Page 45 of A Crown of Fates

His grip deepens to the point I’m sure there will be marks, and as my throat begins to burn, I realize I’m truly not afraid of this death. Except as my vision begins to dance with spots, the bastard releases me.

“It’s not your time yet,” he hisses, removing his cold touch from my neck before shoving away from me.

Those five words tell me all I need to know and confirm that I’ve been right not to be afraid since arriving in this dark room.

Orix needs me, but why? I have royal blood, but there are plenty of others out there who do as well. What’s so special about me? Is it because I’m Theo’s mate? Maybe, but I feel as though I’m missing something that’s right in front of me.

My wolf snarls, and her presence spreads through my core, warming my…stomach.

But what can he do with a child that a wolf shifter carries? Technically, because of my and Theo’s bloodlines, the baby will have the right to a throne, but again, that’s not a rare thing.

“What if it was never my time to die?” I ask Orix before he leaves me alone in the dark again. I can’t see him any longer, but I sense him close enough to have heard me. “Gods live forever. If I help you, couldn’t you make that happen for me?”

A rumble echoes through the small, shadow-filled space. “You are not worthy of my power.”

“But Theo is. That’s why you’ve tied yourself to him. He holds a strength within him that you need.”

I don’t know how I ever saw my mate as weak. He’s made poor choices, but even now, when it shouldn’t be possible, his energy is reaching for me. He’s determined and loyal and filled with more love than anyone I’ve yet to know. It doesn’t matter what happened in his past. His actions don’t make him less worthy of redemption than anyone else. Something I wish I’d seen long before now.

“Theo’s nothing more than a pawn.” Orix sneers, coming back to me. “It’s the future heir who’ll hold the power you should fear.”

He glares down at me, his godly power slithering over my cold skin and pressing in on my body. Pinpricks of agony poke along my limbs until my blood begins to burn, as if actual flames are building within me.

As my lungs ache, I remain unmoving, watching him watch me. He expects a reaction. Anger, fear, and pleading, I’m sure. Yet I give him none of it. Not out of pure stubbornness, but because there’s only a rebellious calm left for me to hold onto.

My wolf’s presence remains strong, a steady heartbeat in the back of my mind, her unwavering loyalty and confidence merging with mine, along with the energy I can only identify as Theo’s, bringing with it a peace.

It doesn’t matter what happens here, we’re going to be okay.

Orix’s expression hardens as he searches my face, irritation etching into his gaze. “You’re testing my patience, Princess,” he snarls, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. “Perhaps I need to show you the consequences of your defiance.”

“I thought you wanted to play games,” I tell him, my voice hoarse from the tension still riddling my extremities. “I was merely trying to give you what I thought you wanted.”

“Let’s see just how true that is.” His palms push against my temples, and he closes his dark eyes. In the shadows of the room, he looks more ghostly than godly, but before I can stare for too long, he jumps back, his face somehow even more ashen.

“That’s not possible.” He steps forward again, grabbing my throat. “Did you bond with Theo without my knowing?”

I can’t speak thanks to his grip, nor can I move more than my eyes, so I settle for blinking rapidly.

“Answer me!” he shouts in my face, releasing his hold as he paces next to me.

“No…bond,” I manage to croak.

“Lies.” His bellow fills the room, echoing off the cool stone walls, a thunderous sound that reverberates through my bones. Before I can respond, he moves with a vicious, lethal grace. A dagger materializes in his hand, its edge catching what little light exists, gleaming with a sinister promise. In one swift, brutal motion, he drives it into my stomach, the steel piercing flesh and muscle, straight into my core.

Pain explodes—sharp, blinding, an agony that sears through the numbness, breaking past every wall I’d built around myself. My vision blurs as a cry rips from my throat, the sound broken, desperate, and filled with a torment I’d never thought possible. He twists the blade, and the suffering intensifies, consuming me, until I feel as though I’m made of nothing but ash.

Orix leans over me, his eyes shining with devious intent. “You won’t win against me, Princess. I’ve been at this longer than you can imagine, and I will get what I want. I might have been… Well, that doesn’t matter now. Fight all you want, nothing will change. Theo will do as I command and so will you. Death won’t free you from this fate. Nothing will. The sooner you accept that, the easier this will all be.”

“Death won’t free you from this fate.”

Tears of frustration begin to fill my eyes. He’s wrong and I won’t give up. I can’t, no matter how hopeless my surroundings are. I have to hold onto the rage. It’s the motivation that will get me through.

His laughter sweeps over me as he wipes at my falling tears. “Good girl. Maybe you’ll be more than I expected after all. I was looking forward to watching the life bleed from you, but if you cooperate, maybe I’ll let you live long enough to raise my…the child. He won’t be of use to me until he’s grown, but don’t worry. I already have a plan to speed that process up.”

The renewed hatred boiling within me feels almost tangible, a fire that burns away the pain, sharpening into a blade of its own.Like hell he will.

I might be trapped, I might have even been a fool, but one thing is certain now—I will never, ever let him have my future child.

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