Page 154 of A Fate in Flames

He studied me, searching for something.Maybe a sign of a lie.But my calm façade must have been convincing, because he reluctantly nodded.

“Fine, but don’t take too long.”

Relief washed over me as the pressure around my throat eased.

Tavrik disappeared into the trees, the sound of his footsteps fading until there was nothing but the whisper of leaves in the breeze.

I should’ve left too.Should’ve turned my back and pretended to have heard nothing.I should’ve run as fast and as far as my legs would carry me.

Instead, I walked straight into my own destruction, feet carrying me back toward the ceremonial grounds, drawn like a moth to a flame.

He was waiting.

The robed men were gone, leaving only Dalkhan, bathed in golden light, illuminating the hard planes of his face.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as I stepped into the clearing.

Nine days of hell…

“Have you lost your mind?!”His roar shook the very foundations of the earth beneath my feet.“Bow!”

The command struck like a whip.I dropped my head, my braid falling forward as every muscle in my body locked up with terror.

His footsteps were thunderous.

“Why were you here?”

I kept my head bowed, my breathing shallow and quick.“I… I went for a walk with Tavrik.”

His grabbed my chin, his touch scorching, but tilted my face up with surprising gentleness.

Nine days of agony…

Our eyes collided and for one heartbeat, something cracked in his expression.

Then fury devoured it whole.

“You’re lying,” he said softly, more terrifying than any shout could be.“Tell me the truth, or I’ll drag it from you.”

Tears burned in my eyes, blurring his face.Not just from fear.From everything.From the impossible choice before me.From the heat of his touch, both terrifying and thrilling.

“I’m not lying,” I whispered, a tear trailing down my cheek.“I swear it.”

His grip tightened, eyes narrowing as they searched mine.Then he shoved me away, as if the very act of touching me disgusted him.

He turned his back.He was leaving.

No.

“Dalkhan, wait—”

The words hardly left my mouth before he whipped around, wrapping a hand around my throat and lifting me clean off my feet.

I clawed at his wrist, but he was unmovable.His grip burned, fire licking my skin as he slammed me against a pillar.The impact exploded through my back.

“Do not say my name!”he snarled, his face inches from mine.“You no longer have the right.Not after what you’ve done.”

Tears spilled freely from my eyes, wetting his fingers.“I’m sorry,” I choked out.“Please… I can’t… breathe.”

For an eternity he held me suspended between life and death, his eyes searching mine for something I couldn’t give him.