Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Maybe it was the curse secretly working on me, turning me into the most animalistic version of myself. Maybe it was merely Alisdair’s bad influence. But he was right. One could shout all the live long day that they don’t want war, but if they want things that only war will achieve, what’s the fucking difference?
If asking nicely could’ve ended the forced bindings and death sentences placed on women, we wouldn’t still be here centuries later with pleas on our lips.
Power isn’t given. It’s wrested away from cold, dead fingers, and when again in my life would I have a great and terrible man willing to wrest away said power... and give it to me.
“The Crystal Palace,” I said, signing the seal of treason. “My father has an army of female servants, because of course changing sheets and scrubbing toilets is lowly work only fit for women. He even has two perch over his bed at night, fanning and keeping him cool while he snores away,” I said. “They wouldn’t need magic to slit his sleeping throat, but magic would certainly help them slip away without a trace.”
Alisdair leaned over me, enveloping me in that heady scent of jasmine and pine. “And you would be okay with this? Ordering the death of your father?”
“I hate that man.” Emiana’s truth fell from her lips, fired by the hatred etched into her bones. “Why shouldn’t I order his death? He ordered mine when he had me bound. He ordered it again when he sold me to a man who had every intention of killing me.” I gave him a wry grin. Alisdair grinned back. “That man never showed an ounce of loyalty or care for me. Even less for the women of Lyrica. They suffer while he grows fat and rich, gorging himself on sex and looted coin.”
I scoffed, lips curling. “Let him die. I’ll stand on his corpse to sit upon a throne that was never his and always mine, and rise higher than a son of his ever could. He’ll burn for the rest of eternity, wishing he hadn’t underestimated the princess of Lyrica— No...” I smirked. “The queen of Wind and Wild.”
“You are magnificent,” Alisdair gruffed, heat pouring off him and setting my skin ablaze. “I would have you right here.”
I laughed. “Huh, so that’s all it takes to seduce you.”
I don’t know who moved first—him or me—but in a flash, we were tearing at each other, ripping off any piece of clothing we got our hands on.
Alisdair threw everything off the table and tossed me on, pouncing on me before I caught my breath. We mauled each other for hours—interrupted only by Foalan walking in, taking one look, and walking back out.
As Alisdair pressed my head to the table, pumping my ravaged hole from behind, I accepted that Aeris was right about everything.
I kept trying to make Alisdair fall in love with me through sex and lust, but that was never where he held back. His desire for me was obvious from that very first day in the carriage, and if that was enough to make him give his heart, I would already have it.
No. Somehow, I had to get through to the man who had told me nothing real or true about him since we met. I had to get him to open up to me. I had to make Alisdair Shadowsoul, the most feared man in Evla, vulnerable.
“WHAT ABOUT RAJADOM’S councilor?”
I reclined on my litter, snuggled under blankets and a raised roof on the snowy, bleak day. I demanded they added the roof when Alisdair announced we had to make a trip to a neighboring village, to speak to the person who’d help us find the right assassins for our plan.
“Why they can’t come to us, I have no idea,” I snapped at Alisdair. “We are their sovereigns. It’s offensive that I should be out in this cold, trekking miles to meet with a peasant.” I flicked the head of the servant carrying me. “Drink!”
Obediently they raised the tray holding my warm, spiced cider. I took a sip and hummed, getting comfortable against my pillows. I’d say something for the beasts, they knew how to treat their betters—
Stop it! my true voice blared. Get out of my head, you monster!
I tossed my head, coming out of the fog. It was getting harder and harder to know what was her and what was me, but those horrid thoughts—that could only be her.
“Excuse me,” I rasped, clutching my head. “That was rude. Thank you for the cider, Mavendale, and thank you all for carrying me. You can put me down now. My feet work just fine.”
“Are you sure, Lady Ana?” Eadaoin asked. “We don’t mind.”
“I’m sure.” My voice was firm. “I’ll walk.”
Even though nothing but Alisdair declaring his love for the true me could break the curse, it was clear that indulging the things Emiana would do made it harder for me to remember where she ended and I began. I had to cling to me. Behave as I would behave. Do what only I would do.