Soren Cassemir.

  First General of Etheroz.

  Second son to Emperor Andreas Cassemir.

  The sun continued its steady climb as I stared numbly out the window. How many hours have passed since he’d left me to decide?

  Outside the room, soldiers on duty patrolled the perimeter, while those off duty laughed and talked in muffled voices from the other end of the house. Closer to the window, there were some who relaxed as they smoked their pipes, and tended to their horses while they waited for their next set of orders.

  Orders that hinged on what I decided.

  I sighed.

  Even if I wanted to escape, they’d hear me break the window. I’d be grabbed before I made it into the tree line, and that was assuming I had the energy to run at all.

  I didn’t.

  I turned away from the window, having no choice but to confront my thoughts again. Soren was willing to break an engagement that the emperor himself had arranged, risking his wrath in the process. Such a proposition could not be taken lightly.

  Prince Soren Cassemir.

  The Cassemirs were the only house above my own, so I’d be free from my father’s influence forever. I balled my fists at my side. I didn’t want to make a decision like this alone. If only they’d brought Leander back. I was sure he’d have plenty to say about the proposal, if it could even be called that.

  I still felt the effects of nearly being consumed by my magic. My limbs were weak, my head throbbed behind my eyes, and my stomach twisted itself from hunger. Even my left hand, finally free of the splint, felt as if pins and needles poked at the bones beneath my skin.

  I didn’t want to decide, I wanted to sleep.

  To feel safe.

  Would I truly be safe from the emperor while living under his nose? Soren seemed to think so, but I also found it hard to believe that he offered such a solution lightly. If I were only able to rest, then I might be able to better understand his motives. But the sun was only continuing its climb, and I had no way of delaying my answer.

  Timidly, I felt along the lines of my magic, afraid that I would only be met with emptiness. Thankfully my connections to the rats were still there, despite how faintly I could sense them. I was too weak to call for them, and feared that I was too far away for them to hear regardless. I searched for my tether to Caspian, but like every time before, I couldn’t see his thread. I could only sense that he lived. Disappointed and exhausted, I slumped to the floor and began to drift off to sleep.

  BANG!

  I woke with a jolt, disoriented as the door hit the wall. I looked up at the soldiers and saw one that I recognized from the night before, and one that I didn’t. I peeled myself up from where I’d accidentally passed out. I could feel the indentations from the grooves of the floor in my cheek as I glanced out the window. The sun was high overhead.

  “Lady LeMont,” Both men paused just inside of the threshold to bow. “General Cassemir requests your presence outside.”

  I was out of time.

  I had to clear my throat a couple of times before I could speak. “I wish to discuss my answer with Lord Leander before I meet with the general.”

  The man I recognized as Captain Brecht answered first. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary. General Cassemir has already shared his intentions with Lord Leander.”

  “I don’t care.” I said hoarsely. “I will not give my answer until I have had the chance to speak with my guardian.”

  “Well that could be an issue then.” Captain Brecht said.

  “How so? Am I not allowed my own council now?!” My voice rose with frustration as I readied myself to be dragged. I would fight them every step of the way if they refused my request.

  “It’s not that, my lady.” The second man had the decency to look apologetic as he took over and explained. “Lord Leander left hours ago.”

  Left.

  “What do you mean he left?” No. He wouldn’t.

  “I’m sorry, my lady. There’s nothing that can be done now.”

  The hope I’d harbored in my chest drained away. How could he just leave? He’d left me to face the general by myself? That couldn’t be right.

  Numbly, I rose to my feet and gripped the edge of the table as the blood returned to my legs.

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  He’d taken the first opportunity and left. Why did his presence matter now, anyways? He’d warned me not to share that I was Bloodbound, and I’d ignored him. Soren had shared his proposal, and Leander had taken it as a solution to the problem that was me. He’d probably even assumed my choice, because who wouldn’t want to marry a prince over servitude?

  But my heart didn’t care what his reasons were. Leander’s departure was a painful betrayal. I’d told myself not to trust him and that I didn’t really know him, but I thought that we were more than... nothing. Tears welled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

  I’d thought wrong.

  The only one who’d ever cared was Alexia.

  The soldiers were surprisingly patient as I collected myself. The gruff treatment I’d suffered through the night was at least temporarily suspended as they brought me out of the house. A few of the soldiers outside turned to watch us, but the soldiers at my side ignored them as they led us into an old barn at the back of the property.

  Two men stood just inside, along with General Cassemir. Their voices were lowered in casual debate, halting once Captain Brecht ushered me inside.

  Soren’s eyes flickered to me and then back to the men. “Thank you for your report Sergeant Bowman, Lieutenant Coleman. You are dismissed.”

  “Yes sir.” The men collectively saluted their general, and passed me without a backwards glance on their way out. Captain Brecht left with them, leaving me alone with Soren again. I was barely able to stand on my own as sleep threatened to pull me back under.

  “Have you made your decision?” Soren asked, not wasting any time in jumping straight to business. Not appearing to notice, or perhaps not caring that I was swaying on my feet as he stalked towards me.

  “The choices you presented are hardly choices at all. If I were to assume the worst, then your father will use me for conquest, or have me locked up if I’m uncooperative to his aims.” I didn’t even know why it mattered that I pointed out the unfairness of my options, but it did. “If I were to assume the worst of you—”

  “Don’t.” He interrupted as he stopped close enough that we were nearly touching.

  “What do you mean, don’t?” His interruption caught me off guard, and I had to crane my neck up to meet his eyes from this close. “I find it hard to pretend that you don’t have ulterior motives to this union.”

  “Don’t assume the worst of me.” He said, lowering his voice like a caress. “I’m not perfect, Daelyn, and if you go searching for my flaws, you’ll find them. But I’d rather you find them once you’ve had a chance to know my strengths. Just wait in your assessment of me. Give me the chance to make good on my word.”

  At least that seemed like an honest request. “And if I were to refuse your proposal?” I asked, knowing that we both knew the decision I’d made.

  “I have no desire to take an unwilling woman to bed, Daelyn.” His hand came up to brush my tangle of hair past my shoulders, cupping the back of my neck to cradle my head gently. “What I offer will protect you from all who would wish you harm. It will make you untouchable. My father will not learn of your magic as long as you remain with me.”

  There were too many unknowns, but given the alternative, how could I risk refusing? Oh Gods, I hope this isn’t a mistake.

  “I accept.” I whispered.

  Soren’s grip tightened against my skin, causing his nails to dig into my scalp. A startled gasp of pain escaped me as he lowered his mouth to mine in a crushing kiss. It was possessive, consuming, and bordered on bruising. I gripped onto his arms to keep from falling under the force of it.

  He pulled away with a triumphant smirk, and I fought the urge to rub away his touch as he reached a hand into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded parchment. The marriage contract, I realized. Soren opened the folds and held it out to me. I took it with a frown, my eyes skimming the document, lingering in the space where my father had signed me away like property. They continued to the right, freezing on the second signature that hadn’t been there the first time I’d seen it.

  Prince Soren Cassemir was signed in an elegant script.

  “I thought you’d like to see the proof of my intentions to put your mind at ease.” Soren said, taking the contract back and putting it away. “Your father no longer holds any power over you. As of this moment, in the eyes of the law, you are a princess of Etheroz. You now dwell under the protection of my house, with the full force of my army at your command.”

  I hardly heard him as the image of Soren’s signature burned behind my eyelids. It was real. I thought that I would feel something. Gratitude perhaps. But instead, all I could think about was how my choice in groom had never been mine. Soren had decided for me. Had decided it would be himself. Tears I refused to shed stung my eyes.

  He led me out of the barn, guiding me towards the horses with a hand at my lower back as a shout sounded from across the yard. I turned instinctively towards the commotion, and Soren stopped our progress to assess it.

  “Unhand me!” The pirate shouted, struggling against his bonds.

  “That’s right, I knew I was forgetting something.” Soren said, adopting the stiffness I’d first encountered as he shouted. “Bring him here!”

  The soldiers changed directions, leading the struggling pirate towards the prince. “Wha’ is the meaning of this?!” He shouted, failing to escape the grasp of the soldiers. “I’ve done nothing wrong!”

  The general narrowed his eyes at the man as he was forced to his knees in front of us. “You and your crew attacked my wife while she was helpless at sea.” His expression was cold as he pulled a small dagger from a hidden sheath at his belt. And just as easily as he had cut through the ropes around my wrist, he slashed it across the pirate’s throat before anyone could react.

  The pirate’s eyes widened in shock as his blood spilled from the slash like a waterfall. A choked gurgle of pain escaped his throat as the red liquid bubbled out of his lips and dripped onto the ground. Unable to speak through his torn vocal cords, Mr. Morland fell to the ground to lie a puddle of his own making.

  I was too shocked to speak. It was the most efficient yet brutal thing I’d ever seen before. I swallowed the nausea down, hardly registering it anymore as I turned my face to meet the approving gaze of my new husband.

  His expression was proud. A silent See? Other women would have screamed, but you didn’t.

  “Burn the body.” Soren ordered with a snap of his fingers for expedience.

  “Yes sir.” The man who’d led the pirate to his death saluted before grabbing a few others to assist him in building the pyre. Between them all, I was shocked at how unfazed they were.

  While we waited, Soren wiped the bloody dagger on the pirate’s own sleeve. The body no longer twitched.

  A carnal part of me wanted to enjoy the pirate’s death. A fitting end to a man who’d tried, and failed to kill me himself. But I couldn’t enjoy the way that his life left his body, or the way that the macabre image would haunt me in my dreams. It would join the others I’d collected. The pirates, eaten by rats. The men in the woods, torn apart by the dog. The boy my father had cut, and the gardener that I had sliced—

  Soren took my hand, startling me from the thoughts.

  “We’ve lingered here long enough.” He said gently, leading me to his horse without another backwards glance.