Page 55 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
But he didn't let me go.
He was also right, the blue-eyed bastard. In this state, with no powers, I didn’t stand a chance against him in hand-to-hand combat.
I hadn’t chosen the bow as my preferred weapon because I wastooadept at throwing fists.
But I would have rather scorched myself in the fireplace than admit it out loud. Especially to him.
The word burned as it crawled up my throat and hissed through my clenched teeth. “Promise.”
Instantly, I regained control of my body.
With my momentum halted by his frightening power, I stumbled forward. His arm twitched as if he wanted to steady me, but I righted my legs before I embarrassed myself even more and took three shaky steps back, putting as much distance between us. As if that could protect me in any way when he froze bodies with a flick of his fingers.
I threw my hair over my shoulder and stood up tall, trying to regain some semblance of dignity, while he keptwatching.
“I will not stand for this,” I declared.
I was in my enemy’s territory and promised for an arranged marriage.
I was one sharp breath away from fainting.
I couldn’t access my power to help.
But I knew, without a doubt, I truly would not take this lying down.
He nodded. “I imagined you wouldn’t.”
“I’m not marrying you.”
“I don’t care.” He took a menacing step forward. “Take it up with the Clan Council, we’ve already tried. I have enough problems without knotting my life to yours.”
“I wasn’t the one who stoleyouand stuckyouin a coffin.”
His eyes sparked once more. Regret? Contempt? The Commander was too hard to read and that unnerved me in a way he had no business doing right now.
“I did,” he said simply, even as his gaze fell for the briefest moment, landing on the floor right under my feet. “And now I’m forced to live with it. Nowyoucan do whatever you want and live with that.”
I narrowed my gaze. “What game are you playing?”
His eyes jumped back to me. “Refuse the marriage, face the Council’s wrath, go back to Aquila. Whatever that feared mind of yours desires. You are no prisoner. At least not yet.”
With that, he turned on his heels, leaving me filled with questions and craving answers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He only stopped when he yanked the door open, looking over his shoulder at me. “I’ve seen lies like Silas’ before. Your people don’t know you’re alive. Judging by the way your Clan has changed in a matter of days, I’d say you won’t be welcomed home with open arms, but shoved in a dungeon deep enough so nobody can hear you scream.”
A stuttered breath was the only reply I could give.
I wanted to argue, I did.
But if Silas truly was on the throne–
“You are an impressive woman, but even you can’t escape my land unscathed. If you want to try, be my guest. You’re free to do what you want, I cannot protect the unwilling. But I will not help you rush to the grave waiting for you back home.”
With that, he closed the door, and left me alone with the doubts I had to face.
What if I truly wasn’t the Protectorate’s First Daughter anymore?
