Page 216 of Burn Her They Said
I cannot do this. I cannot tolerate even one event, much less many more meetings like this. Now all I can hope is that Varic will be transferred to one of the furthest bases, where he would rarely be required to travel to the Palace.
His eyes cast over from where he stands twenty paces or so away. Minimally conversing as he flits his gaze back to my own while I try to pretend this palpable connection does not exist between us. My heart lurches with the torment of keeping this secret. A sense of torture which will only increase the more often we are made to share the same space.
Chapter Seventy-Four
Obey
Several Days Later
“Have there been any developments on the mysterious being in the forest?” His Majesty’s voice carries out into the corridor as we near the entrance of the dining hall.
“Yes, as a matter of fact—” Imperial Steward Garth says, then he falls silent once my Guards and I enter.
I hold in a scoff when he and Imperial Marshall Bradick drop their gazes to their plates while the Emperor has already shifted his attention to the document he holds out before him. My brows furrow like his are drawn in the center, swearing his wrinkles once resembled the deep crevices in the heart of the mountain, though now barely crease the surface. This newfound youth of his makes it appear as if he is barely cresting fifty years, rather than the seventy he’s lived.
“Does the Emperor appear more youthful to you?” I ask under my breath, and Cirrin nods his agreement.
My magic connects with His Majesty’s chest where his frustration is a tangled mess. I draw out his inner turmoil, and he releases a breath once I arrive by his side. He tosses the paper he was reading to the empty seat where Wyrth should be sitting, and nearly knocks his untouched water glass off the table in the process.
“There’s my little witch.” His voice is strained, like every other evening he has spent needlessly screaming at some undeserving servant.
I bow to him while he ignores my existence in favor of his wine goblet, which he tips back to gulp down the contents.
Every muscle in my lower body screams with fatigue as I carefully lower my shaking form down to my seat. Lars helps to push the chair in beneath me, and I nod to him in appreciation.
“Glory to the Dragons, to whom we owe everything,” I chant before lifting my fork to force a berry between my teeth.
Raki’s talons scrape over the gold scales adorning His Majesty’s shoulder, and my nostrils flare when he leans in to nuzzle it. A chill rises up my spine when his gaze rakes over me before he shifts to glare up at my Lead Guard.
“Did I not order you to keep one hundred paces from my little witch after your concerted display of disobedience?” His Majesty’s tone is cold. “You will do so anytime she is not before an audience.” The Emperor points to a corner across the room. “Go.”
Every member of court feigns their disinterest by looking anywhere but up at Varic.
His ears burn crimson as he bows to our captor, and my heart constricts as he takes a step back.
So I gather and send a small ember of my love to him, hoping he will understand he is not alone in this.
His shoulders drop, and I release some of the tension held in my own when my gift has settled in beneath his skin, imbuing his chest with the care I feel for him.
Warmth radiates around me as he casts his amber force-shield over my being. And even though he avoids my gaze as he turns, his distance still tugs on the invisible string he has tied around my heart. Tightening with every passing second he remains so far away from me. Cinching my chest with his refusal to make eye contact. Cast in shadow where he has been made to stand alone, in the farthest corner of the dining hall.
Emperor Aldritch shoves a bite into his mouth before turning to me, lips smacking. “I trust you spent the journey considering how you might atone for your disobedience?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I stare back at him and crush a ripe berry between my incisors.
“Good.” He sneers at Varic before returning his attention to me, running his hand along Raki’s spine while the other raises the goblet to his lips. “Now you will return to be my obedient little witch so we might resolve these ‘problems’ with the bordering lands.”
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
“Now.” He sends a wave of his dark gray magic hurtling toward me. “Imperial Lead Guard Varic, drop your shield.” Every telekinetic member of court looks around in confusion, and my heart drops. Now they know Varic can protect me without their being able to detect it.
The Emperor clenches his jaw as he sends his power rippling over the surface of the orb around my body. My heart pounds against my ribs the more I pull on his anger, then send him a tendril of complacency. Hoping it will make him think twice about his order, for I cannot imagine what might happen should Varic lower his protection—nor what might come to pass should he continue casting it.
As if in answer, Varic narrows his gaze where the Emperor’s dark gray magic riots over the center of my chest, and his shield warbles so fast, it becomes more difficult to see out of it.
“Now.” Emperor Aldritch’s eyes flash with rage as I send Varic a tendril of my fear.
Though he does not relent, when His Majesty sends another blast of magic in my direction.
