Page 26 of The Stars are Dying

Fennik drilled his eyes into me as if I were the answer to that protection. “Why don’t they just take her?”

Hektor chuckled with smooth arrogance. “That secret will remain solely between Vermont and me.”

I didn’t listen to the rest of their exchange in the next few minutes, remaining numb instead. My mind had never scrambled so desperately to make sense of how my small existence could be shaken and bartered.One more day, I repeated to calm myself. He wouldn’t get to trade me as I would disappear tomorrow.

Only when we stood alone in his main study did I start to climb out of my reeling thoughts. “How could you?” I breathed. I didn’t want to feel the hurt that cleaved me at his betrayal. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but I realized, after all he’d done, I still believed that in his own twisted way hecaredfor me.

Hektor sighed like he’d been anticipating my outrage and believed it would be something else he could brush off. I watched him with building resentment, balling my fists as he wandered over to the liquor cart and poured two tumblers of whiskey. He brought one over to me, extending his hand, but I didn’t reach for it.

“I knew you would have met me with reluctance if I’d told you of this before, but you know nothing, Astraea. This manor has kept us thriving, but there is more out there for us. I plan to give you a throne like you deserve.”

“There is nous,” I spat. It wasn’t often I lost my composure around Hektor. He was a snake whose rattle was always shaking, one wrong move away from striking.

I didn’t care this time.

One more day.

Hektor’s expression tightened, so close to breaking. He inched the glass a little closer. A test.

As much as I wanted to shatter it, I needed answers before I made my choice.

“What have you told them of me?” I asked, taking the whiskey only to get him talking.

As I took my first sip his shoulders relaxed a fraction. He drove a hand through his messy auburn locks before sliding it into his pocket and pacing away. “I convinced them you have celestial blood,” he said so casually I spluttered.

“You said you couldn’t find anything on what my markings mean.”

“They mean nothing, darling. Likely a product of your mother consuming too much Starlight Matter.” He braced a hand on the mantel as he stared into the firepit, downing the last of his drink.

“Why do they believe it means something?”

Hektor’s mocking laugh made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “What matters is that I have no intention of giving you up. I’ll admit I am a bit wounded you believed otherwise. We’ll make the trade, and I’ll have all of them killed to get you back. I think it is time for a change, to grow our kingdom into an empire.” He turned, the fire blazing a frightening, hungry power across his face. “I have given you everything I possibly could here. Now I want to make you a queen.”

I shook my head, and the darkness that began to shift in him made me tremble. His hand tightened around his glass, and I saw the second he snapped. Ringing filled my ears when the shattering sound split the room. His glass rained down from the wall it hit as he crossed the distance, advancing for me, and my own glass slipped from my fingers.

“I have given youeverything,” he said with a lethal calm. “I can take it all away. Every memory you have is because of me. Do you think I wanted to shelter some runaway whore? Youbeggedto stay with me then.”

“I didn’t—”

His hand didn’t choke me, but I gasped all the same. He backed me up until I felt the desk and then he leaned further into me.

One more day.

This flare of determination I’d felt before, but never so strongly. I was going to fucking escape him before he could ever dream of using me again. It had to end, and now the frost was clearing to show Hektor would never change. This was who he was.

“You’re right,” I said. My hand flattened on his chest. “I’m sorry.”

That calmed him enough that he began to bunch up my skirts, and my stomach twisted with nausea. “Why do you test me, Astraea?” he sighed, continuing his climb up my bare leg. I pushed back my repulsion.

“Not here,” I tried.

He didn’t listen, and the clink of his belt made my eyes slip closed.

One more day.

I would run. I would run and run even if it killed me.

A voice rumbled through the door before Hektor could fully undo his buckle. I could have whimpered with relief, but a coat of shame was also cast over me at hearing Zathrian on the other side.

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