Page 51 of Dueling the Suitors

Emmett was likely going mad right now after seeing the carriage with his sister and her husband disappear into thin air. Would he realize it was Cyrus’ doing? Would he be shouting her name all over the woods right now? What would he do when he couldn’t find her?

One thought of her brother in pain tore at her heart. She turned to her husband. “I want to see my brother first.”

His eyebrows rose. “First?”

“Then I shall stay with you.”

“You are staying with me anyway.”

She glared at him. “Do you want a tolerable wife or what?”

“Do you want Daliston’s invasion or what?”

“I just want to talk with my brother! He’ll go out of his mind when he can’t find me! I want to tell him what is going on!”

Cyrus tilted his head and pointed to his face. “Do I look like an idiot to you?”

“More like one, why?”

“Why?To think that I would take you back to tell your brother that your husband is kidnapping you to his country at the far end of the continent! He’ll find out what happened soon enough.”

“Like when? A week later? I won’t—”

“My men tied your footman to a tree not far from the path. Your guards—”

“Your men didwhat?” she exploded.

“You see, darling—”

“Don’t call me that!”

“—the wheel getting stuck was only a distraction. I cast an illusion at the front of the carriage so, to the onlookers, it seemed like your footman was doing his duty. Meanwhile, one of my men came out of the woods, gagged your footman, and dragged him out to tie him to a tree where I left my note for your family. Don’t worry, not a hair on his head has been hurt. In the meantime, one of my other men took the footman’s place and rode us through the portal, a portal that disappeared along with us so no one would follow us here accidentally.”

Astoria felt like she was going to be sick. The lengths this man had gone to eliminate his threat—her—shook her to the core. He had indeed been cunning.

None of them suspected him.

Had last night been an act, too? Not that she was naïve enough to have formed an attachment or even a liking towards him overnight, but therehadbeen something between them. Something silly and playful even with her being as rude as usual.

Had it all been an act?

And why did that make her stomach sink?

“So I’m your prisoner now?”

Something flashed across his face. Astoria could have sworn his eyes softened a little, but she didn’t want to jump toconclusions. “You’re not my prisoner, Astoria. You are my wife and soon to be my Empress. I told you last night, remember?”

“Oh man, please don’t speak about your wedding night in front of me. I’m going to be sick,” said the young man in black, whose presence Astoria had forgotten until then. He pressed a hand to his forehead.

Cyrus seemed to have forgotten about him, too. He turned to him and rolled his eyes. “No one invited you to our verbal spar.”

“Well, I missed your magical one, so I thought to invite myself.” The man turned to Astoria. “I’m sure you are wondering who I am.” He smiled crookedly and offered his hand. “I am Rowan, Cyrus’ best friend and right hand—he lacks one if you haven’t noticed.”

He winked and kissed her hand as she accepted it.

Astoria nearly smiled at his sense of humor. “Funny, I was too taken aback to register that you are not a Mage. Skylar and I thought you were the Emperor.”

Rowan threw his head back and laughed. He nudged Cyrus with his elbow. “You heard that?”

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