Page 104 of Court of Winter

I glanced at the queen, who seemed so harmless and docile. To think that the female possessed that kind of power.

“And the king?”

“Only two, hence, why he sought out my mother.”

As if sensing that we’d been talking about him, Prince Norivun cast a side-eye my way. His eyes were bright. Raw.

My heart beat harder and harder until blood thundered through my ears. Why was he looking at me like that? And why was I suddenly wishing that these three females would vanish?

“I need some air,” I said to Nuwin, discreetly removing myself from his side.

“Ilara,” Nuwin called, reaching for me. “Wait!”

But I’d already slipped past him and headed toward the doors that led to the ice topiary maze.

Nobody paid attention to me as I wove through the crowd. It seemed that the court’s fickle interest in me had already passed, given the arrival of the three new females.

I slid by everyone as that throbbing sensation grew in me more and more.Air. I needed air.

I burst through the doors, barely having the wherewithal to ensure they closed behind me, and then I was running across the cobblestones toward the maze as the first firework appeared above me. The celebration was beginning. The prince was to marry. And all I could picture were those three beautiful females with unrivaled power all vying for the prince’s hand.

He was to marry one of them.

And I was to be his slave. His slave to prevent a war.

Air. I need air. I can’t breathe.

I sucked in breath after breath, but no matter what I did, the fire inside me grew until it felt like I was burning alive.

Another firework burst above me and then another. Voices carried to me, and I realized the throne room doors had spilled open, and the attendants were coming out to enjoy the show as they commenced the beginning of the Trial that would determine the prince’s fiancée and eventually the next queen to the Court of Winter.

I quickly moved behind an ice sculpture so nobody would see me, then pushed away from the sculpture and took off around the maze. Nuwin called for me again, but I didn’t stop.

The laughter and conversation carried on behind me as more and more fireworks exploded above while the crowd jeered and roared their approval.

Run. Just run.

I careened around a corner and was about to start searching for the prince’s private wing when a dark figure emerged in my path.

I skidded to a stop, my feet sliding across the slick cobblestones, and I nearly collided with the stranger when strong hands enclosed me. Familiar hands. And then a scent hit me. A scent that I would know anywhere.

Cloves and tobacco.

Terror slid through my veins as I gazed up at my village’s archon. Vorl smirked, his dark expression highlighted by another burst of fireworks.

I tried to pull back, tried to make sense of how he could be here and now. This couldn’t be happening. I must be dreaming.

“Let me go!” I proclaimed, as memories of the seasons of abuse that I’d suffered under this male’s hands reared within me.

“I think not.” His hand shot up, gripping me by the throat before he pinned me to the maze’s wall.

I clawed at him, trying to free myself as that throbbing sensation grew and grew inside me until it felt as though something were about to be born, unleashed, or awoken, but Icouldn’t breathe. I had no air.

No air.

Vorl winced when my nails raked down his skin, but I didn’t cut him deep enough for him to let me go.

“I wondered what he did with you,” Vorl hissed as his mouth met my ear. He pushed his large body against mine as his wings extended, blocking his activities from anyone who might happen to walk by. His erection speared my abdomen, his excitement at what he was doing evident.

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