Page 10 of Bonded Chaos

“From this moment forward, every action you take, every word you utter, every place you go, will be at my discretion. You are mine. Obey me, prove that you can be a good girl, and perhaps I’ll grant you more freedom. But make no mistake, Cadence. Youcannot escape me. I can already feel the bond growing stronger, pulling me toward you with every passing moment we’re apart. No matter where you run, I will find you. You’d do well to accept it.”

I leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the side of her neck. She recoiled and jerked her head away from me.

“I see you haven’t quite accepted things yet,” I chuckled. “In that case, you will remain locked in my chambers. I’ll send a maid up to you to ensure you have everything you need.”

Releasing her, I stepped back and spun on my feet as I headed toward the door.

I’d only taken a few steps when something whizzed past my head, barely missing me. I straightened and glanced over my shoulder to see Cadence’s burning fury glaring back at me.

My gaze darted to the door. Buried deep in the wooden panes of the door frame was a dagger. The same one that had been sitting on my desk atop a wine goblet.

As I reached the door, I pulled the blade from the wood and toyed with the sharpened tip.

“I think I’ll take this with me,” I said with a wink.

Before Cadence could grab another projectile, I slipped through the door and locked it behind me.

Chapter Five

Cadence

Part of me knew I should fear the man who held me captive. More so than others, considering my past. He was known to be ruthless and unforgiving, and no one in their right mind would challenge him, let alone try to attack him.

More importantly, he was the Prince of the Unseelie.

The two Fae courts despised one another. After the Gilded King’s betrayal, the courts had gone to war. The feuding had lasted centuries before finally tapering off. But I’d be a fool to believe that the lack of active conflict meant I wasn’t still standing on a battlefield. Every new generation had inherited that hatred, with few exceptions. He was just as likely to slit my throat for being Seelie as he was for my attempt to maim him.

Despite knowing this, however, I was beyond caring, and I had let my rage and desperation convince me it was a good idea to hurl a dagger at him.

And now I was locked inside his chambers, seething.

I paced the small area in front of the window and imagined a myriad of ways I could bring about the prince’s bloody demise. It had been foolish of me to relinquish my only weapon. Still, his shocked expression had almost made it worth it.

“You need to think, Cadence. Smugness won’t get you out of this situation,” I murmured.

My gaze swept the room. There was no hidden door or concealed passageway, no servant’s entrance, or even a small pet flap that I could use to slip free.

I was trapped, and that knowledge made my skin crawl.

My footsteps slowed as I considered the one thing that I had promised my mother I would never do again.

My magic stirred to life inside me as if in response to my thoughts. The familiar feeling of warmth spread across my chest, and for the briefest moment, I allowed myself to bask in it.

No. There was a reason I couldn’t use my magic. The risk of exposure was too great.

I shuddered at what they’d do to me if anyone ever found out.

As I resumed my pacing, I tried to come up with an alternative plan of action. I went to the door and tested the handle again.

Locked. Just like the last three times I had checked.

The cold metal remained unmoving in my grasp, taunting me.

Even if it were unlocked, it wouldn’t have helped. I’d never slip past the castle walls unnoticed.

“Don’t think like that, Cadence. You’ve got to try,” I reminded myself.

Now that I thought about it, I didn’t even know if I was actually at the Unseelie Palace.

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