Page 157 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

Melody

I wake up to find Riven standing in front of the fireplace. His torso naked, his back facing me. My blood freezes in my veins at the sight of the strange ornament of scars and ink that have been carved into his skin. A circle, like the sun, filled and rimmed with wild, arcane symbols.

“It’s a list, written in the demonic language,” he says, slowly turning to me, having somehow guessed that I am awake. His face is calm, but his eyes are damning.

“Who...?”

“Who did this to me? Someone who reveled in having power over me.”

I feel a wildness running through me at the chilled tone in his voice, at the darkness that starts to teem all around him, threatening to form wings and talons. It couldn’t have been Gatilla, or he would have said her name. Nor Caryan. No, Rivenloveshim.

“You said you were a slave too,” I whisper.

“Yes. This happened before Gatilla enslaved me. It was the king of Palisandre,” he confirms, his eyes shining. He lifts the glass in his hand with unearthly grace and takes a long sip. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think you would wake up. You slept so soundly, and I like to... stay close, selfish as it is. I certainly didn’t mean to startle you with this gloomy sight.”

“You didn’t,” I breathe. I sit up, wrapping my arms around my legs. “Why? Why did he do that to you?”

He flashes me a smile, but it’s not the kind that warms my heart. “A mood. A deep hatred against my kin. An open display of power over me. Or maybe… maybe he was just afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Afraid of me. Of my powers. Afraid of the king I might become.”

I let that settle in before I ask quietly, “And what does it say?”

“It’s a contract.”

“A contract?” I echo, my eyes wide. “About what?”

“A name for every life he spared in exchange for me and my power. I told you that I was born in Khalix, in the desert lands on the third continent far east. My kin still live there.”

“The Nefarians, you mean?”

“Yes. It’s actually a secret, you know. Few are aware that a lot of the Nefarians stayed behind after the Demon Wars. They were allowed to stay because of that contract.”

“Those people tonight…” My mouth goes dry and my heart aches from everything he just told me.

“This group broke with the leader of Khalix soon after myagreement. They left and became renegades, hiding in the Black Forest. It was their decision—what happened tonight. But, yes, I grew up with them before I have been ordered to Palisandre. That bargain on my back holds their names too. Such a waste of life.” He says the last part almost angrily before he catches himself.

He puts his glass away and strolls closer, sinking down in front of me. He is paler than ever, if that is even possible, and for a second, he looks strangely fragile, the way his eyes dart over my face almost vigilantly.

I think about what we did before, about what happened between us, in Niavara. How unrestrained he’d been as his infamous self-control slipped for once. Then about the way he kissed me at the ruins and whether he meant to be so cruel. Whether itmeant anything at all…

He’s so different now.

I stretch out my hand to take his, squeezing his fingers. He frowns at our hands entwined as if this is something alien to him.

“But why did the king of Palisandre want that contract?” I ask, still not understanding fully.

“He wanted my power. He wanted me bound for his purposes. He offered me that bargain when I was still a young man, barely grown up. And I accepted because saying no was not an option.”

Everything lies in his eyes, in his aura. Everything he’s not saying out loud. He became that man’s slave to save his people. His kingdom.

His honeyed breath brushes my hair as he says, “But one day I will go back for him.”

I shudder at the cold fury lacing his words. At the quiet sort of light that shines in his eyes. “You will kill him?”

“No, death would be too merciful,” he says, his tone liquid in a way that sends a chill all down my neck. “There are other, much more inventive ways toenda life.” His gaze softens as he takes me in. “Such a gory subject after such a terrible night. Forgive me.”

---