Page 52 of Throne of Ice and Blood
“Ah, Draven,” Emperor Bane says as we close the distance to the high table. “I was beginning to think that you weren’t going to show.”
We come to a halt below the short platform where their table is located. I remain two steps behind Draven and keep my eyes on the floor. Though to be honest, that is as much to prevent the Icehearts from seeing the rage in my eyes as it is to sell the broken slave act. I draw in a long breath and force myself to swallow down the anger.
Draven bows to his monarchs. “Apologies for my absence. Tracking down the Red Hand is requiring all of my time.”
His tone is respectful and his words are polite, but I can still hear the unspoken second part of that reply.So why are you wasting my time by forcing me to come to this banquet?
However, the Icehearts don’t appear to notice that, because all Bane says is, “Any progress?”
“No.”
Bane clicks his tongue in disapproval. But before he can say anything else, Jessina switches to a topic that makes my stomach twist.
“Selena is looking very… comfortable,” she says, drawing out that final word.
Since my eyes are still on the floor, I can’t see the expression on her face. But she sounds extremely disappointed.
“I thought you would be in the middle of breaking her,” she continues. “This is the most fun part, after all.”
“Indeed,” Emperor Bane picks up. “And yet, there she is. In a dress. No handcuffs. No blindfold. Nothing.”
“Why would I need that?” I can practically hear the wicked smirk in Draven’s voice. “When I have already broken her.”
Silence falls over our section of the banquet hall. Behind us, the other dragon shifter courtiers continue eating and drinking and chatting with each other as if nothing is wrong. As if Draven and I aren’t balancing on the edge of a knife right now. Light from the hundreds of candles in the room flickers in the corner of my eyes and makes the white ice floor gleam. I keep my eyes firmly on those shining reflections while resisting the urge to fidget.
“Already?” Empress Jessina says at last. She sounds more surprised than suspicious, thankfully. “How did you accomplish that?”
“I took her out to the mountainside,” Draven replies. There is both cruel amusement and wicked satisfaction in his voice. “And made her strip naked. Then I shackled her to a boulder andsummoned a lightning storm.” He lets out a vicious laugh. “I left her naked and handcuffed in that raging storm for twelve hours. She begged for mercy at my feet after that.”
A jolt shoots through me as Draven suddenly slides his hand up the back of my neck and into my hair. Taking it in a firm grip, he winds my hair around his fist and then pulls down, forcing me to raise my gaze and tilt my head back to expose my throat instead.
“Isn’t that right?” he demands as he stares me down.
The ruthless expression on his face snatches the breath from my lungs. Iknowthat this is an act, but I’m still having trouble convincing my mind not to panic. In this moment, Draven looks like the true Shadow of Death. The hard set to his mouth, the merciless expression on his face, the commanding hand gripping my hair, and the complete and utter authority in his tone… He looks like he’s going to torture me if I don’t obey his every command.
My heart slams against my ribs. Goddess above, Draven is a master at deception. To an extent that I never would have guessed.
I only need to half fake the breathless fear in my voice as I reply, “Yes, sir.”
Satisfaction pulses across his face, and he releases my hair before turning back to the Icehearts.
Jessina purses her lips and drums her fingers on the armrest of the white wooden chair she is seated on. “You should have told us beforehand.” Disdain and malice flood her pale gray eyes as she slides her gaze to me. “I would have liked to see that.”
“Perhaps we can get a little demonstration now,” Bane interjects before Draven can reply. A cruel smile spreads across his lips, and his black eyes glint in the candlelight, as he studies me for a second before locking eyes with Draven again. “Make her crawl to you and bow at your feet.”
My stomach lurches, and it takes all of my willpower to stop the shock and panic from showing on my face. I just stare at Emperor Bane while his eyes are still fixed on Draven. He can’t be serious. Is he actually going to make me?—
“Kneel.”
The command pulses through the air and reverberates through my very soul. Tearing my gaze from the vicious emperor, I slowly turn to face the source of the voice.
Draven has taken a few steps to the side, so that there is some distance between us. Power pulses around his muscular body like black smoke as he stares me down, as if daring me to disobey his command. But for the briefest of moments, I swear I can see a flicker of pleading in his eyes.
His words from earlier echo through my head.They’re going to scrutinize our every move. You need to really sell it.
I lower myself to my knees.
“Crawl to me,” Draven commands.
