Page 90 of The Arrow and the Alder

“What do you want?” Seph cut him off.

Massie’s lips twisted into a perversion of a smile. “I came to offer you a bargain, princess.”

“I’ve no interest in your bargains.”

“Oh, I think you’ll be interested in this one, because it’s the only way that yourfriendsleave this place alive.” Massie pressed his face to the bars. “I will release the queen of Light and everyone in your party—including Prince Alder. I will let them return—unharmed—to whatever hovel they’ve been hiding in, and in exchange, you will help me unlock the power within the coat. You will give its power to me freely, as a gift.” His gaze slid over her body slowly before settling back upon her face. “And I would share this power with you. My…wife.”

Seph flinched away from him in horror and revulsion.

Massie noticed, but he looked more determined than ever. “This should not surprise you, daughter of Light. I do not ask for your affection. Only your respect. I’ll even allow you to keep lovers, though we would need an heir. It could not be a better arrangement, and together, with our kingdoms thus united, we would be unstoppable. Light and Weald. No one could defy us, Josephine Alistair. Think of what it could afford you. Of what it could afford yourfamily.”

Seph’s hands clenched into fists. “You think I am persuaded bypower?”

“We areallpersuaded by power. A desire to preserve self. It is what drives each and every one of us, and those who deny that are only lying to themselves. It is rule or be ruled, and I am giving you the opportunity to rule all.”

Seph took a furious step closer to him. “Lord Massie. If I ever marry, it will be for love, and love alone. And there isnothingin this world that could propel me to bind myself to the monster who would have strangled my sister to death for a coat.”

Massie’s pale eyes gleamed. “I understand you have a penchant for monsters.”

Seph’s blood ran cold. He knows! Somehow, he’d learned Alder’s secret, but Seph didn’t think Basrain knew, because he looked quizzically at Massie.

“That’s the bargain I offer you, princess,” Massie said. “And it is far more generous than you deserve. Do you accept my terms?”

Seph stared at him, unable to find her words. Mostly because she still couldn’t believe his proposal!

“I might remind you that you will help me retrieve the coat’s power regardless,” Massie continued lowly. “Howthat happens is entirely up to you.”

Which was when Seph found her words. “I would rather die than suffer as your wife, you despicable creature.”

Massie regarded her, and his silvery scar twitched. “Perhaps I have not made myself clear. You will watch me tear Prince Alder apart, limb by limb, or you accept my terms and he goes free.”

Seph’s heart pounded, and her body trembled with fury. “You can go to hell, you sick and deluded bastard.”

Massie’s eyes were like two shards of ice. “I see you need some time to reconsider.” He looked at Basrain. “See that she’s brought nothing, and no one speaks to her.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” murmured the pandering sycophant.

Massie cast Seph one last glance, a snide twist to his lips as he said, “I’ll return in two days, Your Highness, and I look forward to your answer.”

Alder waited until he was certain that Massie and Basrain were gone, and then he said, just loud enough for Josephine to hear, “You know, I might almost be offended that you have so little regard for my life, if I weren’t so impressed by how you handled that miserable creature just now.”

He heard her gasp.

“PrinceAlder…?”

Alder rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Why are you still using my honorific? We know each other better than that. For Fates’ sake, Josephine, you just saw me naked—” He coughed and winced. Bastard broke one of his ribs.

“Where are you?” she said with a touching amount of concern. “Are you all right? Did they?—”

“Relax, my little arrow; I’m all right. I’m just…trying to find a way out of here, but they’ve bound me with?—”

“Quiet!” yelled a voice up ahead.

One of Massie’s bone-faced rats rounded the bend ahead, where he stopped to have a better view of them, and he didn’t appear to have any inclination of leaving. Not that Alder could do anything about it. They’d bound his wrists in scrappers—rare, enchanted handcuffs composed of a precious blend of moonstone and Palisade silver, which prohibited the bearer from accessingeloit. The enchantments on these prison bars wouldn’t have stopped him otherwise.

“Alder, I wondered—” Josephine whispered.

“Thank you.”

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