Page 89 of A Kingdom so Crimson

The tantalizing smells made my stomach growl, but despite the feast laid out, my appetite had vanished, replaced by a knot of tension, of anger, knowing that so much food would be going to waste when people outside these opulent castle walls were starving.

It made me want to scream, grab every pastry and stomp on them, overturn the table and walk out cursing them all, throw each buttered turkey leg at the king and dirty his perfect face, his perfect castle, and his perfect sadistic life.

Anger shot through me like a rocket, firing up every ounce of blood until it was boiling, making me shake. Levon grasped my knee under the table, squeezing hard, trying to anchor me as that metallic tang of rage pulsated in the air, energizing my fury even more. He clutched harder, glaring at me to stop, to calm down. Calum's usually calming, golden eyes darted up to mine, silently pleading while Jesri entertained himself, chatting about his pompous life.

"Eliah, stop this now," Levon whispered urgently into my ear, letting go of my knee and clutching my trembling hands. "Stop or else you won't see any ounce of that freedom."

Calum's eyes darted between Levon and me as he pretended to eat the delicate meat served.

"Eliah," Levon hissed through a forced smile, reaching for a pitcher of red liquid and pouring me a glass.

The others around us didn't notice us and were too busy stuffing themselves full. Their laughter and chatter filled the air with static, coiling my stomach into more knots. I gritted my teeth as I took the glass, raising it to my lips without letting the sweetness touch my tongue. I set the cup back down and sat straighter as Jesri's black eyes pierced mine.

Eat,his eyes commanded, glaring at me and then at my empty plate.

Instead, I held my head high, defiantly turning away and placing my hands in my lap, pretending to care about the conversation from one of the female contestants who talked about a festival she attended a year ago where she first picked up a sword.

Act the part.

Levon brushed his hand against mine as someone called over to him, drawing the king's eyes to us. His gaze weighed heavily on me and remained fixed as he finished his plate, then another. Even long after everyone's stomachs were full and the savory air had dissipated into thin wisps of memory, his eyes never left me, and all I could do was try to remind myself to breathe.

The king stood, silencing the spacious room. "With the festivities tomorrow, I hope that tonight you sleep well, for we shall enjoy ourselves more tomorrow." He took one last sip of his wine and held his goblet up in a cheer. "To my contestants," he said as his eyes locked onto mine once more. "May Tarragon bestow upon you the honor of passage!"

I glanced to Levon in question at the king's words as crystal glasses clinked, signaling the end of the meal. The king swiftly rose from his seat, his wife at his side, escorted by a dozen guards. We all waited for their departure to be excused and disperse to our respective rooms.

May Tarragon bestow upon you the honor of passage.Why did that name sound so familiar?

I shook the thought away as Levon helped me up, leaving my untouched plate, preparing to face Jesri's wrath. His dark eyes beckoned us to follow him out. With Calum in tow, we made our way towards our main quarters with only the click of our shoes and the tension between us all palpable.

We all reached inside the large foyer, but before the door shut, Jesri was shouting.

"Make me a fool one last time, Eliah, and I'll end youmyself!" Jesri's hiss reverberated through the open room, his anger filling the air like a suffocating fog.

Levon stepped forward to intervene, but I pushed him aside, bracing for the full force of Jesri's wrath.

"I am no longer your puppet, andafter this, I am not coming back," I fumed, trembling with suppressed rage.

"You will," he ordered, his eyes blazing with fury. Calum stepped before me, shielding me like he had done many times before.

"Uncle, please. You've always been hard on her. She has come of age, andyou have no right to her," Calum interjected.

"No right to her?" Jesri scoffed, running a hand through his slicked-back raven hair. "I'd say otherwise." An evil smirk twisted his lips, sending a chill down my spine and igniting a fierce bitterness that drowned out even the pangs of hunger.

"What did you do?" Levon growled, advancing toward Jesri like a predator closing in on its prey.

"You have no place here, Levon, besides making sure she wins this wretched thing—" Jesri began, but Calum interrupted, his anger radiating off him like sparks.

"What did you do?" Calum spat, his voice low and dangerous, every word dripping with fury.

"Tyran,please. What any guardian would," Jesri said dismissively, waving his hand as he strode toward the lavish spread of food on his table, flanked by an array of wines. "I've made an arrangement for her to wed a noble Lord with substantial wealth. And one who will introduce her into society."

Levon and Calum's expressions drained of color, mirroring the deep despair that flooded through me, crushing me like a boulder.

Marriage.

The word hung heavy in the air, suffocating me with its implications as I faltered to the ground. I would forever be tied to Jesri. All my dreams of freedom vanished in an instant, replaced by a seething rage that burned like wildfire in my chest, dragging my heart down into a pit of hopelessness.

"You self-righteous wretch!" Calum cursed, his voice thick with fury, his fists clenched at his sides.

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