Page 90 of The Chains You Defy

“Go on.”

A bead of sweat ran down Naya’s temple, and the urge to grab her, to drag her to safety, and to protect her from all harm became a painful pressure squeezing my lungs, stealing my breath.

“When he brought me to the crypt he picked for the rite, he still wore his Glamour, and I didn’t have any reason to suspect he was anything else but a magically gifted human. Only a few weeks prior, I’d discovered that King Pritatus is keeping the general populace blind to the existence of Wielder. I would never have guessed that he’s also hiding a whole other world and species. His Royal Highness must have expected I’d never agree to bind myself to him if he admitted to his true heritage and his intentions to bring me to his own world. I only learned of his motives when refusal had been too late. If I had anticipated this outcome, I’d never have accompanied him to Amalach.”

Who would have imagined that Nayana was such a good liar?

Speechless was a state I rarely found myself in, but I was so surprised by how straight she’d kept her face and how her voice had wavered as her eyes glossed over during the absolutely perfect part of her speech. Her delivery had been immaculate, and without even knowing, she’d picked the only explanation that portrayed my behavior in the way my grandfather demanded of me.

“And after the rite, Eachtrannach? What is your stance on your situation and on my grandson now?”

“At first, I was shocked. Then, dazed and confused. To leave my world behind—”

Naya cast her eyes to the ground, trembling for a moment, in what I hoped was the act of her lifetime.

“Apologies, Your Royal Majesty. Although I made my peace with all the changes, I can’t stop missing my home.”

“Quit stalling. Your sensitivities are insignificant to me.”

Oh. Hm. Well.

No, I would never use this phrasing again, not only because I’d subconsciously picked up the habit from Galrach, which caused bile to climb up my throat, but also because my blood boiled at how he’d belittled her emotional state without a second thought.

Something inside of me hardened, and my head grasped what my heart had comprehended already.

There would be no wallowing in sulkiness anymore, no woe-is-me, no worlds’ smallest pity party.

If this tiny woman could stand before the cruel High King of a world where everything was stronger and more dangerous than her and laugh in the face of said danger, lying despite having no illusion of what would happen if she got caught, I’d fight not to fall back into old patterns.

Something had to change. And come the time, I would be Galrach’s downfall. This pathetic male, this schemer and abuser—he would pay.

For the first time, those dark promises weren’t empty but full of determination.

My lungs expanded with the resolve I’d gained thanks to her. My female—the bravest being in both worlds.

“Dionadair insisted on my acknowledgment that I have only advantages with this connection. He—”

“Enough.”

My grandfather cut her off and turned his attention back to me. Nayana was an unimportant nuisance to him.

“Be it as it may, Scriosta. Your careless neglect is resulting in a missed opportunity for you to demonstrate my superiority. The courtiers are gossiping and speculating about whether you are still the faithful servant of Galanta that you used to be. There needs to be damage control. So, as announced, I will host a ball on winter solstice in your honor, and your new acquisition will be revealed to my subjects. A reminder of the crown’s strength is necessary. Which means you will treat the festivities as a prospect to strengthen the might of my reign and to remind each and every one why we are feared.”

I couldn’t recall how often I’d stood in front of him, forced to listen to the exact same fucking phrases again and again.

“As you wish, Your Royal Majesty.” Forcing myself to bow my head so he wouldn’t suspect a thing, I swallowed around the spikes of fury blocking my throat.

Soon, soon.

There had to be a way.

“Danartha volunteered to accompany you to the ball, and on your behalf, I accepted her gracious offer.”

“My Emperor, since the celebration is held in honor of my binding, wouldn’t bringing my Amplifier as an escort be the wiser choice?”

“Scriosta, please. An Eachtrannach will never be a suitable companion during official High Court functions. Your little pet can attend if she must, but the Breocharn will freeze over before I allow you to humiliate me. That thing on your arm would send the wrong message, don’t you agree?”

“Of course, Your Royal Majesty.” The pitiful rest of my composure threatened to slip away under the blazingfires of my temper. An ancient presence deep inside begged to be freed, but I clamped the impulse down.