Page 38 of The Bound Mage
Chapter
Fourteen
Thorne truly didn’t carewhat she did.
The first day, Araya slipped out of her room before dawn. If Thorne meant to force her to do menial labor in some sort of ridiculoustrainingexercise, he’d have to find her first. She barricaded herself in the library instead, surrounding herself with the books Loren had left out that last, disastrous morning.
The bond throbbed like a wound in her chest, aching with his absence. Even after what he’d done to her, she caught herself half-expecting him to lean over and help her with a word, patiently walking her through the passage that was giving her trouble.
But he wasn’t here. He’d left her.
It was slow-going without him. The spidery script blurred in front of her eyes, forcing her to read the same lines over and over again until her head pounded. She didn’t even realize how much time had passed until her stomach growled loudly, protesting that she’d missed breakfast and lunch in her efforts to avoid Thorne.
Araya clenched her jaw, turning another page. She’d been hungry before. It would take more than food to force her out.
But Thorne never came to find her.
Darkness had fallen by the time she closed her book, her head throbbing from the effort of translating the ancient Valenya word by painstakingly word. She trudged back to her room, too tired to care if Thorne found her there—all she wanted was to collapse into her bed and sleep. Hopefully without nightmares, for once.
She shoved the door open, reaching for the chair to wedge under the doorknob—but stopped short when she caught sight of the small parcel. It sat on the desk, neatly wrapped in plain paper. No note—no explanation.
Araya scowled, picking up the package and tearing into it. If Thorne thought she could be bribed into cooperating he had another thing coming?—
A small brass key slid into her palm.
Araya stared down at it, hardly breathing. He’d said he would get it for her, but she hadn’t really believed him. After all, he was only half-fae—he could lie if he wanted to. And Loren obviously hadn’t wanted her to have it. Who was Thorne to go against his prince?
But he’d gotten her the key anyway. Just like he’d said he would.
She stared at it for a long moment, her throat tight. Then, for the first time since she’d been dragged to Ithralis, she closed her door and turned the lock, the unfamiliar weight of safety settling in her chest.
She wokeup late the next morning, her stomach knotted and hollow. She rose slowly, not surprised to find the table empty. After yesterday, she was almost certain no tray would appear until Thorne gave his blessing. He was clearly intending to starveher until she gave in, but if he thought it was going to be that easy to manipulate her he was in for an unpleasant surprise.
Araya forced herself to go through her morning routine, taking her time dressing and braiding her hair. By the time she left her room, it was mid-morning—a perfectly respectable time for a late breakfast.
She held her head high as she walked into the dining room. Thorne still sat at the table, his plate pushed aside so to make space for a leather-bound ledger. He didn’t even look up as she walked in, his brow furrowed as he tapped his quill against the edge of the page.
“Thank you,” Araya said, sliding into the seat across from him. “For the key.” She uncovering her plate, revealing another serving of fluffy eggs. No berries and clotted cream today—but Araya was so hungry even the salted fish looked delicious.
“You’re welcome,” Thorne said absently, marking something in the ledger beside him. “How was your day yesterday?”
“Fine.” Araya took a tiny bite of eggs, refusing to scarf it down the way her stomach demanded. “I spent it in the library.”
Thorne hummed, his focus still on his work. “Read anything interesting?”
Araya narrowed her eyes. “If you think you can starve me into scrubbing pots for Veria, you’re wrong. I’m not going to be manipulated?—”
“Of course you’re not,” Thorne said, finally looking up at her. “Your meals will be served here at the usual times—just like they are for everyone else. Like I said before, your days are yours to spend however you wish.”
Her fork clattered against the plate. That was it? No lecture, no clever little push to get her to cooperate?
“What kind of game are you playing?” she demanded. “You said Loren put you in charge of my training?—”
“He did.” Thorne smiled warmly, unperturbed by her tone. “And that’s what we’re doing. It’s not a game, Araya. You truly are free to do as you please. But, if you do ever find yourself with some free time I spend most of my afternoons in the garden.” He held her gaze, his amber eyes kind and steady. “You’re welcome to join me there if you want to take a more active approach to learning how to coexist with your magic.”
Chapter
Fifteen
