Page 32 of Queens

“Why?”

Aziel explains. “The bracelet tracks your location, and it prevents you from leaving Wrath’s or Lust’s borders.”

I rip my arm back to my chest, attempting to remove the bracelet, but it’s too late. It’s attached by magic, and I have no idea how to work around that.

“It’s been charmed so only we can remove it,” Aziel explains.

There’s no way he’s serious. I continue tugging at the bracelet, but it’s not budging. I spare a glance at Valeria’s and David’s wrists, my anger boiling as I realize they’re wearing identical ones. They’ve been trapped, too? Did they not find it appropriate to warn me before I gave Silas my arm?Fucking assholes.

“You can’t do this,” I say. “I’m an adult.”

Silas clears his throat. “All three of you are to wear these until you’ve proven that you won’t ever attempt something so foolish again.”

I scoff. That’s fucking ridiculous. I am not some animal to be tracked and chained up within the confines of my parents’ kingdoms. I turn, making eye contact with Mom, but her steely expression tells me she’ll be no help. Gray is the same.

I thrust my arm toward Silas.

“Take it off,” I demand.

“No.”

“Take it off, Silas.”

“No, Cassia.”

I’m going to lose my fucking mind. “I am the future Queen of Wrath. You can’t treat me like this. The people will never respect me if they—”

Aziel interrupts. “I’d get that assumption out of your head,” he snaps. “You are nowhere near ready to rule Wrath, and after this exemplary display of thoughtlessness you’ve shown, I’m not sure you’ll ever be.”

What? My lungs deflate, and I take a moment to wrap my mind around his words. He might as well have just stuck a knife into my heart. Wrath is my birthright. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. Everything I’ve ever done has been for our kingdom.

I refuse to sit here and listen to this shit.

I shove back my chair, not caring that the wood splinters underneath me, and teleport to my apartment. It drains my remaining strength, but I don’t care. I’m not going to listen to one more word of this.

Chapter Fourteen

CASSIA

I DON’T LEAVE my bed. Days pass. I rot.

I can’t bring myself to go outside and face the people of Wrath. I can’t face the disappointment and disgust I’m sure they feel for me now, and I’m horrified at the thought of them finding out that I’ve been chained within Wrath’s and Lust’s borders.

Earning their trust has been an uphill battle. They believe too many things have been handed to me, that I’ve had too easy of a life and don’t deserve the power and responsibility that comes with leading Wrath.

It’s humiliating to discover that Aziel agrees with them. The countless hours, days, months, and years I’ve poured into proving myself have been for nothing.

David and Valeria stop by occasionally with food, but they’re smart enough to be in and out. They don’t stay, and they sure don’t try to strike up conversation. I do occasionally hear them whispering to themselves, the bastards bickering about whether or not to approach me.

They want me to get out of bed. I’m an immovable boulder.

Every morning, I attempt to teleport beyond the Wrath border, and every morning, I fail. Whatever magic Silas infusedinto the damned bracelet is strong, and there’s no way around it. It must alert Silas, too, as he appears shortly after each attempt.

I hate him.

—————

I yank my covers over my head, hiding from the sunlight. I could shut my blinds, but that would involve getting out of bed and I don’t have the mental capacity for such movement. I don’t have the mental capacity for much of anything, and there’s no point pretending I do.