Page 91

Right. A year to him likely meant nothing.

I sighed. “So, where does that leave us? My people are still stuck beneath Oberon’s rule. Val and my mother are still lost in the mists.”

He tucked a finger beneath my chin. “You’re right. I will continue to help you find your family, and you can make your choice on what to do after that. I release you from our deal.”

A rush of magic coursed along my arms.

Frowning, I glanced at them. “What was that?”

“I release you from our deal,” he repeated, his voice low and dark. “Repeat the words, and you’ll be free to make your own choices once reunited with your family. You may leave this continent behind or you can stay and train with me. It will be your choice, and I will not make it for you.”

Heart pounding, I gazed up at him. “You’re really doing this.”

He nodded.

“But…” I hated that I even dared ask this. “If I say the words back to you, how can I be sure you’ll still help me find Mother and Val?”

A flicker of pain went through his eyes. “I suppose you’ll have to decide if you can trust me, Tessa.”

I gazed up at him, my lips parted, tension wracking my body. Could I trust him? He’d lied to me, about who he was, about why he wanted the gemstones. But that had been before I knew him. How could I not believe him now, at least about this? He was offering me freedom to go anywhere I wanted. I could do whatever I liked. It was a freedom I’d never had. One that meant I fully decided my fate, even if it was one that did not involve him or his plot against Oberon.

He was letting me go, if I wanted to run.

“All right,” I whispered. “I release you from our deal, too.”

Another wave of magic skittered along my arms. The tension in my shoulders loosened its grip on me, and the tight noose of the vow burned away to ash. I was free. It was done. Our deal was over. Kalen sighed and stepped back. My hand dropped away from his chest.

He gazed down at me, though his eyes churned with worry. “This is for the best.”

“I’m still going to kill him.”

“After you’ve trained more,” he countered, following me back to the blanket beside the hearth.

I settled down and folded my legs beneath me. “Maybe. It’s my choice, after all.”

“Tessa,” he warned as he joined me.

I shot him a winning smile. “What?”

“I thought you agreed you need more time.”

“I do.” I knocked his shoulder with mine. “Maybe you’ll even train me with the actual Mortal Blade instead of my dinky wooden thing.”

He glanced my way, his expression unreadable. “Hmm.” And then he changed the subject. “I’m curious. You rebelled against the king’s orders in other ways. Substantial ones at that. Why not with sex?”

I nearly choked. I hadn’t expected him to suddenly ask aboutthat.

Face heating, I focused on the fire. “Maybe if I’d met someone who made me want to rebel in that way, I would have. But I grew up with all the boys in the village. I didn’t see them that way. I tried kissing one of them a few times. Aidan was his name. But I just didn’t feel anything. And all the older men…they reminded me of my father.” I swallowed hard. “There was no one else.”

“I see,” he said quietly, his eyes gleaming.

I wet my lips. “I’m guessing it’s difficult for you to relate to. You’ve been around a long time. You’re…not unattractive.”

He chuckled at that. “High praise.”

“And you’re a powerful king,” I added. “You must have…”

“Fucked a lot of people?” he asked.