Page 49 of Golden Star

And that I enjoyed it.

Finally, the king leans back and sheathes his sword. “You always did have a flair for strategy,” he muses, almost to himself. “Escort them to the lake, where you and your men will set up camp for the night. Let them have a few hours there to rest and gather their strength. And then… remember every detail of their prolonged deaths so you can recount every moment of it to me upon your return.”

Sapphire

The icy windbites at my cheeks as Riven and his knights lead Zoey and me through the frozen woods.

It’s almost peaceful out here—if you ignore the fact that we’re being led to our deaths.

Riven won’t look at me. He won’t even acknowledge that I’m here.

As we trudge deeper into the forest, I spot a group of what I can only call fae-deer, their bodies sparkling with a soft glow that pulses like light through crystal. This place, for all its cruelty, is beautiful in a way that makes my heart ache for the life I was denied. The life I would have had if my true mother hadn’t traded me for a human child after I was born.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity of walking through the cold, we reach the lake.

The vast expanse of ice glistens under the moonlight—a shimmering, deadly mirror—and memories claw to the surface of the day when Zoey nearly died. And, from the way her face pales as she also looks on at the lake, I know it’s probably far worse for her.

Riven and his knights begin setting up camp at the edge of the lake, their movements quick and efficient. Ghost circles the camp, as if he’s on the lookout for predators.

As if there are predators in these woods more dangerous than the fae.

Once the fire is lit, Riven strides toward where Zoey and I are sitting next to it to warm up, with two plates of food in his hands.

“Eat,” he says, thrusting the plates into our laps.

Compared to the stale bread given to us in the tower, the bread, fruit, and cheese should be a luxurious feast.

Zoey immediately digs in.

My stomach growls, but I stare down at the food on the plate, not tempted in the slightest.

“Is this not good enough for your final meal?” Riven sneers at me.

I study him, the flames dancing in front of us somehow making the lines on his face even more deadly and beautiful, searching for a trace of warmth in this man made of ice.

I find none.

He leans forward, his voice low and tempting, hiseyes trained only on me. “Do you want me to kiss you again, Sapphire?” he murmurs, soft enough so only I can hear. “Do you regret running from me the other night?”

I glance down at his lips, my heart racing faster.

But while my body still—annoyingly—wants him, there’s something itneedseven more.

“I need meat,” I tell him. “The guards told me that fae don’t eat it, but I need it. I won’t be at myfull strengthif I don’t have it.”

Venom drips from my tone at those two words, and I pray that the reminder of his desire to strengthen me up so he can torture me as much as possible will make him want to help me.

His brow furrows, clearly caught off-guard by my request.

“What game are you playing, Summer Fae?” he asks. “What sort of sacrificial human ritual do you intend to perform?”

“No game, and no ritual,” I tell him. “I’m just hungry.”

“Then stop acting like a princess of nothing and eat.” He motions to the unappetizing selection on my plate, watching me in challenge.

He’s not going to help me.

I was an idiot for thinking he would.

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