Page 53 of The Dead Queen

In my determination to run away, become a better person than my father, to help my people, heal them, save them … I was helping him.

“I can’t do this.” The whisper comes out of me before I’ve had a chance to really think it through.

In my peripheral, I see Hunter look at me in alarm.

“Can’t do what?” he asks. But I think he already knows.

My father lowers his eyes at me and the shadows of this dark room dance around the creases in his face.

“Any of it.” I shake my head and turn to Hunter. “I am so sorry, Hunter. But I can’t marry you.”

Hunter’s face pales. He stands frozen, like he’s trying to register my words, but he doesn’t understand them.

Maybe in another life, this could work. If my father wasn’t trying to force me to marry him, if I wasn’t stuck with this royal burden, if Grandmother hadn’t been killed … If. If. If. A marriage won’t work under that kind of pressure. As much as I wish it weren’t so, I need to end this. For both of us.

I reach out to put a hand on his arm. “I am so, so sorry.”

Little by little, his face melts into a pool of sorrow. His brown eyes glisten. “Please, we can talk about this. Don’t let that Wolf ruin everything we have.”

I shake my head. “This isn’t about the Wolf.” I turn to look at Father and force myself to stand taller. “It’s about him.”

Father smiles patronizingly. “And what will you do with the rest of your life, if you refuse to be an obedient wife and heir?”

“I’ll return to the borderlands.” Even though I say it out loud, I know it isn’t true. I’d rather become a hermit in the forest than help Father unwittingly again.

Father’s laugh is hollow. “And you believe I’d permit a rebellious heir to just waltz about the kingdom, living life as she pleases?” his voice grows low, threatening. “That is not how kingdoms work.”

I glare at him, trying to untangle the veiled threats in his words.

“An unruly heir is a danger to us all,” he says. “An heir must obey the king, or else she serves no purpose. Or else she threatens the security of an entire nation.”

“I don’t want the throne.” I lift my chin. “Find a new heir. I’ve heard whispers that you already have.”

Both Father and Hunter stiffen. Did he really think he was hiding his pregnant mistress from anyone? A pretty, young, unmarried woman walking around the palace with a distended belly, all decorated in the royal colors? So much for a master strategist.

“Your mere existence is a threat!” Spittle flies from Father’s mouth as he speaks. Silence echoes in the tiny, secret room. After a moment, he holds up his arms to gesture to the dripping stones around us. “Take a look around, Little Fox. This could be your future instead of a soft marriage bed.”

My blood goes cold. “You would lock me in a forgotten dungeon for disobeying you?”

His smile is malicious. “I’ve done worse to protect this kingdom.”

Grandmother.

My fists clench the silk of my nightdress to keep from grabbing the silver moth hidden beneath it. Suddenly, I understand something I should have a long time ago. The enemy isn’t Annwyn. It isn’t even Llwyn. It’s my father. And something deep inside of me tells me he’s the one to blame for Grandmother’s death. I just need to find out how. And why.

“Leave me,” Father’s whisper is as loud as a shout. “And pray that you come to your senses.”

Hunter and I walk out of the damp chamber, slamming the door behind us. We follow the guards back down the narrow corridors, stepping over crumbled wall stones and puddles. Our footsteps echo ominously through the dark.

Finally, when we’ve climbed back up the spiral stairs and the passageways look familiar again, I speak.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper to Hunter. “I wish I knew a better way.”

Hunter just nods, refusing to look at me.

“It’s just …” My voice shakes with emotion. “I can’t be bound to that monster for my entire life. If I marry you, I will be.”

After a long pause, he says, “You’re wrong.”