Page 31 of Anwen of Primewood (The Eldentimber #2)

Moments after I say the prince’s name, there’s a small chorus of whispers in the crowd.

“Galinor?” someone calls out. “The prince who cheated in the marriage tournament?”

Laughter and jeers erupt from the crowd. Galinor’s jaw hardens, and all the color drains from his face.

“I heard he paid an archer to win the events for him!” a man hollers.

A woman laughs. “I heard the princess paid the archer to win the tournament for him.” She steps forward, raking her eyes over Galinor. “Not that I can blame her.”

“You want this man?” Dimitri says to me. There is so much disgust in his voice, I think I may slap him.

“They’re right,” Galinor says to me, his voice low. “And this man—he loves you, Anwen.”

I grab his arm. “They’re not, and he doesn’t.”

Galinor takes my hands. Somehow, I block out the roar around us. He leans close, his eyes locked on mine. “This is what you want—what you wanted from the beginning. You can be with him. Don’t settle for me.”

My eyes sting, but I refuse to cry. “Stop.”

The prince yanks me into his arms, crushing me against his chest in a painful goodbye. “You’ll be happy,” he whispers into my ear, and then he steps back, turning to Dimitri. “Her father is cursed. You will give the stone back so she may take it to him.”

It’s not a request.

“I didn’t know.” A shadow crosses Dimitri’s face. “Of course I will.”

Galinor nods, obviously unable to hear the lie in Dimitri’s words.

“Galinor, no!” I say, irritated this time.

“You can have everything, and your father will get his stone back.” He searches my eyes, trying to make me understand. “I’m not going to stand in your way.”

“I won’t be happy without you.”

“You don’t want me,” he says wearily, gesturing to the crowd as if they’ve already proven his point. “Goodbye, Anwen.”

Dimitri wraps his arms around me so I won’t dart after Galinor.

I glance at Pika. This would be an excellent time for her to attack Dimitri, but she seems bewildered by the chaos.

Dimitri clutches me tight. “You’re confused, and I’ve hurt you, but I promise I will fix everything.”

Dimitri holds a drink out to me. “This will make you feel better.”

I snort. “You really think I’m going to drink something you’ve had your hands on?”

Dimitri purses his lips so hard they go white, and he works to hold back his temper. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m sorry?”

“How many times do I have to tell you I don’t care?” I lounge across the furs on his cot, stroking Pika. I look away and sigh with disdain. I do it just to frustrate him further.

It works.

“Why are you being so difficult? What do I need to do? Beg?” Dimitri falls to his knees and grabs my hand. “Grovel?”

Entertainers are nothing if not dramatic.

I eye the stone hanging from his neck. “Give me the stone.”

He freezes, and his face goes carefully blank. “You want it now?”

“If you’re sorry, then you’ll show me by giving it back.” I lean forward, my eyes boring into his. “If you truly love me, you will prove it.” I smile, letting my words fully sink in. “Let it be a token of your affection.”

He drops my hand and stands with his back to me.

“What’s wrong, Dimitri?” I ask. “Did you never intend to part with it?”

He whips around. “I need it for just a little longer.”

“Of course you do.”

Dimitri sits on the bed, his eyes wild. “I have debts, Anwen. I must pay them. ”

I narrow my eyes. “What does that have to do with my stone?”

He grabs the chain around his neck. “In the time I’ve had this, it has brought in more money than we made the entire last season.”

“So, you’re saying once you’ve made enough to pay back your debts, you’ll give me the stone?”

He nods, his expression easing as though he’s relieved we’ve come to an understanding. “Yes. I promise.”

The lies fall from his mouth so easily; it doesn’t surprise me I fell for them at one time.

“Fine.” I wave him away. “You may leave.”

“You are in my tent,” he says, trying hard to keep his words even.

I turn to Pika and stroke her again before I meet his eyes and say slowly, “I don’t care.”

Dimitri’s gaze lands on the cat. Though she makes him nervous, he has a greedy glint in his eye. Knowing Dimitri, he already has plans for her. After all, who wouldn’t want to see a tame glasseln?

He flashes me a flirtatious smile, and he runs a finger along my collar bone. His voice silky and dark, he says, “I had hoped we could be as we were before.”

I match his tone, leaning forward. “I had hoped you wouldn’t steal my horse and leave me alone in the woods. Sometimes we’re destined for disappointment.”

The anger he’s been so careful to mask shows on his face now. He yanks his hand back. “Why can’t you forgive me?”

“Is it true you found out about the changeling stone while you were in Vernow? ”

Dimitri’s eyes go wide, and his face becomes ashen. “Who told you that?”

“And that you searched me out just so you could get it?”

Dimitri shakes his head, his jaw locked. “I don’t know who told you that, but they were lying.”

“No, Dimitri. You lied to me.”

“You are not the same girl I met in Primewood,” he sneers.

“Perhaps I’m not, but it’s your fault.”

He growls and stands. Without another word, he strides from the tent. My feigned indifference crumbles as soon as he’s gone, and I bury my face in Pika’s fur.

I was a fool to think I was in love with Dimitri. I now know what love feels like—and at the moment, it feels like pain and despair, longing and loss. But as mad as I am at Galinor for leaving, I just want him to come back.

“Lady Anwen?” someone calls from outside the tent.

Two men enter, and both look at Pika uncertainly. The taller man steps forward. “Dimitri has asked us to collect the glasseln so she can be fed.”

“Absolutely not,” I say. “She goes nowhere without me.”

“You may come as well,” the man offers, his voice a little too smooth.

I know there’s a trick somewhere, but I’m not sure what it is. I won’t let Pika go off alone, but if she doesn’t go, they might not feed her.

“All right,” I agree, and I attach the lead to her collar.

I let Pika out first, and the men follow behind me. Pika sniffs the air and then immediately goes to a small pile of meat near the tent. It’s not enough for a full meal, and I’m about to tell them as much, when an arm goes around my neck, cutting off my air.

Pika eats happily, not realizing what’s going on behind her. The other man grabs the lead from my hand, and my attacker drags me back into the tent. My vision begins to swirl with little black dots.

“We won’t hurt her as long as you cooperate.” The man releases his grip just enough I can gasp in a breath.

“What are you doing with her?” I demand.

“We’re locking her up,” he answers. “We can’t have a wild animal chasing Dimitri out of his own tent.”

“Dimitri is a snake,” I spit out. “I swear the next time I see him—“

I don’t have to wait long because he walks in. I lunge at him, but the other man holds me back. Though I kick and scream, he doesn’t let me go.

“Do you think this makes me happy?” Dimitri asks, frustrated. “Do you think I want it to be like this between us?”

“Tell him to let me go, Dimitri,” I hiss.

Dimitri motions for me to be released. The man tosses me on the cot and steps away before I can turn on him. He leaves when Dimitri dismisses him.

I stand and straighten myself. “I’m leaving. Give me the stone and bring me back my cat.”

Dimitri comes forward and rests his hands on my arms. “I can’t let you do that, Anwen.”

“What is this?” I throw my hands in the air. “First you leave me, and now I’m your prisoner?”

“Of course not,” he says, trying to soothe me. “But you’re so distraught right now; you don’t know your own mind.”

“I will never love you,” I snarl.

His eyes are hard, and then he begins to morph forms. I recognize the motion—I’ve done it enough myself—but what he changes to almost brings me to my knees.

Instead of Dimitri, now Galinor stands in front of me.

I squeeze my eyes shut. “Stop it!”

“Perhaps you’ll like me better like this,” Dimitri demands, his voice changing with the rest of him. He shakes me, his fingers digging into my skin. “Is this what you want?”

“Stop!”

His voice, his words—I know it’s Dimitri, but it sounds like Galinor, and it’s terrifying.

He grabs the back of my head and attempts to kiss me. I wrestle to get away, screaming, and then he slaps me.

I stare at him, shocked he actually hit me, and as I do, he freezes.

“Touch her again, and I will kill you,” a hard voice behind Dimitri promises. “Let her go.”

Dimitri steps away, revealing Galinor—the real one—standing behind him. His sword is pressed against the scoundrel’s back.

“Galinor,” I gasp. “You came back.”

My knees are about to buckle with relief, but, somehow, I stay standing.

Galinor’s eyes meet mine, and I have to work hard not to run to him. I’m not sure what Dimitri will do if I bolt. He still has the stone.

Galinor meets my eyes. “I should have never left. ”

My heart stutters, and I swipe away tears that have gathered in my eyes.

“They have Pika.” I turn to glare at Dimitri, who has thankfully changed back to his regular self.

Galinor smiles. “Not anymore.”

“You can’t have her,” Dimitri spits out, motioning to me. “Anwen is mine.”

“She was yours. Then you left her,” Galinor answers. “Take off the stone and hand it to her.” He puts a little more pressure on the sword for emphasis.

Dimitri turns to me and glares. “I would have given you everything.”

Behind the anger, there’s pain in his eyes.

“You tricked me. You lied to me. You made me think you loved me!”

“I do love you!” he yells, his face red.

I step back, startled. “This isn’t love.”

Apparently, we’ve pushed him too far. He wraps his fingers around the stone and clenches his jaw, and I know from his grimace it’s going to be a large change.

“Watch out!” I yell, but I’m too late.

Dimitri’s eyes grow large first, but the rest of him follows quickly behind. He screams in rage and agony when the transformation from man to ogre is complete. Startled by the change, Galinor loses his concentration for a moment. That short time is all Dimitri needs to attack in his new form.

I scream, which is useless, but I can’t stop myself.

Galinor recovers quickly, and he darts to the side just in time. Dimitri barrels past him and into a tent support. The tent crashes down around us, and the fabric falls over our heads.

“Anwen!” Galinor yells.

Knowing I can’t have Dimitri find me first, I scramble for a way out. I finally find the edge, and I slip underneath.

I had hoped Dimitri would still be tangled in the fabric, but he’s out and already going after Galinor.

Dimitri is massive, but Galinor is skilled.

Now that the initial shock has faded, he moves quickly and without hesitation.

But as I watch him, I can’t figure out what he’s doing.

If Galinor is trying for Dimitri’s neck, he’s doing a poor job. Horrified, I study his moves.

He doesn’t mean to kill Dimitri—he’s going for the chain the stone hangs from.

Around us, spectators and performers watch the fight with wide eyes. Several have gone off screaming that an ogre has invaded Triblue, but the others don’t seem to care where the ogre came from—they just want a good show.

Having decided the ogre form isn’t working, Dimitri changes again. He yells as he sprouts feathered wings and then leaps into the air. The crowd screams and backs away from the griffin. Several cheer, probably thinking this is a magnificent staged act.

Galinor watches patiently, waiting for Dimitri to strike.

He seems more unconcerned about this form than the last. Dimitri finally dives.

Galinor narrows his eyes, planning his attack, as he studies Dimitri circling in the air.

When Dimitri is so close I think he’s going to claw Galinor’s eyes, Galinor’s blade meets Dimitri’s wing .

Dimitri falls to the ground, and Galinor stands over him, his sword pointed at the animal’s chest.

“Change back,” Galinor demands. “And fight me like a man.”

The crowd murmurs.

The insult is too great for Dimitri’s pride, and slowly the fur and feathers disappear as he transforms back to human. He clutches his arm and blood pools from the wound, more grotesque on the man than it was on the griffin.

Galinor motions for Dimitri to stand. “Get up.”

Dimitri’s face twists in rage, but with Galinor’s sword pointed at his chest, he has no choice.

“Someone fetch this man a sword,” Galinor says, his voice even but deadly.

It’s only moments before a man from the crowd deposits a sword in Dimitri’s hand. Galinor retracts his blade. “Do you know how to fight?”

Dimitri screams and charges Galinor. It’s what the prince expects, and he steps aside, leaving Dimitri stumbling into the air as the crowd laughs. Dimitri rights himself. Again, he swings the sword at Galinor, but Galinor easily blocks it.

The display goes on until Dimitri is so winded he can barely move. I’m almost embarrassed for him.

Finally, Galinor takes pity on the man. He knocks Dimitri to the ground and places his sword next to his throat. “It’s over. Give me the stone.”

Breathing hard, Dimitri scans the crowd. When he finds me, he shakes with fury. His eyes lock on mine as he takes the chain from around his neck. Galinor moves the blade away just enough Dimitri can remove the changeling stone.

I breathe a sigh of relief once it’s over Dimitri’s head, but then he smiles and grips the stone in his fist.

My blood goes cold.

“Dimitri, no!” I yell, but it’s too late.

The man I thought I loved smashes the fragile stone on the ground. I scream and fall to my knees. No one around me understands what he’s done—no one but Galinor.

Dimitri gloats in his victory, screaming a battle cry of glee even though he’s at the end of Galinor’s sword.

Galinor tenses, his muscles twitching as he fights to control his rage. Through clenched teeth, he says, “From this point on, you will stay away from Anwen.”

Dimitri leans over and spits on Galinor’s boot.

The crowd collectively gasps, and I stare at the men, wondering what Galinor will do.

The prince leans down, his sword still trained on Dimitri, and uses the man’s vest to wipe his boot clean. “You don’t want me for an enemy. Do you understand?” His voice is eerily calm, and even the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

Slowly, he retracts the blade and sheaths it. He comes to me and pulls me off the ground. The crowd parts as we leave Dimitri bleeding in the Triblue square.