“I do envy you.”
His hazel eyes roll nearly to the back of his head. “No, you don’t. You are made to lead this country.”
But sometimes, I wish that I wasn’t... Sometimes, like today, I wish that I was a carpenter in the city in love with a woman who owns a bookstore.My heart aches at the idea of the life that I could never have.
I scrub my face with my hands. “What were you and the Witch up to?”That’s it... change the subject, think about anything else.
“Battle of wits.” The glass is settled on a small table at his side before he stretches in the seat further. He smirks when my lips press together. “We were playing Pucks and Daggers.” He sighs.
“Exciting.”
“She’s actually pretty great, you know.”
“The Witch?”
Half of his brown hair is twisted into a knot on top of his head, the other half curling at his neck. The small bun bobs as he nods his head. “Girl’s got a great sense of humor.”
“And a mean right hook.”
“In another time or place, I could see us easily being friends.”
I scoff, beginning my pacing again. I’ve lost count of the minutes we’ve been holed up in this room. The number of curses I’ve whispered under my breath has easily surpassed the amount acceptable for someone of my status to mutter. Even then, Violence does not show.
It isn’t until I’ve sat on the edge of her bed listening to the anxious tap of Casimir’s foot against the floor as I cradle my head in my hands that the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Magic is ripe in the air. The curtains balloon from the window, a sudden gust carrying a thousand swirling pieces of glitter. Dust swirls like a tornado, starting at the floor and working its way up two bodies.
I’m on my feet. Casimir not long behind me. Cameron wobbles on her toes, staring at her hands as the final pieces of her physical form come back together. The smell of ash lingers on their clothing, so strong that I hold my breath.
Violence slouches as she takes in her surroundings and ignores us as she wanders to the nearest chair. Air hisses from the cushions as she plops into the seat. Her now-ragged dress leaves her more exposed than I’ve ever seen her, and I have to look away.
“Casimir, take the Witch back to her room,” I say.
“Come on,” he says quietly to Cameron, arm extending to guide her out into the hall. She sends a fleeting look to Violence, who has tipped her head back and closed her eyes. “We can go finish our game.” Cameron snorts but reluctantly follows.
“Violence.”
“Don’t say my name like that.” She looks up, and I can see soot smudged on her cheek. “You sound like Father come to lecture me on something I’ve done wrong. Are you going to throw me to the wolves too?” She laughs a little, gesturing to the room around us. “Oh wait, you already have.”
I cringe. “I just need you to understand—”
“No, I get it. I really do, Merrick. But goddess be damned, I can’t. I won’t.” Her features twist into something a bit nasty.
“Were you pulled to a job? To something with the Wild Hunt?”
She dips her chin.
“And you sawhim?”
Another nod.
This man, this beast who lives as a part of our Hunt, has somehow won my sister’s heart. I’ve always thought she fell in love too easily. First with Trill, that spineless nothing of a man who didn’t fight hard enough for her. If it had been Valentina who’d been sent away, I wouldn’t have ever stopped looking for her. I would have never given up.
“You are a princess. You deserve a prince.” I try to plead with her.
“We’ve had this conversation already.”
“Why are you so stubborn?” Knots form in my chest. “You know what is at stake here, don’t you? Do you truly understand?” Something like guilt passes over her face, but she turns away before I can truly identify the emotion.
Her lip quivers, and I wonder if she’ll sob. Some of my anger dissolves. “Merrick, I’m soexhausted. Aren’t you? I’m tired of fighting day in and day out. For once, I want something that someone can’t take away, something... someone... that I have chosen. Royalty or not. I got myself into this mess because I wanted to save our court, because I felt some sort of responsibility for these people that have cast me aside as though I was nothing. I wanted to...” She takes a deep breath. “I wanted to bring down the Mad King. Now look at me. I’m a doll, dressed up and put on display for a prince who would rather get in my pants than get to know me. I’m a prisoner.” Light shines against the water that builds along her eyelids.
