Page 54

FIFTY-FOUR

RUNE

THE INTERROGATION ROOMS WERE inside the palace prison. Luckily for Rune, she’d seen a prison map two months ago, aided by Alex, when they’d been planning to break Seraphine out. That plan had never come to fruition, but the map was still inside Rune’s head. Where it could aid her now.

She couldn’t cast Ghost Walker . Without her casting knife, or something sharp, she had no way to draw the blood required. Rune was about to make a detour to the kitchens when someone stepped directly in front of her.

“Rune?”

The prince blinked, as if surprised to find her here. He looked disheveled and exhausted.

“Soren?”

Had he ridden here from the front lines?

Rune, who’d been hoping for his return, was suddenly annoyed by it. Now that she’d saved herself, he’d come and planted himself directly in her path.

“Thank the tides you’re safe.” Soren’s voice was quiet. Tired. “I feared the worst… how did you get free of that brute?”

As he closed the distance between them, she realized they hadn’t seen each other since Gideon’s “kidnapping” in the bridal shop.

“Soren, I—”

Before she could fill him in and reveal Cressida’s plans, he pulled her against him and planted his mouth on hers.

All of her senses recoiled at once.

No.

Pressing her palms to his chest, she shoved him away.

“Soren.” She gasped for breath. “There’s something you need to know.”

“Come now, darling.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I had half my army out looking for you. I was worried sick…”

He reached for her again, his fingers brushing her cheek.

Rune flinched and turned her face away.

“Stop.”

He frowned. “What is this?”

“This,” said Rune, motioning between them. “Is over.”

His face darkened. “Should I remind you of the deal we made?” He moved toward her. Rune stepped back. “ You , for all this.” He waved at the palace halls around them. “Cressida has her throne, which means you belong to me now.”

Anger flickered in Rune’s belly.

Why in the world had she believed this man would deliver her from anything?

“Cressida has no intention of letting you have me,” she said. “She’s using you. She uses everyone. You and I are just pawns in her game. The night we met? You didn’t run into me. I planted myself outside of your opera box. I arranged our meeting, my lord. Because Cressida needed your army, and she knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me.”

His nostrils flared. “You little deceiver…” Again, he moved toward her. Again, Rune stepped back, keeping just out of reach.

He was backing her toward a corner. She ducked, trying to dart around him, but he grabbed her throat and shoved her hard against the wall. Her back flared with pain as her wounds reopened. Her vision went bright white.

She felt his free hand pawing at her bodice. Felt the fabric tear and the dress loosen around her chest.

“I always get what I’m owed,” he said.

The pungent smell of him was everywhere. His touch made her want to curl up into a ball. She felt sick, knowing what he was about to do.

Stop him.

But how? He was bigger, stronger. She had no way to cast a spell.

He’s a soldier. He’ll be armed.

She glanced at his hip. Sure enough, there was a pistol holstered there.

As more fabric ripped and Soren lost himself to his lust and rage, Rune reached for the gun.

She turned off the safety and cocked it.

Gideon’s voice flooded through her, calming her, helping her focus: If someone tries to hurt you, and there’s no other way to stop them, don’t think twice. Just shoot. Got it?

Lifting the gun to Soren’s head, Rune fired.