Chapter 54
Valen
Storm’s hooves pounded against the forest floor, and I crouched low in the saddle, cursing the moment that Belle Marquette had set foot in my lands.
Her luscious scent hung in the night air, as intoxicating as summer wine—yet it was nothing compared to the pull of my blood within her.
It consumed me, blinding me to everything but her.
Fool.
I knew better than to let myself get entangled with a woman, and yet I’d let Belle beguile me, just the same as Lady DuBois had—the only difference was that Jezebel wanted my throne and her brother’s cock, Belle, her freedom from me.
She’d drawn me in with those treacherous lavender eyes and un-fucking-believable lips, and then as soon as I’d let my defenses down, she’d fled. The timing had been perfect, in broad daylight, amidst the chaos created by Sarkis and his damned army.
My lips tightened into a grim smile. No matter how fast she ran, it wouldn’t be fast enough. Storm had tasted my blood and could gallop for days without rest. There was no way for her to escape. No matter how far she got, I would catch her.
She had to know that.
Trees flashed by, traced with silver in the fading moonlight, and a dark certainty settled over me. Of course she knew. She was clever and cunning. Perhaps she wanted me to chase. Perhaps she intended to ambush me and catch me unaware as I charged past.
Let her try.
If it was her arrow that ended me, at least I’d be free of the curse.
And if I survived—well, she would learn that I had something unexpected planned for her: the golden collar Locke had created.
The fiendish device weighed as heavily on my conscience as it had in my hands.
The moment I clamped it around her neck, it would nullify her connection to her power and prove that I was the monster she believed me to be.
I was loath to use it, but certain Belle would force my hand.
The moon slipped low on the horizon, and I pushed Storm as fast as he could go down the overgrown road, cursing the brazen woman for her blind courage.
At least the tusk she’d stolen would protect her from the beasts, but there were far darker things lurking in the cursed wood, waiting to take a pretty thing like her unaware.
How could she be so reckless with her life?
Suddenly, her trail changed.
I reined in Storm, and he slowed, his breath billowing hot in the cold night. Something was different. I leapt to the ground, my boots landing softly in the damp leaves. The woman’s scent was everywhere, bright and razor-sharp, but it was as if she’d run through the woods in every direction.
Had she been attacked? I turned, looking for tracks or any sight of a struggle.
A feral grin curved my lips. This was deliberate, which meant the clever vixen was expecting me. The idea of her lurking in the cover of the trees, waiting to kill me, filled me with such violent desire that my cock throbbed, aching for release.
Where was she?
I stole through the shadows of the trees, letting the pull of her blood draw me on, until I sighted a dark shape crouched ahead.
She’d concealed herself in the brush with a perfect shot at the road and was waiting still.
Had I not stopped when I had, her magic and skill might have ended me in a single shot.
My skin pricked as if the Fates had just run their fingers over the thread of my destiny. She has the power to save you—but it will cost you everything.
Maybe Locke was right. She would kill me, releasing me from my curse in death.
I closed my eyes. If it is to be anyone, let it be her.
When I opened them again, she was gone. I turned, my senses flaring. Somehow, the wildcat had sensed I was here, and now, she was the one stalking me.
“You’ve led me on a lovely chase, princess,” I called as I pressed my back against the tree. “Care to enlighten me on what exactly you imagined would happen when I found you?”
Silence reigned, but the moment I stepped out of cover, an arrow shrieked past. Pain erupted in my shoulder, and I jerked back into cover. My hand came away damp, and I stared in disbelief at the torn, bloodied fabric of my sleeve. The beast surged within me.
“Next time, it’s your heart,” she called from the darkness. “That shot didn’t even take magic.”
Her fearless defiance lit my blood on fire, but I forced a laugh. “You led me all the way out here to shoot me with an arrow? I’d have let you do that in your bedchamber if you’d asked me nicely.”
“You’re not welcome in my bedchamber, Your Highness.”
“Then we could use mine.” I moved with the wind, taking cover behind a trunk ten paces from her.
“Impale his throat!”
The bowstring snapped. I pulled back, but the arrow curved toward me, a falcon diving for the kill. My palm burned as I snatched the arrow from the air, an inch from my neck. Blood dripped between my fingers.
Holy fuck. The woman might just kill me.
“Careful, princess,” I growled as my beast roared to the surface. I threw aside the arrow. “My patience runs only so deep.”
“I’m just warming up, so if you don’t turn around and let me go, I will kill you.”
“I told you, I will never let you go.”
I spun away as another arrow grazed my hip and sank into the trunk of another tree. The fucking madwoman was trying to shoot my cock off!
I cursed. “What the hell did I do to deserve this greeting?”
“As if you didn’t know,” she seethed. I could imagine the furious flush of her cheeks and the beguiling hatred in her eyes. “You’re sending the Crimson Host to invade the Bloodvale and to kill Cassius and Ella.”
“I don’t fault you for running to warn your sister, but I’m afraid you’re misinformed,” I said, peering around the tree.
She was crouched, bowstring drawn taut against her wind-kissed cheek. She met my eyes. “I found the contract you made with General Sarkis, asshole.”
The sinew stretched, but she didn’t let go.
An opening. Maybe there was a chance I could reason with her, instead of having to pin her to the ground. “That contract was signed two years ago. Things have changed. We can discuss this.”
“I talked to Sarkis’s soldiers. The Crimson Host has only been marching for two months—that means you ordered the invasion after Cassius became king. You’re trying to depose him, you treacherous lying bastard.”
That was going to be hard to explain away in a standoff.
“The Crimson Host set out a month after the contract was signed,” I called back. “They lost years in the forest, though it only seemed like months to them. It’s the magic of the woods.”
“That’s the most pathetic lie I’ve ever heard. Try the truth.”
“It is the truth,” I growled. “You’re simply out of your depth here, princess.”
I clenched my jaw, immediately regretting my choice of words.
“Pierce his heart,” Belle hissed.
Diving to the left side of the tree, I shot forward and tore the arrow out of the air. I was on her in three strides, and I ripped the bow from her hands. She screamed as I heaved her back against a tree.
The air burst from her lungs, but cold steel sank into my side. I snarled in pain and strained to push the monster within me down, but my fingers became talons for the briefest second.
I will not give in.
I slammed Belle’s hand back and knocked the dagger from her grasp, then shoved her away as I reined in my beast.
She stumbled away from me, eyes wide with terror. Her coat was torn where my claws had raked over her shoulder, and though it was nothing more than a scratch, the scent of her blood filled the air—copper and salt and something sweet that made my fangs ache.
How much of the truth had she seen?
It didn’t matter. I had to end this, because next time, I might not be able to regain control.
Belle dove for her fallen dagger.
I kicked it away and then yanked the collar from my bag and lunged, seizing her with one hand and clamping it around her neck with the other. The collar snapped shut around her throat, and the runes inscribed on its surface flamed with light.
Her eyes widened in horror, and she clawed at it. “What is this? What have you done to me?”
“What I had to,” I growled, refusing to show the remorse tearing at me.
She scrambled backward, pulling at the collar. “My magic—”
“Will be out of reach until I remove it.”
“Take it off!” she pleaded, her eyes glistening and wild, like a doe caught in a bear trap. “Do you have any idea what this is like?”
No, but I was certain I’d just locked her soul away. Guilt burned through me. “The collar stays on. You’ll just try to kill me again.”
“You deserve it,” she snarled.
“I told you—”
“You told me nothing but lies!” Her voice trembled with anger, cracking with the weight of betrayal and sorrow. “I heard you tell Locke you had to kill Cassius. And Ella.”
I froze. “How—”
“I won’t let you touch her!” she lunged forward and grasped the dagger on my belt.
I clamped her wrist and wrestled her into submission, pressing her against me. “You don’t know what you heard.”
“I know exactly what I heard! You have to kill them to break your curse.” She twisted in my arms, looking up at me with a hate that drove deeper than any of her arrows ever could. “Deny it. I want to see the lie on your face.”
Her words landed somewhere deep beneath my ribs. I opened my mouth to deny it, to explain, hell, to say anything that would make her stop looking at me like that. Nothing came.
My hesitation betrayed me, and tears formed in her eyes. “You’re a monster.”
I couldn’t hide that truth. It was all too clear.
“You have no idea,” I rumbled, my voice pitched to threaten, but my heart knowing nothing but shame. “You’re coming back to the castle with me, where you’ll remain. I either tie you up and strap you to my horse, or you come freely. That is your only choice now.”
She strained against my arms, bucking and kicking.
Gods, the fire of this woman. It was irrepressible, intoxicating, and pure.
Scorched honey, smoking and bitter, the jasmine stripped bare.
I wanted to taste the fury on her lips. I’d barely been able to think of anything else.
I wanted her in my bed, below me, on top of me, hell, I wanted her every way—and yet, I knew I could never have her.
Not with everything I’d done. Not with what I planned to do.
I locked her down, pinning her against my body, relishing her warmth and soft curves. “Are we going to do this the easy way, or the uncomfortable way, princess?”
The wildcat stilled at last. “Fine. I’ll return with you. Just release me.”
“Are you going to stab me?”
She didn’t respond at first, but at last she let out a low growl. “I won’t. You win. Now let me go.”
I released her, and she backed away, glancing first at the dagger, then at Briar, tied to a tree not far off. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, and she raised her hands. “I gave you my word. I’m not going to stab you.”
Submission didn’t suit her, and my instincts flared. She wasn’t one to ever give in, not unless she had an ulterior motive…
The truth slammed into me like a ballista bolt. She was alone.
I spun, searching the tree line for the damned huntsman. I would’ve scented his arrogant stench if he were here. Her escape had sent me into such a rage that I’d forgotten everything but the scent of her body and the pull of our bond.
She’d played me for a fool once again.
“Where is Gregoire?” I growled, stalking forward.
She backed away, hands raised. “I have no idea. We were separated. Maybe he’s dead for all I know.”
It was the truth, but a lying truth—just like I’d used on her, time and time again.
I cracked my neck, slowly advancing. “Where were you separated?”
She didn’t respond.
I spun her around and shoved her stumbling toward the horse. “Move.” As soon as we reached Briar’s side, I ripped open her saddlebags and dumped their contents onto the ground. Water. Meager rations, nothing more.
“Where are the letters? Where is the contract you stole?”
She was a wall.
The edges of my vision burned as the truth sank in.
She’d given it all to him. She’d known I’d come for her, and she’d lured me away, playing on my emotions perfectly.
How much of a head start had she earned the bastard?
A quick calculation painted a dire picture.
By the time we returned, the huntsman would have more than a day’s lead on my dragon or my men.
“Godsdammit!” I slapped the saddle bag closed, then froze. “Where’s the tusk?” I searched her kit to see if it had been secured anywhere else.
I spun on her. “Where is it, princess? Did you give it to him, too?”
A smile cracked her stony expression. “I guess your beasts will have a hard time catching him.”
Fury rippled through me. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“Everything I could to protect my sister and my kingdom.” Triumph glinted in her eyes, delight in the way she pursed her lips.
“You could have been killed!”
“Why would you even care?” she shouted, her voice ringing with sudden emotion.
The accusation sank into my heart like an arrow.
It was madness, but I did care.
It wasn’t because I hoped she could save me. I knew the old woman’s prophecy was a trick. It wasn’t that she’d drunk my blood, either. I’d wanted her for far longer.
The stinging truth was that she’d captured me the first time I’d seen her, as assuredly as I’d captured her now.
I grabbed her arm and jerked her toward Storm. “Your protection is my duty. Now let’s get the hell out of here before the forest takes an interest.”
More than likely, it already had.