Page 49

“If you give me your word to set my sister and husband on the path home—unharmed in any way—then I pledge myself to you. You will have my obedience, my power, and strength to do with as you see fit. We will take the three countries together.” She added her final sentence for good measure, knowing it was the one thing he wanted most.

“Quite the proposal you are making.” Filip leaned forwards. “How do I know you won’t betray me?”

“It is a matter of trust, after all.” She crossed her arms over chest and forced a nonchalant energy into the air. Despite how difficult it was, she would not give him the satisfaction of knowing the turmoil tearing at her insides. “You have the lives of my loved ones in your hands. ”

“Rightly so.” He cocked a brow. “Little, sweet Tihana. Yes, I could send her back to the squalor of Aramoor. Her whingeing and crying are most tedious.”

Adelina ground her teeth. “What of my husband?”

“He is another matter altogether. Without him here, I will have no way to guarantee you will hold up your end of the bargain.” He stretched in his chair, oozing an air of confidence and control.

She was submitting herself to him, and he could do whatever he wanted with her husband. “He will remain here.”

“I implore you to reconsider.” She sat forward.

“Make me a better offer.” His words were sharp like a knife.

She rootled in her pocket, grabbed the talisman, then threw it onto the desk. Lowering his head, he stared at the necklace.

“You took it off,” he said.

“Yes. I am no longer restricted by this piece of metal. Destroy it if you must, but know I have full access to my powers, and you know what that means.” Her heart pounded.

She prayed it would be enough to influence his decision.

There was no way she’d be handing over the Sword of Light.

Not unless he held a knife to her throat. And even then…

“Very well.” He rose abruptly. “You may return to your original quarters, but guards will be stationed with you at all times. You understand.”

Fighting the urge to throttle him or launch a candlestick at his head, she nodded.

He called to the three guards in the foyer, who entered the office at his command.

“Keep a watchful eye on Miss Adelina Orlova. She is not to be let out of your sight at any time. Before she bathes, ensure all windows are barricaded, and remain positioned outside the door. Escort her to and from her chambers, for meals, and bring her to me when it is requested.”

The guards nodded.

“You.” He lifted a finger to the tallest of the three guards. “Bring Tihana and Damir to me at once.”

The man slipped out of the room.

Turning, Filip shifted his gaze to Adelina, and a slight smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. Tense silence hung between them—their gazes locked. Adelina refused to lower her own.

Moments later, the guard returned with Tihana and Damir in tow—their hands bound with rope. Damir’s head hung forward and his body sagged. The guard shoved him into a nearby chair.

Tihana dashed to Adelina and flung her arms around her waist. “Sis, what are you doing?”

“I’m sending you home.” Adelina stroked her sister’s back while watching Filip for any sign he may change his mind.

“I’ll arrange for a horse for you, and you’ll be on your way,” Filip agreed.

Tihana glanced over her shoulder but clung to her sister. Her bottom lip quivered.

Smoothing Tihana’s hair, Adelina flicked a glance between her barely conscious husband and his captor. “And what of my husband? He needs medical attention.”

“Ah, he does.” Filip clomped his hand on Damir’s slumped shoulder.

Damir grunted but didn’t try to shove him off .

“I am prepared to keep up my end of the deal, Filip.” Adelina enunciated the syllables of his name harshly. “Let him go.”

Filip gestured to the guard. “Take Tihana to the stables. Put her on the path home.”

The guard moved towards her.

“No, I’m not leaving you,” she squealed, squeezing Adelina’s waist.

Adelina swallowed her anger, and instead, smoothed her sister’s hair in an attempt to sooth her nerves.

“She cannot ride to Aramoor alone and without food. It will take her two weeks to reach home,” Adelina said. Her blood ran cold as ice. “Providing she doesn’t get lost.”

Filip waved his hand as if the subject was of no concern to him. “Fine. The servants will give her a bag of food and a map. Now get her out of here.”

The guard gripped Tihana’s shoulder and plied her from her tight grip of her sister. She screamed, tears rolling down her face.

“You need to send Damir with her,” Adelina urged as she lunged for her sister. She grasped Tihana’s arm and held her tight. The guard pulled her other arm, trapping Tihana in a tug-of-war. “It is part of our deal.”

In a swift movement, Filip drew a knife from his pocket, gripped Damir’s body against his, and held the blade to his throat. Black shadows poured from Filip’s limbs like sharp talons, wrapping around Damir’s body and puncturing his skin. Damir swallowed a grunt of pain.

So, that’s what nether looks like .

Adelina grimaced, and her heart pounded. Her husband was too weak to fight back, and even if he was at full strength, how would he fight against the power of nether? He couldn’t.

“Let the guard take Tihana away or I will slit his throat,” Filip said through gritted teeth.

Adelina froze—blood drained from her face and a sickly sensation somersaulted through her core. “Lower the knife.”

“Let. Tihana. Go.” Filip enunciated each word as sharply as the edge of his knife.

Unable to swallow her emotions any longer, Adelina’s trembling hand let go of her sister.

The guard hoisted Tihana off the floor and flung her over his shoulder. He strode to the door as Tihana thrashed and kicked against him.

“Be strong, Tihana. I love you.” Adelina managed around the lump in her throat as the guard dragged her sister out of the room. Her cries rung through the hall.

Although her heart bled, and every fibre of her body urged her to wrestle her sister free of the guard’s firm grip, Adelina needed to let Tihana go. She blinked back tears. It was the only way she could guarantee her safety.

“I’ve done as you said. Lower your weapon.” Adelina’s body coursed with the burning sensation of astral magic firing through every vein, nerve, and cell.

A spell which will draw on the eternal power of the Sun God, strong enough to combat ancient magic, only a practitioner of astral may wield it.

Just like before, a gold wisp of light weaved around her wrist, hovering above the skin’s surface. Like sparkling, golden embroidery, it glowed, pulsing with magic. She flexed her arm, fixing a deathly stare on Filip. “I said let him go.”

He tutted. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Without your talisman, your magic is uncontrolled. You promised you would be subservient, and now I ask you to prove it. Dissipate your magic or I will slit his throat.”

Adelina, feeding off the high her magic gave her, let the gold embroidery brighten, surging with power.

“I will do it.” Filip gripped Damir tighter, pressing the tip of his blade into his neck.

A bead of blood popped from the surface, and Damir winced.

“Just because you fled the palace and married this man, does not mean my plans are thwarted. I could kill him now. You’d be a widow, and there’d be nothing stopping me from making you my bride. ”

Adelina’s rage flared like a beast inside her, eager to rip through her body and bolt all its energy into her enemy.

The notion of marrying him, of conceiving his spawn made her sick to her stomach.

But the thought of losing her true love, Damir, was even stronger.

She lowered her arm a fraction, but the magic didn’t dissipate.

“Adelina.” Damir’s raspy voice ripped her icy stare from Filip, back to him. “My love.”

His words sent shockwaves through her heart, and she could no longer hold back the tears.

“It’s okay,” Damir said soothingly. “I’ll be all right.”

She dissipated her magic, and the golden embroidery vanished, leaving blisters on her wrist in its wake .

“Damir will stay as my prisoner to ensure you keep your promise. Any toe out of line and I will take my frustration out on him. Or I might get Pyotr to torture him.” Filip shrugged as if the decision was as simple as choosing what to wear.

Adelina had forgotten about Pyotr—the neighbour she’d known for most of her life. He’d threatened her father, burned his workshop to the ground, and had become Filip’s accomplice.

“Where is he?” She seethed, bunching her hands into fists.

“Now, now.” Filip’s tone was condescending at best, vicious at worst. “I’m sure you will see him soon. But remember, best behaviour.”

With a callous grin, he grabbed Damir, hauled him to his feet, and practically threw him to the two remaining guards. Damir crashed to the floor.

“Take him back to the cells,” Filip demanded.

The guards pulled Damir to his feet. He cast a glance over his shoulder as they towed him towards the door.

“I love you,” Damir said as he was carted out of the room.

Biting hard on her bottom lip to prevent herself from shouting at Filip, Adelina swatted her tears away and straightened.

“Now I’ve proven I can keep up my end of our little deal, it is time for you to keep yours.” Filip strolled to the desk—an air of ease about him—and slid into his chair. “Take a seat. We must discuss strategy.”

“For what?” Adelina lowered into her chair. She feared the answer he would give, but deep down, she knew he meant war .

“How I plan to lay siege to Saintlandsther and Temauten, of course.” He grinned. “With you and your uncontrolled magic in my possession, and me at my strongest, the countries will fall. Now there is only one more thing I need to succeed.”

“What?” she managed. Her stomach twisted.

“The Sword of Light.” He crossed his arms and leaned back. “Bring it to me.”