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I hear him utter a curse before the swinging door clatters behind me. He catches up with me in seconds, but we don’t speak as we navigate the dim hallways. I turn on him as soon as we’re back in his chambers. My anger has abated slightly, and I decide to take a slightly more diplomatic approach because there’s no way I’m going to a naked ritual . “Sitri, there must be something you can—“

“There’s not. Do you think I didn’t try? Believe me when I say it’s the last place I want to take you.”

I wince. Right. Because I’m a punishment to him. A shame. How did I lose sight of that?

“Pandora,” he says, eyes softening. “There are things you don’t understand.”

“Because you don’t tell me anything! Punishment or not…I think I have earned the right to your trust!”

“Trust?”

“Yes!”

“Do you trust me , Pandora?” he sneers.

“Yes.”

“Really?” he asks disbelievingly and I know he’s referring to my earlier freak out.

“I do trust you,” I snap. “I let you mark me. I haven’t tried to escape. I saved your life. I…I…do everything you want me to do. I deserve to know things, Sitri.”

He moves forward, and I move back until my shoulders thump against the wall, and suddenly, we’re in the same position we were in the kitchens. He settles a hand against my shoulder and then smooths it up my neck until his thumb nests against my throat. “I trust you, Pandora. I trust you completely, but…it’s better this way. I don’t want you mixed up in my… mess.”

“It’s my life too, Sitri. I’m tired of you keeping me in the dark. You keep me ignorant this way. Why do you work for her? Why do you have to do everything she says? Why is she trying to humiliate you?”

“She’s the Queen, Pandora,” he snaps.

“And you’re a prince, aren’t you?” I shove at his chest. “Doesn’t that mean anything ? Why do you work for her? What do you do all day? What happened to your family? What about your sister? You never even talk about her!”

He gives me a hard, silent stare, a blazing fire burning in the depths of his pupils, but I don’t back down, don’t look away, insistent on answers this time.

He turns his head with a sharp hiss. “My sister,” he says voice low and lethal. “Is a lot like you.” His hand tightens around my throat as he brings his gaze back to me. “Brave. Proud. Reckless. Meddling and… fucking naive ,” he snarls, and I flinch.

“She’s exactly why I have to be so careful, why I have to do every vile thing that’s asked of me, why I—we,” he corrects, tapping his thumb against my neck. “Have to stay in line so I can get her out of the stupid fucking situation she got herself into.”

I blink at him. “What situation?” He remains silent and unmoving. “Does Morin…have your sister?” He nods once. “What, like locked away?” He shuts his eyes and supplies another nod. My mouth dries. “And you intend to…”

“Get her back.”

I push against his arm, and he lets me loose. I pace the chambers, wringing my hands. “But surely she can’t just keep her locked away like that—“

He lets out a bitter laugh. “She’s the Queen, Pandora, and she has every right to after what she did.”

“What did she do?”

He sighs, but I’m pretty sure I already know based on what Vera’s told me. Sitri’s sister thought Morin was responsible for their parent’s deaths. I halt my pacing. “Did she try to kill Morin?” Another disgruntled breath, which I take as acknowledgment. “Because of what she did to your parents?” Sitri pinches at his nose, another confirmation. “Will Morin have her head then?”

He shakes his head wearily. “I don’t think so. Enjoys lauding her over me too much.”

“How are you going to get her back?”

He chews at his lip. “Pet…these aren’t your problems to worry about.”

“Vera deserves to know Imenand is alive.”

“No,” he says firmly. “This whole thing is a fucking mess as it is. I don’t need anyone else involved. It will only put them at risk, especially if they try to take matters into their own hands like Imen did...I’m going to get her back,” he says voice firm with resolve. “But as of right now, my hands are tied. I have to do as ordered. We have to,” he corrects as he bitterly waves a hand in my direction.

I stare at him for a long moment. Finally…he’s giving me something. I turn away, muttering a curse as my pacing grows more frantic. Not only do I understand…but I respect it. Hell, isn’t that why I’m here? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to save my sister. Of course, I don’t want to do anything that puts his sister at risk. Any feeble argument I had about not attending this rite crumbles all around me.

Which means… I’m going to have to go. My dread blossoms, expanding rapidly under my ribcage. “Fuck,” I whisper, digging my nails into my forehead. “This is a nightmare. I’ve had nightmares about this exact thing.”

He chuckles softly, and I shoot him an incredulous glare. He steps in front of me to halt my pacing. “It’s not as bad as whatever you’re imagining.”

I groan into my palms, and he grips my shoulder with a comforting squeeze. “It’s going to be fine. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” I swallow thickly. “I need to go,” he announces, his hands clapping back to his sides.

“What time is the Rite?”

“Midnight.”

I keep my gaze pointed at my twisting fingers. He’s halfway to the door when I look up, a new anxiety tightening around my throat. “Try not to get stabbed,” I say weakly.

I expect a jab in return, a smart retort but his face is somber, eyes hollow as he turns back. “I promise.”