Page 50 of The Ruthless Fae King
I wanted to go in and pretend to sleep so that he couldn’t attempt anything more than keeping the bed warm.
He nodded, his eyes glittering. “I look forward to it.”
My heart hammered in my chest as I walked away from him. I was so angry at him, at myself for having to play this role. At my father. I was just so furious at everyone. Lucien would not have been forceful when we bedded. In fact, I knew he would not have pushed me to do it until I was ready. Grief welled up inside of me as I mourned a marriage and a lifetime that would never be. All the feelings I’d allowed myself to feel for the winter king had led to a deep love I didn’t expect in such a short time. Seeing how his father mistreated him just endeared me to him more. I’d envisioned a life in Winter Court as his wife and queen, and now that dream was dead.
When I got to my room, I reached up and touched my lips, remembering what it felt like to feel Lucien’s warm tongue in my mouth. That kind of passion was unlike any I’d ever felt before and I suspected ever would again. Definitely not with Marcelle.
Birdie entered the room a short while later holding a white nightgown. “I’ve been informed you will be sharing a bed with the king tonight?” She gave a nervous laugh. It must be a shock after our earlier conversation.
My gaze cut to hers and the laughter died in her throat.
“I’m surviving,” I told her.
Her lips pulled into a frown as she flicked her gaze to the floor. “Yes, my queen. I’m sorry.”
I stepped closer, reaching out to grasp her chin until she was looking up at me. “Don’t be sorry. Just know this about me: I willneverbe happily married to that man, no matter how much time I have to adjust.”
Her frown deepened as she looked genuinely sad for me. I wanted to drill this point home with her because she might end up being my greatest chance at escape.
“Then I will do whatever it takes to help you get out of here,” she said boldly, causing chills to race up my arms. “I wasnotraised to help keep prisoners. I am a lady-in-waiting to a queen and that means I putyourbest interests first.”
My throat clogged with emotion. I didn’t think she knew what it meant to me to have someone here that was on my side. “Thank you,” I managed.
She glanced behind her as if making sure the door was shut and we were still alone. “Maybe if we can get you out of here, you could go to the winter king, ask if he would take you back. I’m sure Marcelle could find another wife. All of the ladies like him…”
I barked out a sarcastic laugh, shocking us both. “Birdie, the winter king will not take a divorcee who has already given her purity to someone else. I’m a royal, we live under a different set of rules than you do.”
Her face fell and I hated that I was taking some of her innocence with this serious talk. She was clearly a hopeless romantic. “I just thought—”
“I’m damaged goods.” I yanked the dressing gown from her and then shut myself away in the washroom. Once the door was closed, I fell against it and a sob ripped from my throat.
I’m damaged goods.I’d never spoken truer words and the gloom cut into me like a knife.
THIRTEEN
I debated asking Birdie to fetch me a knife from the kitchen and then hiding it under my dress. But if Marcelle found it, my whole plan was shot. I’d be thrown in the dungeon to never see the light of day. My wind power was my best chance of defeating him. Even in daylight, I felt that against his sun magic I would win.
After dressing in my nightclothes I made my way to Marcelle’s room. Glancing at the bed where he’d so forcefully stripped me of my innocence, I swallowed hard and climbed in, facing the wall. The fire was crackling but there was frost on the walls and windows. It was getting colder. Lucien was still enacting his power from afar to show Marcelle that he was pissed.
It gave me comfort. Looking at the frost-covered window meant that even though Lucien couldn’t have me anymore, he was decreeing some sort of justice for what was taken from us. It had only been a few days but I wondered if my elf contact had taken Lucien’s father to the elvin treatment facility. I wondered if Lucien had contacted his friends, the dragon king and the elf king, to tell them of the news that the Nightfall queen was ingesting powers.
I wondered if Lucien’s staff had prepared the palace for a wedding and then wondered why I never showed.
I hoped word had reached him that I had been taken to wed Marcelle against my will. It would kill me if he believed otherwise. I thought of the note from Piper that I had burned and prayed to the Maker with the tiny shred of faith I had left that my mother and sister got out. The second I eventually killed Marcelle, I would need to get my family to safety so that his men did not retaliate. I had no idea if they would still accept me as their queen once Marcelle was dead.
The door opened behind me and I pinched my eyes shut, evening out my breathing. Footsteps approached the bed, and then there was the sound of someone laying shoes and possibly a belt on the floor.
The bed dipped and my breath hitched slightly. Suddenly Marcelle’s arms came around me and I mumbled something half intelligent, hoping to sound sleepy.
Don’t touch me!I wanted to scream. His arm rested over my stomach as he tucked in behind me, his body flush against my back, and I decided that Ihadto end this tonight. It was now or never. I couldn’t play wife to this monster and still respect myself in the morning. I would do a lot to survive, but my dignity had its limits.
Lying next to a man who’d robbed me of the chance to be with the one Iactuallyloved, caused my mind to retreat to a dark place. I could feel my normally sunny outlook on life dying slowly as I imagined being stuck here forever.
No.
A plan formed in my mind as Marcelle’s breathing evened out. I couldn’t sleep if I tried, so I lay awake as the cool air filled the room and my cheeks stung from the icy air. Then I started to shake, chattering my teeth together for effect.
Marcelle roused behind me and sat up. He shivered as well; itwascold, just not as cold as I was making it out to be. Marcelle looked at the dying fire.
