Page 84 of Ruby & Onyx

“I’m sorry that you found out this way,” Olly says with his focus narrowed on a single spot on the floor, looking bashful but not regretful.

“That’s all that you’re sorry for?” Unbelievable. Did he ever even consider that this might hurt me?

He rubs his jaw with his thumb and forefinger before looking up at me. “I’m sorry for making you think that we could have a real relationship.” His cold voice matches his hardened face. By the gods, I’ve seen tax collectors show more emotion than him right now.

“It doesn’t matter now,” I manage to say as my whole body deflates. I’m too tired to continue, exhausted by all of the bitter truth flogging my broken heart.“I was on my way to tell your parents that I’m done. I cannot accept this arrangement.”

His eyes bulge for a split second before sealing shut like he’s scanning his brain for a way to turn this all around. “Radya, you can’t walk away from this. I’m sorry that I lied to you. I’m sorry that I led you on. But you can’t leave.” His tone is pleading, begging. He grabs both of my hands, gripping them hard and daring me to look him in the eyes. “Stay. I promise that there will be no more games. Our relationship will be strictly professional. What you do in your personal life will be your own business. We can live our lives separately. But the marriage must continue.”

When I try to pull my hands away, he grips harder and continues, “My parents raised me to be your husband. That was the only choice I ever had. I begged and pleaded for a way out, but they refused to bend. I was never allowed to give my love to anyone but you. I tried to love you, Radya. I really did.”

Landers scoffs. “The heart is a funny thing, isn’t it?” The sound of his voice lands like a punch to the gut.

I never meant anything to Olly. He didn’t want a future with me. He needed it. He even told me so himself. I was too blind to see it. All he had to do was seduce me with stolen kisses, and I fell for it like a fool.

“You can marry anyone else in this kingdom, Olly. Landers included. Just not me.” My clothing is starting to feel unbearably itchy on my skin. My knees are threatening to give out.

“No.” The word slips out of him like a command. “It has to be you.”

“Are you kidding me? Olly, this cannot continue. I just saw you mounting a man that I loathe. I will not be a third party to your relationship, not after all of the lies that led up to this. If you had been honest, about this or anything else, then things might have been different. But it’s far too late. You must know that.” I shake my head to wipe away the emotions clouding my judgment. I came here for a reason, regardless of what’s going on here. “I only came here to say goodbye.”

“You don’t have a choice.” He unsheathes a golden dagger and starts twirling it around, and a devilish smile forms on his lips. “You and I are destined for this marriage, no matter our wishes.”

Landers is glowing with half-naked satisfaction behind him.

“Why? Why does it have to be me? Just set me free, I beg of you.” The tears begin to fall one after the other, streaming down my face like a river.

“You want to know why you’re so special, Radya?” He takes a step toward me, firming up his grip on the dagger. The energy around him darkens as if shadows emerged to rest on him like a cloak. My breath hitches.

Landers steps forward with a dangerous, wild-eyed gleam in his eyes.

A pulse of fear strikes through me, urging me to run, but I’m glued to this spot. Moose starts to growl behind me, and I worry that he might try to attack Olly. Maybe he would deserve it, but with that dagger in his hand, I fear more for Moose than for Olly.

“Quiet Moose.” I take a deep breath and try to summon courage from my core, doing my best to ignore the menacing way that his fingers are stroking the ruby hilt. “Tell me.”

Before I have time to move, before I have time to think, Olly lunges toward me with the tip of the dagger pointed in my direction. The golden weapon pierces my skin, coaxing warm, red liquid onto my shirt. Blinding pain radiates through me, blurring my vision in a dizzying blitz, as he pulls the bloody dagger from my abdomen.

Prince Allwyn Delusia, the future King of Mendacia, just stabbed me.

Chapter 37

He pulls the dagger from my belly, bringing a pool of blood along with it. He throws it on the floor, staring at me with a twisted grin. He has no other weapons in his hands, nor is he standing in a defensive position. He’s… watching me. Waiting for something.

“Oh, my gods,” I cry, clutching my abdomen.

Why is he staring at me with the grin of a feral animal? Two minutes ago, he was begging me to be his wife, telling me that he had to marry me, only me. Why the hell did he stab me?

Moose snaps, thrusting forward and latching his teeth into Olly’s ankles. Olly lets out an angry cry, letting go of my arms as he falls backward and slams onto the ground. Landers rushes to his side, aiming for Moose.

Adrenaline shoots through me, begging me to sprint out the door before Olly has a chance to attack again.

“Come on,” I yell at Moose. He releases his grip on Olly’s ankles and runs back to follow me as I hobble out the door. Blood drips from my abdomen, down to my leg, and onto my shoes, leaving a crimson trail behind me.

“Wait!” Landers yells. “Stop her!”

We only make it a few steps into the hallway when the weight of a man crushes me, forcing me onto the ground, and entangling me in a mess of sanguine fury. He flips me onto my back and straddles me, grabbing both of my hands and pressing them into the floor. Despite our training together, I’m just now realizing that Olly is stronger than he looks.

“What do you feel right now?” The feral prince snarls like the animal within was unleashed.

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