Page 61 of Blackheart

I’d never experienced someone who was so clearly wanted, wanting me. I was ashamed of the rush in my dark veins at the thought.

“King Clarke doesn’t have a sister,” I said. “Everyone knows Xavian Steele is his only bastard sibling.”

He leaned forward, the ring still rapidly spinning on the table. “Have you always been a liar? Or is it a recent development?”

He didn’t give me a chance to respond before pushing forward. “Or maybe you have no idea yourself. Have you noticed any special treatment in recent months? Or even before that?”

Riven. Lord Ansel. The Nightcastor in the Pearl. Did all of them know?Either way, it was not something a Sapphire should know.

“I’m a Blackheart, if you haven’t noticed. People treat us like shit.” That was the truth.

His eyes rose to meet mine in defiance. “I wouldn’t.”

The smack of a book slamming cut through the rigid tension. The dark-haired woman seethed in her seat, poorly pretending to pick a new book to read.

He either didn’t know she existed or didn’t care enough to spare her from this conversation.

Hail drummed against the tent. Not even a dip or dent as thuds of ice pounded on the roof and slid off the sides. It was the one time I was thankful for blood magic.

“I don’t know Xavian Steele. I have no interest in your kingdom or its problems. In fact, I hope Lestivia caves in and takes your father with it. And lastly, I would never marry you,Sapphire.”

“I thought we were on a first name basis now?”

“You thought wrong.”

“I see,” he said, looking at his entourage. He waved his hand, dismissing them. The woman slammed her book shut once more and was the first to leave.

Once it was just me, the blood prince, and the sound of hail, he left his seat and moved to the chair beside me.

He was so close, I could kill him. I wouldn’t survive another five minutes after that, but I could end his life. But that would not end the war; it would probably make it worse.

Payn’s gentle hand steered my face towards his.

“Understand this,” he began. I swallowed, unable to look away from eyes full of fear and warning. “War is no place for pretty things.”

Leaning into his hold, I whispered, “It’s a good thing you’re ugly.”

Amusement tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That woodland village was pleasant, wasn’t it?” he taunted.

My face fell. The Sapphires left a trail of destruction everywhere they went.

He traced his thumb along my jawline. “I did not care for Zain touching you. I was going to handle him myself, but you were so intriguing to watch. Beautifully done, really.”

My hands shook. The village. Sitara.

“What did you do?” I asked breathlessly.

“War is no place for my girl. If I let you leave, every village you come across will be burned and drained just like the last. So many lives lost, just for you.”

“No...”

They were dead. Every single woman I’d saved—freed from their cage, just to be slaughtered. A warm tear rolled down my face, hitting the floor like black ink.

His lips tightened. If I hadn’t already been certain he was the worst person I’d ever met, I’d think there was remorse in his eyes.

“Don’t cry.” He wiped the tear away. No gloves. No fear.

I waited for the poison to burn his finger, but it never did. He leaned back, observing my Nature on his finger before licking it clean off.