I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m doing no such thing.”
“Such a pretty liar.” Taine lifted his brows, which were brown and didn’t match his head. “All the better for me. Vocla owes me a purse of silvers.”
“Is that all you care about? Coins?” When I scoffed, Taine sneered back.
“You and Helio have no idea what it’s like to scrape by.”
Hmm. Maybe Taine wasn’t entirely loyal to his friend. His statement gave me hope that he could be bought.
I rubbed my lips together in thought before making my proposal. “What you’re saying isn’t true, but I know how it might look.” Ignoring Taine’s eye roll, I continued. “Helio spent months planning this party, and I’d rather not upset him with your misguided theories.” I sighed dramatically. “How much will it take to keep you quiet?”
Taine scoffed. “Are you bribing me, Fraya? To betray my best friend?”
My heart stalled. Pitberries. I’d misread the orangey fiend.
Then Taine’s smile returned. He chuckled as though having just delivered the punch line of a joke. “Gold,” he said. “A whole purse full.”
I winced at his price, even though I had no intention of paying it. “That’s extortion.”
“That’s the price of betrayal. Maybe you can talk the prince into paying your fee.” Taine’s lips curled into an ugly smile as he looked me up and down.
“I will pay it,” I said coolly. “I have funds hidden in my room. I will go fetch your gold.”
“Not so fast.” Taine fell into step beside me. “I’m coming with you.”
I bit back a smile. Good. That’s exactly what I wanted Taine to do. I took long strides across the lawn like I meant to lose the asshole along the way. He jogged to keep up, then matched my steps.
“You can’t tell Vocla,” I said.
“Then you need to pay me the purse of silver coins on top of the gold.”
“You’re kidding.” I scoffed.
“My silence doesn’t come cheap.”
Oh, but it did. I wasn’t giving this creep a single copper. One whiff of sleeping powder and the only sounds he’d be making were snores.
As soon as we entered the manor, neither of us spoke. The halls were quiet as guests rested and prepared for the evening’s entertainments. I worried more about running into Alok than Helio. Alok would take one look at Taine hovering beside me and demand to know what was happening. If the males got into an altercation in the halls, I wouldn’t have a chance to get rid of Taine quietly.
We’d nearly made it to my chamber when a door opened and Reyna stepped out. Pitberries! I needed to hurry Taine into my room before she ran and told Alok. But Reyna only watched with pursed lips as I ushered Taine inside my bedchamber. I’d explain it to her later—when we were on the road away from this place.
I hurried to a small, intricately carved box I’d placed on the stand beside my bed. Taine held back, hands in his pockets, whistling. At least, he wasn’t a lecher demanding more than coins in exchange for his silence. He was still a pit head, though.
With my back to Taine, I opened the box and stared down at the vial Alok had given me. Hopefully, there would be enough for both Taine and Helio.
“I’ll give you half now and half at the end of the week,” I said, back still turned.
The whistling stopped. “You’ll pay me what you owe up front,” Taine said.
“And what’s to prevent you from asking for more?” I pulled the stopper from the vial and set it inside the box.
“You’re not in a position to negotiate, Lady Moongold,” Taine said sarcastically.
Oh, but I am.
I whipped around and rushed at Taine.
His eyes widened. “What are you—?”
I sprinkled powder into my palm and blew it at him. Taine’s eyes squeezed halfway closed as he coughed . . . in my face. A distantly familiar sinking sensation pulled at me.
Oh, pit. Not again.
My lashes fluttered rapidly, like moth wings trying to break free from a spider’s web.
The dumbest of concerns entered my head as I fought for consciousness. I couldn’t drop the vial. The glass might break or the contents spill. I had to hold on. I had to—
Alok
I paced along the side of Fraya’s bed where I’d laid her unconscious. Reyna stood squeezing her fingers in front of me.
I didn’t know what had happened, only that Reyna had seen Fraya enter her chamber with one of Helio’s friends. Immediately, I’d known something was off and rushed in only to find them both asleep on the floor. The vial I’d given Fraya was still clutched in her hand. She’d used it on the orange-haired elf, but why? He must have threatened her in some way. I had to stop myself from kicking him in the head. Until Fraya awoke, I couldn’t be sure of anything.
“We have to get her away from Amberhill.”
“How?” Reyna demanded. “You can’t just carry her out.”
“I’ll glamour her.”
Reyna threw her arms to her sides. “And no one will think it suspicious that you’re leaving the property with an unconscious guest?”
I stopped pacing and watched the gentle rise and fall of Fraya’s chest. She looked so peaceful when she slept. Running a hand through my long hair, I faced Reyna.
“I’ll glamour Fraya to look like you, and you to look like Blythe. We’ll say that you aren’t feeling well and that I’m taking you home.”
Reyna pressed her palms over her eyes and groaned. “Do you hear yourself, Alok? This is getting out of hand.”
“I’m not leaving her here like this.” My voice took on an edge.
Reyna lowered her hands to glare at me. “Since your mind is already made up, I have no choice but to help you. We get her out of here. Then we go home. Hopefully we make it that far.” Reyna stormed toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
She stopped beside the vanity where she jerked her head to take another look at the mug I’d hastily set down after meeting up with her in the hall earlier. I’d gone to the kitchens to discreetly procure a tincture for Fraya. On my return, I’d run into my sister, who’d immediately guessed its contents—and what I’d done with Fraya to necessitate the tincture.
Reyna scowled. “I’m going to find Blythe and tell her goodbye. She can be trusted.” With one final huff, Reyna stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Fraya jerked awake. I ran to the side of the bed as she sat up and gasped, staring around the room wide-eyed.
“It’s okay,” I said, grabbing her hand. “You must have breathed in sleeping powder when you used it on Helio’s friend.”
Fraya’s mouth hung open when she looked at me. “Is he asleep?”
I nodded. “On the floor. What happened?”
Fraya blinked several times. “He found out about us and wanted coins in exchange for his silence.”
I snarled and pulled away, wanting to punch the asshole even though he was currently defenseless.
Fraya grasped my hand. “What happened to the vial? Is there enough powder for me to use on Helio tonight?”
“You’re not going anywhere near him,” I said. “We’re leaving as soon as Reyna gets back.”
“What?”
“I’m going to glamour you. It will be easier now that you can walk out on your own.” I drew my hand out of Fraya’s and stood. I fetched the mug from the vanity and brought it over. The outside of the mug no longer felt warm. Hopefully, temperature wasn’t key to the tincture’s effectiveness. “You should drink this first.”
Fraya stared at the mug in my hand. “What is that?” she asked slowly.
“A tincture to prevent pregnancy.”
She frowned. “I can’t drink that.”
“Why?” My eyebrows drew together in confusion. Had the sleeping powder addled Fraya’s mind? Did she not wish to take precautions?
Fraya stared at the blankets. “I’m already pregnant.”
My heart gave a
lurch, and my lips parted in surprise. “Is it—?”
“It’s why I agreed to marry him.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach.
“Does he know?”
“No. And he never will,” she said firmly. “I thought I had to commit myself to him, but this week has shown me he’d make a terrible mate and father.”
Black smoke billowed inside my head at the thought of Fraya and her child being bound to Helio Moongold. “We’ll say that I’m the father.” The words rushed out as soon as I thought them.
“What?” Fraya gaped up at me.
I offered her a smile. This felt so right I needed no time to consider the consequences. I could finally be of help.
Fraya’s arms loosened from her stomach. Her fingers curled around the hem of her dress. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I offered. I want to do this.” I walked the mug over to the nearest surface, set it down, and returned to Fraya. “I want to help you raise your child.”
Tears glistened over her blue eyes. “Could you really love this child?”
“As if he or she were my very own.” I placed my hand over my heart. My words were always true, but this went beyond honesty. I felt happy. Excited by the prospect of raising a family with Fraya. She must have seen it on my face.
Fraya flung her legs over the side of the bed, leaped to her feet, and threw her arms around my neck. “We’re really going to do this?” she asked eagerly.
A smile spread over my cheeks. After eight lonely years at Hailshadow, I’d despaired of ever finding love and happiness. Now here it was, like a sunbeam upon my soul. “Does this mean you’ll agree to be my mate?” I asked.
“Forever,” Fraya whispered in a husky breath before kissing me.
This couldn’t be real. I worried that I’d wake to find myself back in Frostweather, having never left. Maybe this was my only escape. Figments of my imagination to survive the never-ending winters that billowed outside Hailshadow’s walls.
I pulled Fraya close, fitting her against me as though I meant to wear her like a shirt—and never take her off. She moaned into my mouth, which sent blood rushing to my groin.
I wanted to take her again. I wanted her so badly, but Reyna would be back soon, and we had to get out of there.
Fraya had other ideas. She pushed me onto the bed, then climbed over me and straddled me from above.
“Fraya,” I said, right before she bent down, blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, to press demanding kisses over my lips.
The rock of her hips over my pelvis dragged a strangled groan from my lips. I was erect in an instant. Blood rushed through my veins. I slid my hands up Fraya’s legs. Her breath quickened. I could feel her heart beating against mine.
The door flew open and hit the wall with a bang. In my haste to sit up, Fraya nearly fell off my lap. My arms circled her waist, preventing her from tumbling backward onto the floor. My blood ran cold, and my heart seized inside my chest when I saw who stood over her shoulder.
The loathing that sparked inside Lark Elmray’s eyes looked like it might catch the room on fire.
Fraya twisted around in my lap and gave a gasp of dismay when she saw her cousin.
He stood seething and proud in a navy embroidered jacket and snug pants tucked inside tall black boots, polished to a shine. There was a long sword sheathed at his side. Lark’s golden hair was slightly windblown, making me wonder if he’d stepped directly from a portal into the hallway outside Fraya’s chamber. To top it all off, he wore a jeweled coronet, like I needed reminding that he was the beloved prince of Dahlquist. He hadn’t grown much taller than the last time I’d seen him, but he was noticeably more muscular.
“One of our outpost operatives rode into Dahlquist reciting a letter he’d read about Fraya being in trouble. Lo and behold, I find her with you.” Lark sneered, but there was something manic and eager about the way his eyes lit upon me—like he planned to roast me alive and toast marshmallows over my burning corpse afterward.
I pushed Fraya off my lap, onto the bed, and jumped up.
Heavy boots cracked over the floor as Lark came at me. I tightened my fists, eyeing his sword warily, expecting Lark to reach for it at any second. But it was his gloved hand he tugged at. Too late, I realized what Lark was doing. With a wide grin, he lifted his hand to his lips and exhaled as though blowing me a kiss goodbye. Fraya’s scream was the last thing I heard before losing consciousness.
Color and warmth had leeched from my world again. I woke up shivering in darkness. I blinked again and again, but there wasn’t a pinprick of light for my sight to adjust to. I was seated on a wide chair bound in chains.
Fraya! My mind yelled.
Fraya. Fraya. Fraya.
When I tried to move my arms, I felt the heavy press of chains. They rattled slightly, giving way, though not enough for me to stand.
Flames burst in the darkness. I squeezed my lids half-closed to the brutal glare of that fire. Lark chuckled as he lit the cell torches with his hands.
“How do you like your throne, Alok?” As the light of the flames spread over me, I saw I was chained to a dark wood chair with wide armrests and a tall back. Lark smiled maliciously, his white teeth like bones picked clean by vultures. “You wanted to rule Dahlquist. We’ve made you king of the dungeons. There’s only one thing missing”—Lark’s eyes lit up maniacally as he smiled gleefully at me—“a crown. Allow me.”
He circled his finger in the air, creating a crown of flames. It would have had the desired effect of terrifying me to the depths of my soul if I weren’t in such a panic.
“Tell me you didn’t leave Fraya behind at Amberhill.”
Lark snarled. The flames on the burning crown he’d created flared up before turning to ash that fell to the stone floor. “Don’t speak her name.”
I jerked my arms and legs as if I had a chance of breaking through the chains. The metal links clinked and pressed into my body. With a bellow of frustration, I glared at Lark. “I’m the one who attempted to send you that message, you fool! Fraya wants to get away from her fiancé. He’s keeping her prisoner at Amberhill.”
Lark snorted derisively, but the look of murder had simmered from his expression. He folded his arms over his chest. “My cousin is at Amberhill by choice. My aunt and uncle wouldn’t have left the realm otherwise.”
“She was at first, but not any longer. You have not seen the way that wretched elf treats her.”
Lark’s eyes narrowed. “And you want to be her knight in shining armor. How convenient.” He rushed over, arms flying to each side of the chair to grip the rests. An unnatural light glowed in Lark’s irises. “Did you fuck my cousin?” When I frowned, Lark yelled in my face, “Answer the damn question!” He grabbed the chain circling my neck and pulled until I was choking.
“Save. Her.” I coughed.
Lark leaned forward, the chain links still digging into my neck. He whispered into my ear. “Don’t worry about Fraya. I’ll make sure she never sees you again.”
My hand shot forward, fingers stretching to grab Lark. All at once, the torches went out. Darkness and smoke filled the cell. The chains loosened from around my neck. I gasped.
“There’s an interesting expression in the mortal realm,” came the lazy drawl of Lark’s voice from my side. “Death by a thousand cuts.” A chill crept over me. There he went again, showing off his knowledge of the human world. I tried to focus on my irritation rather than the cold dread of where this was leading. “Figure of speech,” Lark continued. “Well, except for the Chinese, an ancient culture on Earth. They called it lingchi, which loosely translates as slow slicing. Lingering death. Death by a thousand cuts.”
In the dark, the sound of Lark’s steel blade amplified all the way to my racing heart. I fought fruitlessly against the chains. The cold, sharp blade sliced through my trousers and the flesh beneath. I hissed. My leg burned where I’d been cut. I could feel the hot blood pumping through the wound.
“
One,” Lark said. There was no time to rage, or even beg, before the next strike cut across my shoulder. “Two.” One over my wrist. “Three.” The side of my neck. “Four.” Would my face be next?
“Cousin!” I screamed.
I’d started this. I’d knocked him out first. Tied him to a chair. But I’d been young and dumb, just like Fraya had said. And I’d never tortured the fool. Well, I had threatened his life. Still—
“Don’t call me cousin!” Lark roared. “You’re a traitor. Everyone despises you. When your adoptive mother heard we’d captured you, she said she wanted nothing to do with you.” His words cut through my heart deeper than any blade. “I don’t know how you bewitched Fraya, but I will make sure you never have a chance to get near her again.”
The next cut sliced open my cheek. I screamed as blood dripped down my chin. My horror outweighed my agony. The stupidest of thoughts ran through my head. Would Fraya recoil at the sight of me with my scarred face? Even after my fall from grace, my vanity had survived intact. I’d always had smooth, unblemished ivory skin, a proud nose, and strong jawline. Fraya’s compliments about my hair had gone straight to my head.
The blood dripping down my cheek felt like hot tears that could never be wiped away.
“Five.” Lark’s voice wavered. I would have thought he’d call out in triumph. Maybe my scream had broken through to some semblance of conscience left inside him.
“Go ahead and give me five thousand cuts,” I said, chest heaving. “Just save Fraya from that maniac. I don’t care what you do to me. Please. Please get her out of there. Take her home or to her family. Please.” I braced myself for the next cut, pushing my back against the chair as though somehow it would shield me from Lark’s sword.
Voices echoed from the passage outside my cell. Light crept over the rock wall beyond the barred window in the door. The torchlight grew brighter and brighter.
“Ah, I heard our esteemed prisoner had woken,” said a male. “Open the door.”
The heavy door groaned open, and in stepped King Liri, with his long straight white hair and an imposing solid gold crown atop his head.
The Dark Pretender Page 10