Page 45 of The Crimson Princess
“See you then,” I state, but he’s already bowing to my father.
It’s not until he is out of sight, that I refocus on my father. “How big is the problem with the portal?”
“Nothing has changed.”
It’s an infuriating reply I reject. “We both know that’s not true.”
He studies me with a hooded stare and shoves the bowl in front of him aside. “If you must know, there’s been a random surge of magic that attacks the portal. It forces it open. I shut it, but that becomes more challenging each time.”
“The sorceress,” I assume.
“That’s my assumption.”
He offers nothing more and I do my best to pry it out of him. “Are the druids behind this?”
“King Darus assures me they are not. In fact, he’s expressed grave concern over the sorceress.”
“He’s lying,” I say without hesitation. “I can sense Bellar’s deceit when I am with him.”
“You think I trust them? I’m controlling them, teasing them with you, and you need to play the game.”
His intent is to stay on the throne, no matter what the cost to me. “We need allies,” I state, trying to find reason he will follow before I add, “Toren—”
“Is my sworn enemy and we cannot trust him to choose us over his brother.”
“His brother is trying to destroyhim.”
“If they ever manage to fully come together again, the vampires will rule us all.”
“Then why let Toren stay? Why accept his offer to protect the portal during the Challenge?”
“I do not believe Toren wants the war, but if Third World is breached, and his brother is in power, he’d be a fool not to join him.”
“Let’s make sure he’s never in a position to make such a choice. Let him help us.”
“Toren is not who you think he is, Satima. Besides, he won’t kill his brother. I will. The druids will.”
“I told you. The druids mean us harm. Toren does not.”
“Spoken like someone who was all but undressing for him in front of her father.”
“No,” I repeat, unwilling to be distracted from my point. “No. The druids will strike us. Toren will stand with us.”
“And you’ve read the Book of Life?” he challenges. “You know what it’s telling me to do?”
“I don’t pretend to have the Book of Life as my guide, but I have the gifts I’ve been blessed with, father.King. I beg of you to at least consider my input. What happens if the book tells you that you’ll cede power to another king, and think it’s the wrong king?”
He grabs my arm and pulls me to him, a rough jolt that sets my heart to racing. “How do you know what it says?” he demands.
“Magic,” I bite out, fighting the urge to yank against his grip. “I know things. That’s what turning twenty-three did for me. I keep telling you that, but you don’t seem to want to hear me.”
His eyes burn into mine with the fierceness of the fires that humans describe as their hell. “You’d be smart to remember that your magic is no match for mine, nor is it rich with experience nor the depth of centuries of living. Your ‘feelings’ are dictated by your personal wants and needs.”
My fingers curl in my palms. “That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it? Are you absolutely certain you know where your feelings are derived from?” He allows me no time to respond, adding, “Thanks to me and the book, we have lived in peace for centuries now. We continue to do so with me on the throne.” He releases me. “You are promised to the druid prince. Act like it. Our worlds might depend on it. I expect to see you at the Laudation tomorrow night.”
The Laudation being the mixer that honors the participants of the Challenge the evening before it launches. I incline my chin, push to my feet, and bite back my accusation. He used Toren to win a war and then tried to kill him. And now, he’s using me, perhaps even sacrificing me.
