Page 236 of A Dance of Water

She swallowed, unable to stop herself as she said:

"You have no honor."

King Vale turned his head, rays of color hitting his eyes just right and making them sparkle like emeralds. "I can have honor, when it suits me,PrincessLuella." Her title rolled off his tongue with weight, filled with secrets. He grew silent, and in that silence, she heard heavy footsteps.

What awaited her now?

From the darkness in the corner of the room, where the shadows were thicker and a stone pillar carved with etchings stood, a figure emerged.

The Prima’s white hair was undone, with only a few braidswoven with his usual copper and silver threads. She didn’t realize how long his hair was; it fell to his waist. His white shirt was simple, laces undone at the top to reveal his tanned skin marked with thick ink.

He walked closer, the rainbow light doing nothing to make him less frightening.

"The little lamb led to slaughter." Tharen inclined his head toward her, then toward the altar at her back. "The only thing missing on the grey stone is your blood," he said.

She flinched.

They herded her between them—Vale on one side, Tharen on the other, with the altar at her back.

"Do not frighten her, Tharen. You hear her heartbeat." Vale’s eyes lowered to her chest. "She may not be able to take anymore, especially from you."

Tharen cocked his head, icy eyes pinning her to the spot. "I hear her heart… the blood flowing through her veins. It’s a wonder you haven’t passed out yet."

She raised her chin even though her voice shook. "Why are you here?"

The Prima arched a brow, stepping so close to her that the tips of his muddied boots brushed her bare toes. He ghosted a finger over her chest, sliding the dream amulet to the side as he revealed the tiny red circle of their deal, etched right beside the Binding mark. His fingers pressed hard against it. "You really think you would be able to be here alone and fuck him with your end of the bargain still unfinished?"

He didn’t mean…

"Come on, lamb, don’t be so stupid," Tharen taunted.

Given how scared she had been, she had not allowed herself to dwell on the ramifications of their deal and the Winter Solstice tradition.

"So, what do you mean? You will f—" No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t bring herself to saythatword. "You will force me?"

Tharen clicked his tongue. "For a brief moment, I thought you had been corrupted. But no, Princess, not unless you want it."

Luella scoffed. "What?"

"You are not being forced to lie with anyone," said the King. She turned to him, confusion etching a line between her brows. "It was all a ruse. We could not have our enemies or the citizens of Serpentis thinking you were favored—you were more than the Chosen and the war prize of Solis… We are always being watched, Princess Luella. Did you truly think I would force you beneath me?" He stepped closer and reclaimed his grasp on her wrists. Holding her arm up to his mouth, he breathed in, nose nearly brushing along the thin, delicate skin on the inside of her wrist.

"Why should I b-believe you?" She shook her head, trying to step back but feeling the immovable stone of the altar cutting into her thighs—one more step, and she would fall backward.

Smoke curled between them as Vale continued, "And did you truly think that your demon would allow it?"

Her legs grew numb. "Az," she breathed. "That was why he so easily went along with it. I thought… I thought he didn’t want to risk putting me in danger and going against you."

The dragon shifter laughed low. "He has no qualms about going against me. No, when we talked him out of trying to escape with you again, he realized this was the only way. Tricking you was the only way. You believed us so easily." Vale nipped at the webbing between her thumb and pointer finger. "It almost pained me to think you distrusted us so much."

Her breath hitched at the feel of his teeth against her skin. "Not Az. I thought he would have a reason—I hoped, at least. He did not let me down… but I suppose, neither did you."

Everything had grown still in the wake of his admission. As Luella took in what he said, a million more questions came to her mind.

She looked to Tharen, who watched her and Vale with a heated stare.

"If I am not to lie with you, then may we leave?" she asked.

Vale was already shaking his head. "No. The Solstice tradition must still be upheld. Your pleasure, as a gift to help the flowers bloom in these cold months. It will be known if you do not fulfill your duty. The Temple Mothers are beholden to the gods, evenabove me, their King. They will share what transpires here. That is why we must be careful, why Tharen hid himself away from them."

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