Page 143 of Thief of Souls
Ruhle reaches for my arm as we reach the throne room doors, and I yank free with a hiss. “Keep your hands off me.”
He gives a menacing laugh. “I’m enjoying every second of this.” His eyes flash with dark fire. “I’ll make you beg for mercy before this is done, Zemira. You killed my brothers. I’m going to cut their deaths out of your hide.”
I lean close enough to see the glint of rage in his eyes. “I don’t think he’ll let you. You might play at being the wolf here at court, but the truth remains: You’re just one of Father’s hounds like the rest of us.”
There’s no point struggling or trying to run. Facing Father is inevitable—it’s merely a matter of whether I do it on my own two feet or not.
So I don’t give him the satisfaction of having the last word. Instead, I turn and stride toward the doors as if they’ll part before me. The guards jerk them open just in time, and my breath catches as I catch a glimpse of the enormous throne in front of me.
An eerie figure waits in silence.
Torchlight flickers behind the king—a ploy I know is intended to make him appear more foreboding—but despite that knowledge, I can’t help feeling the weight of his gaze upon me.
“Father.” I go to one knee before the dais, my fingers curled into fists and my heart thundering in my chest.
I failed.
The horn is gone. I don’t even know who took it.
And there is only one answer for failure.
Boots crunch across the cold slate tiles. I steel myself, teeth clenched against the blow—
Instead, a hand slides through my hair. “You have done well, child.”
What?My head jerks up, but I’m not imagining the smirk on the king’s lips.
“You succeeded beyond my wildest imaginings,” he purrs, capturing my chin in a brutal grip. “And played your part to perfection.”
I don’t know why, but my stomach drops through my heels.Never trust his smile.“What do you mean? I failed,” I whisper. “I had the horn in my hands, and I lost it.”
“We no longer need the horn.” He reaches within his cloak and produces a letter. “I found this on my throne this morning.”
And with that, he tosses it at my feet, looking strangely ecstatic over the fact someone clearly slipped past his personal security.
I flip the envelope open with my thumbnail. The envelope was sealed with red wax, and my heart starts to flutter when I see the impression of the broken seal. A dragon rampant.
Keir’s mark.
And his words, direct and to the point.
You have something I want.
I have something you want.
Meet me at the Easternwick ruins to make the trade by sundown and bring your daughter.
Keir
The heat drainsout of my face as I lower the letter. “I… don’t understand.”
“Simple,” my father replies, sinking back onto his throne. He snaps his fingers and Ruhle appears from the shadows behind the throne, dragging a young fae woman.
Ruhle throws her at my feet, and Ismena scrambles upright, panting with fright. Her skirts are torn and tattered. “I did everything you asked,” she blurted. “You promised you would let me go if I told you everything.”
I surge to my feet. Ismena.Here?It makes no sense….
Or does it?
