Page 150 of Cursed Evermore

“Of course you are, and it doesn’t bother you because you and your children would be free to rule Galaythia in a stewardship once they came of age with the added bonus of a deeper alliance with Thalyrius.”

I would never be king of Thalyrius, even through marriage, since titles were inherited through birthright and blood. But if I had a son with the princess, he'd get that legacy. And I would still be cursed, still trapped in this endless darkness.

“It's interesting to me that you've thought so much about the benefits I gain.”

"Of course I have. None of the other members of House Nightblade would benefit in any way. Just you." I had four aunts who had children who were more suited to the benefits of leadership than him and his no-good brood. But they would have to fall in line even more if such a union was made with Thalyrius.

“I assure you, while I can't complain, my wellbeing is not my sole priority. I'm simply looking at the bigger picture. You willdo the same.” He stood, straightening the cuffs of his robe, and glared at me with cold authority. “I've invited King Paeulyn and his eldest daughter, Princess Seraphina, to attend my name day celebration next week. If you value what little power and assets you still have control over, you'll ensure you get to know the princess.”

My vision went red around the edges, my hands curling into fists beneath the table, as white-hot fury blazed through my veins. Every muscle in my body coiled tightly, ready to spring. Every instinct screamed at me to lunge across the table and show him exactly what happened to those who dared manipulate me. But I forced myself to remain seated.

My fucking hands were tied behind my back.

One wrong move, and he'd have the excuse he'd been waiting for to take away thelittle power and assetsI still had. I needed those to help me find the ring.

So, instead of killing him, I gripped the arms of my chair, suppressed my darkness, and let the silence stretch between us.

Dreynthor waited for me to comment, but I remained quiet, watching him with untamed fury I was barely managing to hold back. My silence seemed to piss him off and amuse him in equal parts.

He smirked, looked me up and down, and gave me a crude stare. “Heard you have a new house guest. I dearly hope the little red-haired half-mage won't be a problem. I hear she's quite lovely.”

My blood ran colder than the lethal temperatures of the ice islands.

Motherfucker.Mere hours, and he already knew about Elariya. He wasn't even bothering to hide the fact that he had his spies watching me. I only hoped they hadn't seen too much.

“She won't be a problem.” I only answered because it might help keep him away from her.

I waited for him to elaborate, to reveal the extent of what he knew. When he didn't, I pieced together the obvious—since the ship was cloaked, his spies must have been stationed at Vyrenth Hollow and witnessed Elariya's arrival with the others.

There were cloaking wards woven into the manor walls through blood magic, tied to my ownership of the estate. No one could step inside unless I invited them. Dreynthor had never crossed that threshold, and he never would. But that didn’t stop him or his people from lurking on the grounds.

He was a Nightblade, after all. All Nightblades, and those granted leave by one, were free to walk the grounds, though never to enter the house itself. A courtesy of my grandfather that now turned against me.

“Why is she at your home, Wolfe? Don't you already have a mage?”

“She's training under Arielle's care.” I'd practiced that line so much in my mind it was easy to say it, regardless of my inner turmoil.

“I hope that's all it is.” His answer assured me for now that he was still in the dark, right where I needed him.

I didn't answer. I was done talking. So was he.

Dreynthor turned away and phased into the air, disappearing in a cloud of mist like the coward he was.

I gritted my teeth and slammed a fist into the table, releasing some of that bottled rage burning my soul.

Fuck. I hated being controlled. And I despised Dreynthor with every inch of my soul.

Things would only get worse from here onwards. Not better.

I had to find the damn ring. Ihadto.

No future existed without it. More importantly, I had to find the ring before I unleashed death on my uncle and lived to regret it.

Night had fallen by the time I made my way back to Vyrenth Hollow. I'd spent the last few hours with Alaric and Bastian, checking that things were in order with my unit and conducting a full sweep of the entire kingdom, the outer lands, and trade routes.

I placed my best-skilled warriors at the watch towers of the busiest villages and cities and briefed my spies with orders to watcheveryone—especially Dreynthor and his lackeys.

The last thing I did was tie up some very important loose ends from the mortal realm.