Chapter 34
QUINN
After an entire day of forcing a smile through wedding selections, paraded as livestock in lace, I wanted nothing more than to dissolve into shadow. No such mercy awaited me.
In my chambers, servants dressed me in the gown Edric insisted upon. Gold silk and slate-blue tulle poured over a corseted bodice. The neckline dipped low enough to make a statement. The train whispered betrayal with every step.
Mav stood immediately outside my chambers, arms crossed.
His eyes locked with mine, and there was a breaking within him.
Mav regarded me as if it hurt to do so, and hurt more not to.
The tether confessed what he had not: longing, heartbreak, and fury in an unbearable braid.
He turned on his heel and walked past me to his chambers, slamming the door.
If it were not for the litany of servants, I could have followed him into his chambers. Perhaps we could have stolen a few more moments together.
Minutes ticked.
The door opened.
Mav stepped out, and my breath caught.
A formal navy jacket lined with silver thread.
A half-cloak draped from one shoulder. He was so painfully, devastatingly handsome.
A smirk tugged his mouth when he caught me staring, then vanished.
There could be no quip or suggestive commentary.
As much as I wished to reach for his hand, I could not afford to risk it.
We walked to the dining hall side by side, yet kingdoms apart. Thistle, Branrir, and Vesper tried thrice to chip at the silence—architecture, dessert, poking fun at the never-ending likenesses of the king—then abandoned the attempt.
Voices swelled ahead, accented by the clink of glass. Mav’s gaze stayed forward as if one sideways glance might undo his hold on himself. The dining hall doors groaned open.
“Presenting Lady Quinnève Liogenoriggia, future Queen of Avandria,” the herald cried.
The room erupted with cheers. A swarm of standing nobles gawked at me. Applause jostled expensive fabric and oversized jewels.
A sudden cold swept over me.
He had done it.
Edric had made it real.
No private word. No discussion. No warning. The servants guided me down an endless aisle of strangers toward the head of the table.
“My bride,” Edric called, voice dripping with theater.
He reached for me, smile wide, arm winding to my waist. The cheers dulled with the painful awareness of his hands on me.
A pang of fury sliced down the tether from Mav.
I made to take my seat, but Edric kept me standing, grip firm at my arm.
The scrape of a chair suppressed the growling sound emanating from Mav’s throat.
“Be seated,” Edric commanded.
The nobles complied at once.
“It is my honor,” he went on, “to present a magnificent woman, a true beauty, and tomorrow—my queen.” His hand tightened at my waist as he turned me fully to face him.“I am the luckiest man in all the realms,” he proclaimed with false sincerity.
Then he kissed me.
In front of everyone.
I fought the instinct to scream.
His mouth pressed like a brand. I pulled back, breath shallow. His smile was all teeth.
“To the king and queen!” someone cried.
“To the king and queen!” the chorus rose. Goblets lifted.
“Pick up your drink,” Edric ordered through a forced smile.
My limbs were unwilling to move.
“Now!” he hissed.
My fingers found the stem. I raised the goblet, a marionette allowing fear to pull the strings. The rim trembled against my lip. The wine tasted of iron and ash.
Beside me, Mav remained unmoving. His fists clenched until the tendons jumped. A fork bent nearly in half in his hand.
And the tether—
Saints, it seared with an anguish deep enough to shake the edges of my magic.
“You’ll be radiant tomorrow, my betrothed,” Edric murmured loudly for the benefit of the nearest ears. “We’ll give them a wedding they’ll never forget.”
My skin crawled. “Indeed,” I said, forcibly sweet. I sat and angled my body toward Mav. I whispered, “Are you all right?”
“No.”
One word.
All he had to give.
Conversation ebbed and flowed—praise for the king’s charm, my “fortitude,” the glorious union. Platters paraded past, all gleam and gilt. Mav’s untouched plate was a quiet rebellion in a room built of performance.
Edric’s hand found mine under the table, folding possessively over my fingers, reminding me what he believed he owned. I could not bear another moment of this farce.
I leaped to my feet.
“Pardon me,” I managed. “I…need air.”
Edric rose too. Performative concern painted neat lines across his face. “Shall I join you, my bride?”
“No.” The word was sharp enough to wound. I gentled my tone. “I need a moment alone.”
“I will be joining you,” he said, voice sugar-dusted venom.
The room wavered then resumed its buzzing as we moved into the corridor. The tether avulsed, compelling Mav to stand and follow.
“Are you well, Quinnie?” Edric asked.
“It is all quite…”
“Ah, of course.” His expression played at sympathy. “It must be very overwhelming for you. You’ll get used to it.” Edric brushed his knuckles down my cheek. “Shall we take a turn about the gardens?”
Angling my face to subtly displace his touch, I responded, “I should like to retire early.”
Edric’s piercing blue eyes narrowed in suspicion, then eased. “But of course. You’ll need your rest in advance of the festivities.” He wiggled his eyebrows as he added, “And our wedding night.”
Nausea roiled in my gut.
“Hold your tongue,” Mav snarled.
Edric slid a glacial glare to him. “When I want etiquette advice from an ex-knight stripped of their standing, I’ll let you know.”
I retreated a pace, a chill tumbling down my spine. Mav did not include his history when introducing himself. How did he know this?
As if he could read the question from my shocked expression, Edric chuckled, the sound more threatening than joyful. “I told you, Quinnie—I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
The corridors stretched endlessly as we returned to the guest tower. Edric spoke beside me—seating charts, music, menu—words sliding off as if made of oil. None of it could hold my attention when everything inside me pleaded to run to Mav.
As we halted at my door, Edric’s hand tightened on my arm.“You were stunning. The court already adores you,” he said, tilting his head down. “Sleep well, my bride.”
He leaned in for another kiss. I turned at the last moment, and Edric’s lips met my cheek. A muscle feathered in his jaw as he offered a menacing grin. “I will see you tomorrow, Quinnie.”
I shuddered. Tomorrow, I would lack the freedom to repudiate his advances. The thought curdled what scant supper I had managed to eat.
My eyes darted to where Mav stood at the opposite end of the circular landing. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his glare tracking Edric’s retreat with a force capable of grinding the king to dust.
With a sigh, I stepped into my chambers. The tether pulled so tight that each breath felt borrowed. I had scarcely made it past the hearth when Mav burst in. His eyes were burning, chest heaving.
“Mav…”
“You let him kiss you,” he accused, pacing. “In front of all of them. In front of me.”
Indignation flared. “Let him? It was not as though I could refuse. How was I to know he would—”
“Spare me.” Mav threw up his hands. “It was all part of making his point. Announce the queen. Stake the claim. Parade the prize.”
The words held burning jealousy and cold resignation in equal measure.
“Mav,” I tried, gentler, “he does not know we are—”
“Of course he knows!” he exploded. “Do you think he misses anything? Eyes and ears everywhere, remember?”
My lips parted, but I flinched at the fury in his eyes before I could speak. Mav saw the recoil. His posture deflated.
“I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely, fast. “Quinn, I didn’t—I would never—” He paced again, slower. “I’m not mad at you.” He paused. “I mean—I am mad at you,” he admitted, gaze slipping aside. “But not in a way I can make any damn sense of.”
My heart cracked open. His anger was no more than a thin veneer failing to hide the vast, aching sea of hurt beneath. He stood with his hands in his hair, eyes down, afraid to meet mine again. As if he could not bear to look upon me.
I was running out of time. The spell would pull me into another century of sleep in two days’ time. Although I did not know the depth of his feelings for me, certainty took root in my chest. If two days were all Mav and I would have together, I wanted to make the most of every moment.
When I reached for my voice, it was a pitiful whisper. “I do not want to marry him.”
Mav’s head snapped up.
“I do not care for Edric.” My fingers curled at my sides, fighting for steadiness. “I care for you, Mav.”
He stilled as disbelief and shock warred in his expression.
Heat blurred my vision before I realized I was weeping.
“I made the wrong choice.” The confession was bitter on my tongue.
I risked a step closer, needing to be within his gravity.
“Perhaps it is too late, and my foolishness will cost me everything. I want this, Mav.” I choked on a sob. “I want to be with you.”