was someone else when I knew the truth, the whole reason for his being there—even if no one else believed me.
“He can’t.”
I jerked around as Ari emerged from the shadow of a pillar by the doorway, its inner light spilling into the garden. Hard lines edged her mouth, and she crossed her arms, glancing briefly at the golems and back to me.
“What?”
“He can’t say anything, child. He’s mute.”
My eyes widened, shifting back to my tormentor. He dipped his head, confirming her words.
“You said you vetted him,” I accused, narrowing my eyes.
“Yes. His condition is due to an old injury. It’s not hereditary, so Lilitha overlooked it. As for vetting him, he communicates using signs with his hands and had an interpreter before he came here. The interpreter didn’t come with him, though, as he couldn’t leave his family.”
How convenient.
“Either way, that’s not important.” Ari sighed, taking a step closer to me. “Why did you run?”
“Why are you here? Withhim?” I countered, crossing my arms.
“Your mother is furious,” Ari continued. “You dishonored her and you dishonored Ryker. I volunteered to try and salvage the mess you’ve made and brought him along so you could explain yourself and apologize.”
I took a deep breath. Of course Lilitha was mad—I’d run away like a coward and shirked my duty.
“Kaleah. You’re aware that the assassin has been caught. You have to give Ryker a chance to prove to you he’s not who you think he is,” Ari begged, coming to a stop beside me.
My lip curled in defiance and I lifted my chin. “No—”
“Ka—”
“Don’t interrupt me,” I fumed, done with being walked all over on this matter. “First off, I’m aware thatanassassin has been caught, but that doesn’t mean it was the right one. Second, I will do everything you and my mother require of me. I will spend whatever time I have to with this man you have chosen to give me to, and I will be bonded to him if I must. But don’t ask me to try and accept him for something other than the assassin he is or get close to him or learn to care for him. I can’t and I won’t. Besides, I doubt it’ll take long for his true nature to present itself. Maybe then, when you’re placing my cold dead body on the funeral pier, you’ll see I was right. Not that my life even matters, save for the inconvenience it’ll be to mother and you—”
“Kaleah!” Ari snapped.
I stared, breathing hard.
“Don’t youeversay your life doesn’t matter,” Ari said, her voice like ice. “I love you more than life itself, and if I could, I would gladly trade places with you.” She shifted closer, placing her hands on my shoulders. “I know this is hard for you, and I hate that such a burden has fallen on your innocent shoulders, but please, Kaleah, Ineedyou to trust me. If you let him, maybe you can even learn to be friends.” Her eyes bore into mine, and I regretted the pain I found there. Pain I’d caused.
I glanced over her shoulder at Ryker. He didn’t move, simply stood there as still and imposing as ever.Fine—I nodded for Ari’s sake—two can play this game. If he was going to act all calm and innocent, then so would I. But just as I’d given him the courtesy of not underestimating him, he would be smart to offer me the same. I may have been submissive and weak to my mother’s desires and to my people's needs, and yes, I would give my life for them, but that’s where I drew the line. I would not give my life to this evil man and his selfish desires. If he thought killing me was going to be easy, he had another thing coming. Maybe he would think twice before killing me, if I could beguile him into loving me instead.
5
Unpleasant Expectations
IstoodoverRyker,clutching a bloody knife in one hand, his still pulsing heart in the other. He stared up at me, his hands pressed to the gaping wound in his chest.
“You should have left while you still could,” I growled.
He slowly rose to his feet, hatred once again filling his feral eyes. He stepped toward me, and I staggered back. How was he still alive?
“I’ll never leave.” He lunged forward like the predator he was. I tried to run, but his blood-coated hands twisted around my throat. “And you’ll never be free.”
I choked, his grip like steel. He didn’t release, even when I plunged the knife into his forearm.
A wicked smile spread across his face, and he bared his teeth. “Did you really think you could steal my heart, Princess?”
My lungs burning, stars spiraled in my vision, his golden eyes like pits of fire as he pulled the knife from his arm and plunged it into my heart.