Page 144 of Heir of Illusion

Her eyes narrow. “But this is where he wants you to be. The one who whispers is coming for you tonight.”

My stomach drops.No. Not Morwen too.

How many does he have? Who all has been warped by the sword? Thorne’s face flashes through my mind, and a sharp bolt of fear pierces my heart. Where is he? What if he’s not safe? What if the Forsaken find him and force him to touch the almanova?

Stop.

Thorne is a God. He can take care of himself. But right now, I need to focus on saving myself.

“Exactly,” Alva pipes in. “How would he find you if you weren’t where you’re supposed to be? You’re being so silly today, Ivy.”

I try to smile. “Must be the nerves.”

“Cold feet,” she agrees. “My sister had those.”

My heart constricts. She’s exactly like herself right now.

“What does the one who whispers want from me?”

“That collar doesn’t belong to you,” Morwen answers. “It’s time for you to give it back.”

Usually, I would be all for that plan, but somehow I don’t thinkheintends to simply remove it. I have a sinking suspicion he plans to take my head along with the collar.

“Come.” Alva pulls me back to the vanity. “Let’s get you dressed. You have to look beautiful for your wedding.”

With nothing else to do, I let them carry on with their task, even though I have no intention of getting married. No matter what, neither Baylor nor thealmanovaare taking me tonight.

Footsteps approach from the hallway,alerting me that the time for my escape has come. My back is already pressed into the wall as I wait next to the door. I’ve spent the morning mentally going through my options, searching for any loophole in Baylor’s commands.

You will remain there until I come get you.

Which means that as soon as he steps into this room, the command should lift, and I’ll be able to escape. Unless he gets his hands on my collar again and gives me a new order... But without being able to see me, that’s not going to be easy for him. When we were in his study, he commanded me to drop the illusion. However, he didn’t specify that I wasn’t allowed to create another one. Which is exactly what I’ve done.

My eyes are glued to the brass handle as it turns, and the door swings open, revealing Baylor on the other side. He stays where he is, not entering the room.

“Hello, pet. Have you had time to think over your options?”

His words are directed at Rose, who’s currently sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the door. In this moment, I’ve never been more sure of my decision to keep myeidolona secret. A shudder passes over me as I remember all of the times I almost told Remy. My heart aches at the thought of my mentor, but I push the emotion aside. Sadness has no place here. Only determination.

“I have,” she says softly, an exact replica of my own voice.

A few red strands have escaped her elaborate updo, dropping down the back of her gown like blood stains over snow. Worry blooms in my stomach as I pray the imagery doesn’t foreshadow what’s to come.

As soon as Alva and Morwen left, I created Rose to be the perfect blushing bride they’d polished me into. With their hard work preserved onto my likeness, I slipped out of the tent of white lace and tulle, choosing a pair of dark pants and a fitted black tunic. Removing the pins from my hair took at least ten minutes, but it’s now hanging down my back in a practical braid. Before the king arrived, I strapped every blade in my collection to my body, knowing I might need them all before the day is through. Though I did spare one for Rose, tucking it into her garter for safekeeping.

“Well,” Baylor replies, “what have you decided?”

Rising from the bed, she turns to face him with her eyes cast down in a submissive gesture.

“I will marry you willingly,” she says. “And things will return to how they have always been.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. “I’m glad to hear that, pet.”

My pulse hastens as Baylor lifts his foot and steps over the threshold. I hold back a sigh of relief as I feel his command release me.

Baylor steps deeper into the room, and I shoot forward, ready to be free of this place. My path is blocked when Doral and Huxley enter behind him. I push myself flat against the wall again, my heart racing at the near collision. Bumping into them would have given away my true position and ruined the entire plan.

Their large frames linger in my path. Doral is stern, but Huxley shifts uncomfortably as he watches Rose for any signs that she might attack. He doesn’t appear happy about the prospect of subduing her. Is it because he’s afraid of me? Or is it possible the idea of having to harm me doesn’t sit right with him?

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