Page 20 of Cages and Crowns
“Who?”
“The king.” Tano spits out.
“Why?”
“He was trying to find a weakness.” Nithe leans back, the dagger spinning in his fingers.
“Did he find it?” I’m the one who speaks this time. I step closer to Tano, blood steadily dripping off his hand. “Was there another with you?” He hesitantly nods. “What is he going to tell Tobias?” Nithe glances back at me before leaning forward and pressing the blade to another finger.
“Answer him.”
“He’s going to tell him that the palace is weak, unguarded, and that theonly ones who even made a move to protect the palace were the prince and princess.”
“Is he going to cross the border?” Nithe presses. Tano doesn’t answer and another finger is gone. “Is he going to cross into Rakushia?” He asks again. Tano nods, and another finger is gone. I flinch as the guard screams, the shrill sound bouncing off the walls.His hand is left fingerless and pouring blood.
“Just kill me.” He whimpers and Nithe smiles, his amethyst eyes sparkling in the dim light.
“I can’t do that. I have too many questions left to ask you.” Tano’s eyes widen as Nithe’s turn black. A small puff of smoke escapes his nose as he exhales, and I don’t have to look down to know that Tano’s trousers are no longer dry.
“This isn’t you, man.” I shake my head as I take in the blood splattered over every inch of his body.
“Someone has to be in control. Someone has to figure this shit out, and it sure as hell isn’t going to be our fathers.” He pushes past me, and I grab his arm, cringing at the wetness I feel.At the blood soaked into his clothes.
“Do not turn into your father, Nithe. You just murdered a man. Murdered him as if he was nothing.”
“Hewasnothing!”He growls, leaning in so close I can smell the smoke on his breath.
“No, he was a chance to get into the palace. A chance to learn more, and you took that away from us.”
“Away from you, you mean. Away fromyou. You don’t actually care who Elaenor is, all you want her for is to be your mate. You are the one who isn’t thinking of the bigger picture. She is more than just a body to potentially warm your bed—”
“Fuck you, Nithe. That is not why I want her safe, and youknow it!” He pushes past me, shaking off my grip, and I spin around. “Where are you going?”
“I have to inform the king of whatIlearned from our prisoner.”
“What youtorturedout of him, Nithe. Tortured. Do not go down this path of darkness. Don’t. Because if you become anything like your father, I will make sure Elaenor never even gets close to you.” I threaten. He spins around to face me again.
“I don’t want to marry her! Don’t you get it? She will be tethered to me, forever. She doesn’t deserve that. She doesn’t deserve someone like me.” His voice cracks, the edges of his pupils darkening from the emotion, from the lack of control.
“Do you think Tobias is any better?”
“No! Gods, no. I don’t think she should be married atall. She’s a child. She deserves to be free.” He sputters, his hands coming up to run through his shaggy hair.
“She is the same age as us, Nithe.” I retort.
“That isn’t the point. The point is that I don’t deserve her. She doesn’t deserve me. She should just be left alone.”
“Because you believe that, iswhyyou do deserve her. You care whether or not you want to admit it. You have come to care for her and that terrifies you.”
“It should have always been you who marries her, Enzo. Not me.” He shakes his head, stepping back.
“It was never going to be me. I’m not a royal, I’m nobody.” I snap, my voice growing louder. I don’t even hide the anger and jealousy coating my voice. It was never me and it never will be. She doesn’t belong to me and that is the hardest truth I’ll ever have to swallow.
“Enzo. I can’t do what they are asking of me. I will ruin her. I will be a weakness that she cannot afford.” His eyes grow frantic, searching mine. He’s scared. I have never seen him this way.
“You think she’ll fall for you. That’s what scares you. You’re scared that she will fall in love with you, and you will have to care for someone other thanyourself—”
“No!” He takes a slow, deep breath before meeting my gaze. “What scares me is that shewon’t.”
