Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71403 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I did not find that especially comforting.
He ran his tongue over his teeth. “We have time to prepare. The agreement with shifters buys us five days. Jon has agreed to halt his attacks until after the convergence. And to extend the truce, depending on how things go.”
“And if the rune doesn’t transfer to you?”
Sebastian’s gaze moved to the window. “Then the partnership with Jon ends.”
I followed his line of sight. The car eased along a road, a whole new world coming into view. Kraken strolled the promenade in twos and threes, lantern-light catching on their limbs, none of them looking up. A whole world that didn’t know it was already under siege.
“Majesty,” I said, gearing up to launch into a meaningful speech about all the reasons I was the worst candidate for this job. For starters, there was more to it than he’d admitted. There must be.
“Sebastian,” he corrected.
Fine. “Sebastian.” How could I say nein in a polite, non-war-causing way?
“You are the only one I want to do this, and you will not fail, Brona. You cannot. You have nothing to fear.”
I almost snapped: How dare you? I fear nothing! But it would have been a lie, and I would’ve known it, he would’ve known it, and that would have done neither of us any good.
“Before you deliver your verdict,” he said, “I’d like you to hear my terms.”
Oooh. Terms. I’d forgotten about those. Adelaide had mentioned them. Twice. Never give an answer without all the facts. I mean it, Bron. Never.
I inhaled slowly. Nodded. “Please continue.”
“I’m asking for five days of your life,” he said. Shadows crouched over his face, giving him an almost sinister air. “In exchange for attending meetings and events at my side, wearing the clothes I provide for you, playing the part of my devoted consort, and granting the rune permission to bond with me, I’ll change my vote on inter-realm marriage. I’ll also arrange for you to dance in every realm. Kings owe me favors, and I will collect.”
I sat reeling all over again. He would change his vote. The vote. The one that had sent me here in the first place, the nei that had killed my dream. And now he’d trade it back to me and let me dance for every berserker faction—for the price of pretending to date him.
How in the world did he learn about my goal to dance before all of berserkerhood? I’d told no one but my sisters, and they’d never spill.
Was there a spy in the dragon court, listening?
He wasn’t done. “I’ll also release you from your service contract the day after convergence. Your sister may replace you with anyone of her choosing.”
Buildings whizzed past us as I looked down at my hands. I’d come here for a reason, and he’d just offered me a solution on a silver shell. He’d even thrown in a sweetener. Early release if he wasn’t my firebrand. But what he asked of me was a responsibility I still wasn’t sure I wished to carry.
If I somehow failed to hear, people would get hurt. Innocent people. And I know, I know. He believed I would succeed. But how could he be so sure?
Argh. Could I really walk away without trying?
I narrowed my gaze on him. “I know you say fake is fine for the rune. But what about the shifter king? I’ve only been in your realm for a matter of hours, Sebastian. He won’t believe I fell for you. Or your people.”
The look he gave me could only be described as amused indulgence. “Everyone will believe you succumbed to me at moment one, Brona. But being in love isn’t our goal. It isn’t even on the table.”
Well, why wasn’t it on the table? I’d just watched him crouch beside a grieving woman and offer comfort. Before that, he’d dropped everything to arrange a search for survivors. He fought to protect his people. And by the flame, he smelled so good. There was a slight chance I could maybe, possibly, eventually fall in love with him if I let myself.
I gripped my knees. Could he not see himself ever falling in love with me?
“I promise you this, Brona. No one will ever question my desire for you.” He looked at me then, as he’d done inside the traveling stones, when his whole body had gone taut. As if he wanted me more than he wanted his next breath. “The relationship will be fake. The desire is not.”
Oh, sweet stars. Breathe. I needed to breathe. Heat flooded my cheeks. Little choking sounds escaped.
“See?” In a blink, that amused indulgence returned, replacing his desire. “Jon will say nothing.”
He’d turned it off so swiftly. And if he turned it on around others, everyone would believe he craved me. Even me.
This was so not smart.
And I couldn’t even be mad at him. If he’d spoken true, and that desire wasn’t faked… if that was really how much he wanted me… who would doubt him?