17. Rosalina
Rosalina
Icannot dwell on everything that has happened since I was sent to the Below. How much time has passed? It feels like a half-remembered dream.
I need to save Day.
My first instinct is to sprout forth my briars, but I feel heavy black binds around my wrists. Of all the stupid bargains to make, Rosalina O’Connell! Not that I can blame myself when I was under that spell.
Magic won’t help me here, and I can’t let Caspian know I’ve broken past being his obedient little servant.
I tear my gaze away from Dayton, try to block out the pain pulsing through our bond, and instead lay my hand on Caspian’s chest. “A waste,” I say.
Caspian tilts his chin down at me. His eyes are so green. “What’s a waste?”
“Don’t you think he could still be useful, my love?” I ask. “A high prince under your command. You’re far more powerful than your father if it came to it.”
“Rosie, no!” Dayton screams, voice breaking. “This isn’t you! Let him end me!”
Shut up, I say in his mind. I know what I’m doing.
Dayton blanches. Caspian lets the flames dull to a simmer. He lays a hand over mine. “You’re trembling. Does his pain hurt you?”
Of course it does. He’s my mate, I think. But instead, I look up at him sweetly. “A little.”
Caspian chews his bottom lip, looking between Dayton, who has collapsed on the ground, and me.
“I was afraid of this,” he says. “His death might break you. And I don’t have the time to put you back together. Perhaps you’re right. He can be useful in the future.”
Purple briars rise to coil around us.
Dayton stands on shaking feet. I can feel him readying his blessing. No! I shout in his mind. You can’t beat him, not how he is. Tell everyone Sira is amassing an army of all her wicked creatures of the Vale. I’ll get the rose back, I promise.
Dayton grits his teeth. I’m sorry, Rosie, I failed you.
Tears fall down my cheek. I hope the Prince of Thorns doesn’t notice. No, Day, you set me free.
Tears fall from his eyes too. My love for you is an endless sea.
The briars pull us under, but I shout to him through our bond, desperate and wild, I love you, I love you, I love you. Even more than I love the sun.