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“The feeling is mutual.” I stayed on my knees, eyes locked with hers, daring her to do it. Daring her to plunge that blade into my chest. “Go on then, you coward.”

“Fuck you!” Her voice broke, her chest quivering as she tried to breathe. “I just want to be free of you!”

“And I of you!” I bared my teeth at her. “You fucking witch, invading my fucking dreams.”

Her eyes widened and she stumbled backwards. “Wh-what?”

I rose to my feet. “You heard me. You and your wicked Fae magic. Stay out of my head.”

She shook her head adamantly. “No, no,you’rethe one, you, you’re fuckingevil.”

The guards had all assembled at the edge of the training ring, completely absorbed in the scene unfolding before them. They began to murmur to each other and Elara looked side to side, brushing her long pale hair from her face before looking back at me.

I rushed at her, and she dropped her sword as my fingers dug into her arms. “Stay out of my head, or I’ll tear that pretty head ofyoursclean from your body, do you understand me?”

“I said don’t touch me.” She writhed in my arms. “Get the fuck off me.”

I lowered my mouth to her ear. “I told you, I don’t want you in my dreams.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!” Her eyes were wild as she thrashed in my grasp. “You’rethe one sending me depraved fantasies of fucking me in a tavern. You fucking pig.” She spat in my face.

I shoved her away from me and she hesitated for only a moment before she ran from the arena. The guards all craned their necks to watch her leave, then turned back to me.

“What the fuck are you all looking at?” I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth, feeling the blood that had started to dry there. The guards dispersed, back to their posts.

She was lying. She had to be. She was trying to trick me. But that look in her eyes, that hopelessness. That defeat. And thatfear. Either she was a very good actress or it was real. I ran a hand across my chest, across that humming warmth. Gods, what the fuck was this?

I went back to my chambers, slamming the door behind me and wishing I could make this entire palace disappear. I stalked the length of my room for far too long, trying to make sense of it. Trying to understand.

But there was no understanding of it. And even after I went back out into the hot sun, even after I punished my body with more training, even after the sunset and I dragged my aching body back to my chambers, I still dreamed of her.

Chapter5

Elara

“You’re trembling.” Drusilla’s eyes met mine in the mirror as she finished pinning my hair up into soft curls.

I looked down at my hands, which were pale and cold in my lap. I shook my head, not meeting her gaze. “I’m alright.”

“What happened to the Fae who gave the king guff in a throne room full of Velesians?” Drusilla’s warm hands clasped my shoulders. “Hmm? Last time you were going to meet the King you strode out of here with your head held high and now you’re a quivering bundle of nerves.”

“I’m fine. Really. Just tired.” I gave her a weak smile, and her concerned gaze moved from my eyes to the purple bruise around my neck.

“Tired. Yes.” She gave my shoulders a maternal rub, and my stomach wrenched. It took all my strength not to throw my arms around Drusilla’s waist and cry into her skirts. I wanted nothing more than to have my mother hold me, to stroke my hair and tell me everything was going to be alright.

But instead I blinked away my anguish, taking a deep breath as a knock sounded at the door.

“She’s coming!” Drusilla called, wringing her hands as she looked at me. “Now, if I may give you some advice - no sass. I can see that you’ve perhaps had the sass beaten out of you, but if you want to do what I think you’re about to do, putting up a front won’t get you far with the king.”

I nodded, wincing at her words. “Yes, of course.” I swallowed hard, trying my best to give her a confident smile but I could feel my lips trembling as I approached the door. The sass had well and truly been beaten out of me.

“The King is in the library,” the guard said over his shoulder, already heading off down the cold passageway ahead of me. I fell into step behind him, rehearsing over and over in my head what I wanted to say to the king - that I no longer wished to be anywhere near Rook.

Rook. I’d dreamed of him, of course. The same heady, passionate dreams I’d had every night. He’d held me and kissed me and bitten my neck, his tongue moving over the bruise his hand had left behind in our waking hours. He’d whispered apologies and told me how perfect I was as he kissed my scars. He’d told meYou’re mineover and over again, until the words pursued me from sleep as I’d woken, sobbing into my pillow.

The Rook from my dreams and the Rook who’d tried to kill me were oceans apart.

Suddenly we were at a large double door, and the guard pushed it open, holding on to the brass handle as he jerked his head.