Chapter 19
NARYA
Daigen’s lips crashed against mine, stealing my breath and reason.
His mouth was ruthless upon me, his tongue a blade that demanded my surrender. I didn’t want to give it to him yet. I kissed him back even as I fought him, clawing for a victory I knew I couldn’t win. Yet I tried.
Rough hands grabbed my legs and wrapped them around his waist.
I dug my nails into Daigen’s shoulders and clawed at him like I was trying to reach the skin under his robes.
When that failed, I dagged his lip between my teeth and bit down until I tasted his blood.
He growled and pulled away, severing our kiss at last. But my victory was short-lived.
With another growl, Daigen spun and slammed me against the row of books, knocking several from their shelves.
His mouth swallowed my gasp, his grip bruising as he pinned me in place.
Every kiss, every touch was a conquest, but I refused to yield.
I twisted my fingers through his hair and clawed at his scalp.
He hissed, and a large hand gripped both my wrists, pinning them above my head. Dark eyes met mine. Eyes that threatened to rip away the last of my resolve.
Lust burned in them, but so did something deeper.
Something that excited and terrified me at the same time.
“Yield to me, Narya.”
He tightened his grip until it hurt.
“Yield.”
A sound broke from me—half pain, half hunger—as I twisted in vain against him. His mouth traced along my throat, his lips and tongue burning, branding every frantic pulse beneath my skin. His free hand wandered lower, daring me to break.
Gods, I wanted to.
Even as I fought the tether deep in my soul, my body craved surrender.
I very nearly did.
“No,” I gasped out. “Never.”
His lips curved against my throat. He pressed them to my necklace, its cruel bite a reminder of its purpose. Better his hate than his desire. Hate I could endure. But his desire? This tethering of our souls? I didn’t think I would survive it.
“Yield,” he murmured, harsher.
I turned my head away, my eyes glazed with anguish. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? Why did he need to make me cruel?
“I will never yield to you,” I said, unable to keep the tear that slipped down my cheek. “You’re a savage.”
Even as the words left me, I wanted to vomit.
Daigen’s gaze lifted then, his lips swollen, expression unreadable.
For a moment, surprise flickered there. Then it twisted into hate.
“Curious the conversation I had with Thràena this morning,” he said. “She informed me that you will let no other servant touch or see you. Not even she is allowed to set eyes upon your naked skin.” His lips twisted into a sneer. “Did you think she would not tell me?”
He dropped me roughly, my knees almost giving way, and sneered: “You would do well to remember my peoples’ loyalty is first and foremost to their king. Not his slave, and certainly not his prisoner.”
I blinked back my shock. Thràena had only done her duty, but the truth still stung.
“What are you hiding from them?” Daigen asked, crossing his arms.
I shrank under his scrutiny and tried to slip around him. I’d been dreading this, but now, here, wasn’t the time or place. However, his arm caught me, and his scowl deepened.
“What… are you hiding?”
He bit each word through gritted teeth.
“Nothing! Just — let me go!”
His grip only tightened and that horrible sneer returned.
“As I keep reminding you, I have no intention of letting you go. Now my patience wears thin. You will tell me what secret you hide in that pretty head of yours, or I will find out for myself. I warn you will not like my method.”
Despite the way his threat made me shiver, I turned to look at him. “There’s nothing you can do to me that hasn’t already been done.”
Daigen’s eyes widened and his brows lifted briefly in surprise.
Of course, I had no idea if he was threatening me with violence, but the words had already been spoken.
After a moment, his eyebrows snapped together again, and his features hardened as he ground his teeth, the muscles in his jaws thrashing.
“Who?”
The one word, quiet yet heavy with murderous promise, froze me.
His eyes were no longer black but a deep, burning crimson that seemed to cut through me like shards of garnet.
“I already told you,” I said, my voice just above a whisper.
Please don’t make me say it!
“The list?”
His voice cut through the silence.
I could only nod, trying not to recall the events of that night.
Not now. Please, not now.
Yet the memory clawed at me. The scent of blood and flowers invaded my mind, the cold press of stone against my skin, the laughter that echoed above me…
I shoved the memory down before it wrecked me again.
Slowly, Daigen released me.
“Show me.”
His tone had softened, though command still edged it.
I shook my head, tears spilling from my lashes. I turned my gaze to the window where a raven swooped through soft auburn clouds. I would have given anything to be flying with it. To escape the king’s relentless demand.
What would he think once he saw the scars on my back?
I could endure his hatred, but his disgust? It might break me.
In the corner of my eye, Daigen unclasped the gold fastenings on his shoulders. His crimson cloak fell in a pool at his feet. I held my breath as he stepped closer.
“You will show me what they did, Narya, so I know what to carve into their bones.” His fingers gently turned my head. There was no sneer on his face, no scorn in his voice. Only a promise of blood. “Then I'll make a throne of their skulls and no one will ever touch you again."
I wanted to believe him but pain had taught me better than that. I lowered my head.
“Daigen…” His name, half-groaned, half-whispered, trembled from my lips. “I’m begging you… please don’t do this.”
He gently lifted my head back up. “They hurt you, yes?”
I nodded, my lips trembling. “We all have things we want to forget, don’t we?” He watched a tear slide down my cheek. “Then let me forget mine a while longer. Please…”
My voice broke on the last word. Daigen wiped the tear-stain from my cheek with the pad of his thumb, never looking away from me.
“When you’re ready to show me, I will lay all those responsible broken and bleeding at your feet. I vow it.”
The vow made my heart leap and shudder all at once. His gaze, dark with conviction, left no doubt in my mind.
I forced a lighter tone, though my voice shook. “Even if I choose to be your prisoner instead of your queen?”
His lips curved at one corner. “Even then. You’re mine, and I will flay anyone alive who dares to touch you.”
He held out his hand. On his thumb gleamed a silver ring — a raven clutching a blood moon crystal. His crystal no longer hung around his neck.
“It’s time for court. Are you ready to make your debut?”
“I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
“Not if you want to become my queen. Which would be the wisest choice.”
I placed my hand in his, barely suppressing a smile. He grinned down at me, eyes no longer red but bright with mirth. I should fight him. I knew it in my bones. But I was so tired of fighting. I let him take me away without protest.
Before we stepped through the archive doors, Daigen stopped. He looked back, drawing my gaze with him.
“What is it?”
He scowled as he looked back. “Just a rat.” His eyes flicked down to me. “Or perhaps your friend. You seemed… quite taken with the half-nymph.”
Was that jealousy?
It made me smile. The Bloodstone King, jealous over me? It felt ridiculous.
I followed him outside, lifting my gaze from the floor at the sound of the captain’s voice. He stood waiting outside, the dirtiest glare on his face I’d ever seen.
I smiled at him as we passed, and he walked behind us.
Daigen slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. It felt safe and warm. Too safe. But he just tightened his grip when I tried to pull away.
“So,” I said instead, “this court of yours. Am I to be treated as a prisoner or your queen?”
I held my breath as I waited for his answer.
He chuckled, and I hated how much I liked the sound. How much it suited him and made him look a lot younger.
“That depends,” he said, sliding me a playful grin, “on how well you please me.”
Please him how, he did not say. I was too nervous to ask.
Nervous, and—gods help me—excited to find out.