Page 23 of Lady of the Lake

Hugging myself, I remember what Darius said all those months ago. I’d suspected it for a while, and I’d seen it when we’d fought the basilisk.There are rumors that Talan can not only control dreams, but the weather.

I cock my head. “Tell me, Talan. Why would anyone keep a primal power a secret? Everyone thinks they’re gone from the world, but you control the weather, don’t you?”

A flicker of surprise crosses his features. “The weather responds to my magic. I wouldn’t say I have much control, and if I did, I would most certainly keep it a secret, just like you tried to hide yours from me.”

“Right, because we both know what happened when you discovered mine. Now, I’m your plaything.”

His eyes glitter like dark jewels, and his gaze sweeps down my body, then up again. The dark, velvety feel of his magic wraps around me, making my pulse race. “Not nearly as much as I’d like you to be.”

I stare up at him. “You and I don’t exactly go together.”

“And yet here we are, the only two people in the world with primal powers. And I think you like me more than you let on. Even if you know I’m evil down to my bones, some part of you wants a taste of my poison. Underneath your pretty little uptight farm girl exterior, you hunger for chaos. You crave adventure. Youwantthe freedom to make bad decisions.” His voice drops low, and a dangerous edge slides through his words. “And what’s a worse decision than me?”

I swallow hard, trying to ignore the resonance of his words.After years of trying to balance my mom’s bank account and make enough rent money for both of us, sometimes I wanted to break everything.Burn it all down.

“And what led you to that conclusion?”

“You always had to be the responsible one, didn’t you? Taking care of your drunkard father, an adult before your time. Your sister didn’t seem like much help.” He arches an eyebrow. “So much responsibility for one girl. You walk along a precipice, hungering for the dark embrace of the abyss. I must say, I find you intriguing.”

My gaze lingers on his full, gently curved lips. “You’re intrigued by an uptight farm girl?”

“Very much. And sometimes, you remind me of a ghost I’ve been chasing for years. Someone whose thoughts twined with mine, though her voice hasn’t haunted me for a long time.”

My breath falters.

His gaze brushes down me again, and he lowers his face to mine, a faint smile curling his lips. “You claim to hate me, but the reaction of your body tells me otherwise. Deep down, you crave a monster like me to send fire through your veins. Deep down, Nia, I think you are begging to be set free.”

His lips hover so close to mine now, and the wild thrum of his power skims over my body. This close to him, heat dives down into my core, and I lick my lips. His gaze flicks down, watching the movement.

Nia, stop. Don’t fall under his spell.

My heart slams hard. Heisdangerous, and I need to put the walls up right now. I’m here to kill this man, not let him seduce me.

My jaw tightens. “But this is all fake,” I say sharply, panic raking at my thoughts. “I’m here as your wife because I had no other choice. That’s all. There’s no lust here. I know what you are—a monster—and I reject everything about you.”

He straightens and flashes me a smile of heartbreaking beauty. “Is that right?” A burst of thunder rattles the windowpanes. “Well, I do like a challenge, but I’ve got work to do.” He turns away from me. “There’s plenty of reading here to keep you occupied.”

“Work?”

He casts one last look over his shoulder. “I’m going to find the traitors and make them wish they’d never been born.”

My breath comes in short bursts. I’m desperate to get out, to warn Nivene about him. “And I’m just supposed to stay in this library?”

“Even if reason has entirely deserted you, and you have so decidedlyrejectedme, you’re not my prisoner. You can leave here when you want for social occasions. The soldiers will guard you. No matter how poor your judgment is, and no matter how fake our marriage is, I will not let my wife die.” He turns away from me, heading for the door.

The door closes behind him, the sound echoing through the large hall.

Holy shit.He’s too close to the truth. Too sharp. And if I don’t move quickly, he’ll unravel every secret.

CHAPTER 12

It’s not long before I get the chance to talk to Nivene. She shows up at my door, surrounded by her own retinue of guards.

Now, we sit before the warmth of the library fireplace, sipping tea and eating elderflower honey cakes a servant left with me. Outside, snow whips at the windows.

She stares at me over the rim of her cup. “You let me handle the situation with The Shadowed Thicket. I have more freedom than you do to move around.”

“Your own soldiers surround you. Do you really have freedom?”

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