Page 33 of The Throne's Undoing

"Twist his arm harder," Kalisandre called out, her voice cold and detached.

Searing pain shot through Graeson's arm and up his neck as Terin obeyed Kalisandre. Graeson didn't understand how she had manipulated Terin in the first place without uttering a word, yet somehow she had him under her spell.

Despite the danger they were in now, the god within Graeson hummed in appraisal. While Graeson didn't doubt her inner strength, he wished he wasn't the one in peril because of it.

He looked around but found no one in a position to help. Sylvia and Medenia fought back-to-back as three soldiers circled them, taunting them. Further away, Ellie fended off three men, diving beneath a swing that came straight for her head. Although he couldn't see Dani in his peripheral, he heard her grunts from somewhere farther away. He would need to deal with this himself, then.

Without hurting his best friend or the woman fated for him.

Kalisandre stood, her legs trembling slightly as if the spike of adrenaline was quickly draining from her body.

Noticing where Graeson's gaze had gone, Kalisandre tilted up her chin and snarled, "He warned me you would do this. He warned me you would try to sway me to betray him!"

"Whatever he told you," Graeson said on his knees, "you can't believe him."

Kalisandre stalked closer, pointing at him and cutting him off, "You donotget to tell me what I can or cannot do."

Baring her teeth, she dropped onto her knees in front of him. She snatched the collar of Graeson's shirt and yanked him forward, Terin's hold remaining firm.

With just a few inches between them now, Graeson could feel her breath on his face as she bristled with anger.

Mine,the god whispered.

"But Domitius does, is that right?" Graeson challenged, voice low as he cocked his head.

Kalisandre blinked but immediately shook her head, dispelling the brief flicker of emotion spanning her countenance. "He does not control me."

Graeson smirked. "Are you sure about that, little mouse?"

"Yes," she hissed.

"Then why were you going to marry the Frenzian king?"

"Because--" Another hesitation, another slip in her demeanor and Domitius's manipulations.

Marrying the Frenzian had never been Kalisandre's choice. It was one of the many made for her; they both knew she could not deny it.

Still, the slip was short-lived.

Kalisandre rolled her shoulders back and steeled her expression, her lip curling. "I was going to be queen. I was going to have power."

Graeson huffed. "You mean you were going to be Domitius's puppet."

"I amnothis puppet; I am his daughter."

"You are hisweapon!" Graeson shouted, the anger pooling over through what had been a previously calm facade. "To be used and swung whenever he demands. Do you truly not see what he has made you become? Even now, you take your anger out on me when all I wish is for you to be free!"

Kalisandre lunged, snatching him by the collar. "You speak of my freedom?" she hissed. "You tie my wrists and knock me out;thatis not freedom, Graeson. That is--"

Without warning, Kalisandre crumpled to the ground, her words dying in the air in an instant. Without a second thought, Graeson wrenched himself free from Terin's grasp and lunged for Kalisandre before her head could hit the dirt.

"You stupid, lovesick fool!" Dani said, spitting on the ground beside Graeson, her dagger in hand a mere foot away.

With Kalisandre cradled in his arms, Graeson snapped his gaze up. But before Graeson could yell at Dani for knocking Kalisandre out, someone clawed at his arms, trying to pull him back.

"Terin!" Dani shrieked. "What are you doing?"

"Shit," Graeson hissed, setting Kalisandre on the ground. "He's still under her command!"

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