Page 91 of Heir of Illusion

“Stop him!” Bridgid rushes forward. “He’s killing my father!”

No one moves, not even Naomi or Darcus.

“Please!” She turns her pleading eyes on Baylor. “Stop this!”

He doesn’t spare her a glance, instead signaling one of the guards to pull her away. Less than a minute passes before Thorne releases the lord, allowing his limp body to fall forward.

Silence hangs in the air for several seconds before he turns and faces the crowd.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening, King Baylor.”

With those parting words, he makes his way to the stairs without even sparing me a glance. His companions follow after him. Griffen is the only one who looks back at me, a hint of sadness in his eyes as he trails after his God, and they disappear the way they came.

It takes several seconds before time restarts. Baylor is pulled away to handle the aftermath. With no one to stop me, I head toward the stairs, desperate to flee, but a hand snags my arm and pulls me to a stop. Glancing up, I find my father’s furious face staring down at me.

“Do not screw this up, daughter,” he orders. “You have a duty to your family.”

I bare my teeth. “What do you know of family?”

His grip tightens as his face contorts in rage. For a moment, I think he’s going to hit me. Gods, I wish he’d try.

“Let her go.” My brother appears by my side, glaring at the man who sired him. “I’ve warned you what would happen if you laid hands on her again. Do not test me, old man.”

Lord Pomeroy blanches, releasing my arm. I know I should thank Bellamy, but my brain isn’t working properly right now. My only thought is escaping this nightmare. Without wasting another second, I summon an illusion and disappear from sight. Not a single person notices as I sprint from the ballroom.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Isense him the moment I step into my room.

Thorne doesn’t acknowledge me as I enter. Instead, he lies on my bed, his hands tucked under his head as he leans against the headboard. His position is casual, but the tension in his body betrays his anger.

“So, you’re going to be a queen?” he asks, his voice low.

My jaw tightens. “Apparently.”

“I wonder if your king will still refer to you as hispetafter you become his wife?”

I shrug off his words, pretending they don’t sting.

“I would think you’d be too busy running your own kingdom to have time for such frivolous thoughts,” I say as I move toward the vanity. “Perhaps that’s why the Heir of Life was hinting at trouble in your court? I thought Death was the great equalizer, but I suppose dissenting voices must be heard everywhere?”

“What a quick tongue you have,pet.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snap, turning to face him.

“I thought you liked it.” He shoots off the bed, standing before me in an instant. “You don’t tell Baylor not to call you that.”

He’s close enough that I have to lift my chin to meet his gaze.

“He is my king and my betrothed.” My stomach turns at the thought. “You are not.”

A muscle ticks along his jaw. “I wouldn’t want to be either.”

I bark out a laugh. “Doesn’t sound like it.”

His eyes blaze brighter than the inferno he created above our heads earlier. “You are nothing to me.”

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