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“I could have married her if I wanted to. I didn’t want to, but I had to keep her content in the meantime. Your emotions are compromising the mission, Cal. Of course, that means the Daughter of Katia’shumanfather must die, and soon, because now I need to pursue herhumanmother to make up for your impending…inadequacies.”

My eyes bored into him, but where there had been fear at the end of my gaze in the past, there was none. Just arrogance.

“You’re going to bury your aunt in the Backwoods. No one will think to look for her among the poorest of Eserene’s dead.”

“I’ll do no such thing,” I snarled.

Castemont cocked his head, as if in challenge. Daring me. “We’ll tell people she returned to Anicole.”

“And you think they’ll believe that?”

“They will,” he continued. “I’m a well-respected member of the Court. Why wouldn’t they believe me?”

“I willnotlay her to rest in the Backwoods.”

“The main cemetery is far too conspicuous.” He took a step forward, eyeing me. “You wanted anonymity. You’ll use it to bury her in the Backwoods.”

I lunged. “Youbastard–”

“Ah,” he cut in, shaking the vial of my blood, taunting me with my destruction. He slipped the vial back in the pocket of his surcoat, a vicious smile twisting his features as he surveyed me. The smile deepened. “Bow to me,” he whispered.

My brows furrowed as the words entered my brain, almost nonsensical. “Excuse me?”

The smile remained on his face, caustic and mocking. “Bow to me.”

Fury greater than anything I’d ever felt climbed up my spine. “You’remad.”

“I give the command, and you’re a ghost,” he repeated, patting the pocket that held the power to ruin me.

Where I had been pulsing with resolve just minutes before, I was now drowning in desperation. I clawed at the banks of a bottomless river, frantically looking for anything that could save me from the current that was dragging me under. But there was nothing. Every single bit of any kind of salvation was planted just out of my reach.

Shoulders back, jaw tightened, I had no choice but to lean into a stiff bow.

“Lower.”

Every muscle in my body tensed at the command. I lowered myself to my knees, every movement painful. The papers strewn about the room were now the only thing separating my hands from the marble floor.

A low, sinister laugh sounded through the study. “I own you.”

Chapter 32

Two Years Ago

I forgot the sound of her voice. There were some days I thought I could conjure up an echo of it. A memory of a memory. But it was never enough.

“You get in, you collect Solise’s things, and you get out. You are not to speak to Petra. Do you understand?”

I hated the way he said her name, like he was sullying her just by speaking it. Rage vibrated within me as I nodded at Castemont. I had to beg him to let me do this. I needed to see her, to hear her voice again. The glances from afar were not enough. Castemont’s half-assed assurance was not enough. I needed to see with my own eyes she was okay.

The sole reason he wasn’t forcing me to kill her now, at this moment, was that he didn’t trust me to be alone with her, and a lord being caught at a murder scene wouldn’t bode well.

“Do you understand?” he repeated more forcefully.

“I understand.”

He stood a little taller and straightened his surcoat. “I’ve already killed Calomyr. I won’t hesitate to kill Belin, too.”

My breaths were shallow as I placed the helmet over my head to hide my face. I wore full armor along with it, everything from chainmail to gloves to two swords at each hip and two more across my back. I looked just like Tyrak, just as I’d intended. The only difference was the height. Tyrak was tall, but I was considerably taller. She’d have to notice the height difference.