Page 57 of A Song of Air
Weylyn was met with silence.
“Well, you’re doomed.” Iona made a move to stand, and Weylyn narrowed his eyes. Immediately, the magic of the binding deal responded, burning against her arm and making her cry out.
“Ahem,” Corvina interrupted. He reeled the magic back and turned towards her. Her golden curls coiled down her shoulders, and she nervously plucked at the ends. “Did you have a plan of your own?” she asked in her mousey voice. “You know, to win her over?”
Weylyn gave a single nod. “Yes.”
“Can I ask what it is?”
He smiled. “I plan on killing her lover.”
Simultaneously, the three women dropped their mouths open.
“That...” Shula began. “That’s not a plan.”
“You’re fucking insane,” Iona snapped. “What the fuck, Weylyn? You can’t just kill him because you feel like it!”
He shrugged his shoulders, appearing careless and confused, though deep down he felt a burning anger. “I will not let a sniveling human who smells like fuckingweedstake what’s mine.”
“She’snotyours, though,” Iona argued. “She can reject the bond whenever she wants.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Well, you’re here to ensure thatdoesn’thappen.”
“I can’t predict the future!” Iona threw her hands in the air. “What if she rejects you anyway?!”
“Then you are of no use to me.”
Iona screamed, dropping to her knees as the pain began to consume her. Shula dropped beside her, but Corvina stood, waving her arms. “Stop,” she pleaded. “Weylyn, stop.”
The magic immediately settled. Iona heaved a breath and Shula helped her stand. When they faced him, he glared. “It is only because of my High Lady that I take leniency on you.”
Corvina took a breath, and he avoided her gaze purposefully. He didn’t want to see the way her opinion of him changed, the veil ripped from her eyes as she realized what a monster he truly was when she esteemed him so.
Shula, however, glared his way. The depths of her ember eyes sparking with hatred and fire. “You’re such an asshole,” she growled.
He didn’t blink or contradict her. He knew very fucking well what he was and didn’t need her to tell him.
“You will help me,” he repeated.
Iona glared and snow swirled at her feet. His lip twisted up into a smirk that said, ‘Try me.’
After releasing a breath, she let her magic go and gritted out, “Fine.”
The women joined together again. There was a stretch of silence as they looked at him. It was Corvina who broke the silence first. “So, the plan...”
“If I cannot kill the pathetic human, then what do you suggest I do?”
Iona chortled. “Have you thought about getting to know her? You know, like a normal person?””
He hadn’t considered that as an option.
Fool,the cat purred into his mind.
He tilted his chin up. “She is mine,” he said firmly. “It’s been declared. There is no need for anything else.”
“If you think that then you’re doomed to fail before you even begin,” Iona snapped.
Before he could respond, Corvina cut in. “What if you offer her your help with a task?” she suggested softly. “Become friends with her in that way.”
