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“Yes, well, not all of us are blessed with so many years to waste away, and we must make the most of the time afforded us.”

“By dying.”

His mockery and incessant disregard of Harran’s suffering made something snap inside of her. “We all die. All the magik in the world won’t save you or your kith from fate. Your years may be longer than ours, but they are numbered just the same. Life isn’t a game, Jake. It isn’t something to play at orendure. It is agift,coveted by those who would give anything to still have breath in their lungs—breath you and your kith take for granted.I don’t have timeto take it for granted. Every second counts for me. And you… you have so much time and all the resources in the world, yet you whittle them away on drink andgamesthat cause the rest of us pain and suffering.”

Her words were met with a silence so profound that she could hear her own heart beating a strong and unsteady rhythm in her chest.

Jake’s gaze sharpened and fixed immutably on hers, and the goblet stilled in his hands. “If I recall, your people have long benefited from mine.” His tone was low and edged with something wild and dangerous.

Despite her better judgement, Raquel did not back down. “And we pay for thatbenefitinblood. What I want to know,Your Grace, is how you intend to usemine?”

Before Jake could answer, or murder her outright, a piercing shriek echoed through the night. It was the same sound she’d heard earlier when Jake and his company had escorted her through the mist and dead trees.

Jake shoved himself from the chair and reached the window in two strides.

Raquel stood. “Whatisthat sound?”

There was a knock on the door, but it proved only a perfunctory warning. The door swung open, and a large Forest kith man stormed through. Raquel recognized him from her escort, though she didn’t know his name.

He stopped just inside the door, where he bowed and cast Raquel a sideways glance. “Your Grace. Apologies for the interruption, but you are needed at the gate.”

If Raquel had thought Jake dangerous before, he looked predatory now.

The man’s expression faltered beneath Jake’s lethal stare, and he added, quietly, “You know I wouldn’t have interrupted if it weren’t absolutely necessary, Your Grace.”

“That is why I ordered five of you here,” Jake said through his teeth. “So thatIwouldn’t be necessary.”

The man lifted his gaze. “Five are not enough.”

Jake stilled, and something passed between the men. That horrible shrieking sounded again, closer this time, then Jake cursed and strode for the door.

Raquel strode for the door too.

Jake spun on her. “No.” He was all fire and authority, and Raquel shrank back on pure instinct. “You will wait here until I say otherwise.”

He continued after the other Forest kith man, who waited at the door.

“I am not a dog that you can order to sit and stay,” Raquel said after him.

Jake stopped at the door and looked back at her, but there was nothing friendly in his gaze. “Correct. You are my bride, and I am your prince, and you will do exactly as I have commanded.”

He ducked through the door.

“But you can’t just—” Raquel ran after him, but the door slammed in her face. She reached for the handle, which suddenly glowed and burned fire-hot. She jerked her hand back on reflex, hissing in pain as that handlemeltedinto the door and frame, trapping her behind it.

Raquel slammed her fists upon the door. “You conceited—heartless—Ah!”

But Jake was already gone.

5

Jake watched the metal leak into the door’s joints, sealing Raquel behind it. He heard her fists slam against wood as she screamed, “You conceited—heartless—Ah!”

“Determined little thing,” Rian murmured.

He had no idea.

“I’ll admit,” Rian continued. Jake could now hear Raquel pacing on the other side of the door. “I didn’t believe Marix when he said the mortal was in your chambers. I thought you werewaiting.” Rian’s last word baited.