Prologue
I was tired. I had barely slept in days. I desperately wanted to sleep, but more than that, I wanted to escape. I grabbed a shard of glass, holding it up between me and Aleksander. He remained calm and said, “You know I’m too strong for you to hurt me physically.”
“No, but I can hurt you emotionally.” I couldn’t live like this anymore, effectively trapped in a cage. I held the glass to my own throat, gripping it so hard that it cut into my hand. “I can hurt myself. You might be able to stop me because you’re fast, but are you fast enough I wonder?”
His breath caught, and he held out a hand in a placating gesture. “Darling, why don’t you just calm down? You don’t want to do this.”
“How the fuck would you know what I want? You spent the last few months ignoring what I want.”
“I have only asked for you to remain at my side, safe and sound.” As a human pet to the fae prince in this court of intrigue, I was anything but safe and sound here.
“You’ve kept me prisoner, preventing me from going home!” Involuntarily, tears escaped my eyes. I was angry at Prince Aleksander, the world, and myself for getting into this situation.
“We both know you don’t have a home in this world.” I narrowed my eyes. That was a low blow. He knew I missed my family.
“Maybe not, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m tired of being in this palace. I’m tired of being with you.”
Suddenly, before I could blink. He grabbed my wrist, squeezing until I let go of the piece of glass. I grit my teeth and resisted, but eventually, I was forced to drop it. Then, he pushed me against the wall.
He cooed softly, “Shh, it’s okay now. It’s alright. All is fine.” He cradled my head to his chest and gently rocked me. “You’re safe. Just relax now.” I don’t know how long we stayed like that, but I felt emotionally drained and exhausted. I soon gave way to the darkness and slept.
When I woke up, I noticed I was in Prince Aleksander’s bed and my hand was bandaged. He must have carried me here and put the bandage on. I heard the door open and closed my eyes. I didn’t want to face him right now.
“You can pretend to still be sleeping all you want, but I know you’re awake.” It was Prince Dorian.
I opened my eyes and sat up. I knew I must have looked a mess. I could feel my eyes were puffy from all my crying and I had a headache. I sighed, “What do you want, Your Highness?”
“I propose a deal. If you provide me with information about my brother, little stuff about what he gets up to and what you see, I can help you escape him.”
I hesitated and then shook my head. “No. I would appreciate my freedom but not for a favor like that.”
“No? Are you truly that loyal to him?”
I was still new to this world and its players, but I knew I didn’t want to get involved any more than I already was. “No. I’m truly not that stupid. I know the mechanics of this and the court’s politics. I am merely a pawn. You fae are all very specific in your words. You might promise me freedom, but that might not come until I’m dead in the ground.”
