Page 97 of A Bond in Blood

Olen was silent while he did the same. Irritating me instantly.

He turned, continuing our trek upward. My hands wrung against each other in the cover while I bit back my questions.

My feet ached and I was close to curses once more when Olen stopped again, shoving open a towering stone door.

“Enjoy dinner, princess.” He grinned with a maniacal glimmer in his eyes as his hands connected with my shoulders and he pushed me out the door, slamming it loudly behind me.

I pulled one hand out of the warmth of the fur, turning on my heel while my fists hit the barrier, sure he had just tricked me when a voice cleared behind me.

I twisted back and gasped, dropping my cover into the brilliant snow on the ground.

It was hard to take it all in. The light from the stars, illuminating the cobbled path lined with snow. The table a distance away with candles lit. The fire behind it, roaring and so full of heat I could feel its call from where I stood.

But most shocking of it all was the king standing before the table with a fur-lined cloak over his shoulder.

“I—”

I was speechless. I was terrified.

I was absolutely enamored.

And I was livid.

My shocked yell echoed around us, moving with the wind that had caught it when Ulrich suddenly dipped his head.

A royal acknowledgement of who I was.

I stepped back, my hands searching for the handle of the door I’d been shoved through.

“Brenna,” Ulrich said softly.

“No.” I shook my head in disbelief. “I am not doing this.”

Ulrich approached and I picked up my backward retreat. “No.” I cried. “No.”

We will eat under the stars, my Enaid. Just the two of us. Allowing the Gods to wash us with their approval of our love.

Leif’s words, even if they had been feigned, ran through my mind. The letter that had meant the most out of all that he’d sent me. The one when he’d askedmefor my hand. When he’d proclaimed his intention for only my eyes to see.

My back hit the stone door while my tears fell, but I could not find a handle and the monster before me continued his approach.

I glanced at the ground, finding the cover, and I threw with all my might. It hit him in the face as I intended, and my scream made even my own ears ring.

“I hate you!” I sobbed while I sank to the ground, using the door to guide me. “I hate you!”

Ulrich threw the cover at my feet, forcing my eyes to meet his.

“It’s only dinner,” he replied.

“Youknew. You knew what he wrote. You guided it all. You are mocking me.”

My tears grew cold on my cheeks while my cries continued.

“I can’t—” My chest tightened and my eyes widened. My heart pulsed quickly, and I was sure I was going to die.

Panicked, I slammed my hands against the cold ground. I couldn’t catch the breath my lungs desperately needed. I couldn’t clear my mind from the overwhelming thoughts and hate taking control.

Ulrich was before me, grasping my face tightly.

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