A shiver skated down my spine. I escaped it by wrenching my attention back to Kyven.
“And you?” I couldn’t keep the bite from my tone. “Should I fearyou, my prince?”
His features slackened in what could only be feigned surprise. “Me? Oh, no, I’m perfectly safe. Unless you’re threatened by a cunning wit and devastating good looks.”
I only barely withheld my scoff. He was good, I’d give him that. Almost passable as a real, live human. I’d probaby have been fooled, if not for Eliana’s warnings. “Right,” I said. “Well, this has been delightful, but I seem to have lost my appetite. If you’ll excuse me.”
We needed out. Screw the food, screw the prince, screw the crooked smile I wanted to slap right off his face. I tugged Amryssa to her feet, propelling her toward the door with barely restrained urgency, as if our lives depended on it.
Hers actually might, which was close enough for me.
“My Lady?”
I pretended not to hear. I yanked open the doors and steered Amryssa through, but the prince called after me again.
I closed my eyes for an overlong moment before turning. “What?”
“It was a pleasure making your acquaintance.” Kyven winked. Actually fuckingwinkedat me, the snake.
Revulsion swelled in my throat as my attention dropped to his hands. No claws, this time. Just normal, human hands, one clasped loosely around his breakfast knife.
Kill yourself, I commanded, my fingers clamped around my dagger.Take that knife and stab yourself in the throat.
Kyven’s brow crinkled. He brought the blade haltingly toward his neck.
Sparks exploded in my bloodstream as I waited. Closer, closer... But no. The prince only itched his Adam’s apple and lowered the knife again. My dagger went silent in my hand.
Well, shit. It had been worth a try.
Kyven offered me another one-sided smile. Goddess, didn’t he know how to do anything else? “Marry you later, then?”
“Right.” I summoned a blinding, artificial cheer. “Marry you later. Can’t wait.”
I turned and fled.
4.
On our way up the stairs, Amryssa stumbled, but I shored her up as best I could.
The tangled knot beneath my ribs only loosened once I locked us in my room. I sat Amryssa on my bed, stowed my castoff chains, and dug through the bottom drawer of my armoire, searching for the letter that had arrived weeks ago. My pulse blurred as I scanned the lines.
“What’s that?” Amryssa said.
I swiveled to look at her. “A warning.”
“A warning?” She frowned. “Against what?”
“Against letting you marry that...thingdownstairs.”
She chewed at her bottom lip. Her aura had dulled even further in the last few minutes, as if the prince had tarnished her merely by existing. “I don’t see that I have much choice.”
“No. To hell with that. I won’t let it happen. I won’t let him touch you.”
“But...I thought he seemed kind enough. Didn’t he?” Her eyes glazed over, as if only half of her occupied this room withme. “I’ll just...lie back and close my eyes. Ask him to be gentle. I can endure gentle, I think.”
My heart burst apart like a dropped globe of glass. Here she was, barely able to face this sanitized ideal she’d dreamed up, when meanwhile, the truth would destroy her.
“Kyven’s not...what he seems.” After a moment’s hesitation, I offered Amryssa the letter. I hated to ambush her like this, but she needed to know the truth. “The prince isn’t what he pretends to be.”
