Page 134 of A Storm in Every Heart
Magnus smiles. “I’ll tell you if you sit down and have something to eat. I had the servants bring up some food and wine.”
My eyes land on the tray of fruit and pastries on the bed, which I hadn’t noticed until now. My stomach growls loudly, but I don’t move.
It’s probably poisoned.
Clearly aware of where my mind has gone, Magnus reaches for the tray himself and snatches a grape, popping it into his mouth. Then he takes the large decanter of wine and pours himself a goblet.
“To you.” He toasts me. “And to our upcoming union.”
I scowl. “What union? You can’t honestly think I was ever going to marry you.”
“We’ll see,” he says ominously. “Please sit down. You eat, and I’ll talk.”
My eyes dart to the tray again, and finally the growling in my stomach makes me relent. I sit on the edge of the bed and take a jam tart. It’s delicious, and I hate myself for giving in so easily.
Magnus smiles, watching me with a hungry look in his eye. “I’m sorry that this is your welcome back to Hydratta. I’d planned for it to be more elaborate than this.
Oh, I’m sure he did.
“How did you know where to find me?” I ask.
“We got word that some mercenaries from Solistine had attacked your train within hours of the incident. Of course, I immediately sent ships out to look for you. One of them spotted the ship from Solistine sinking, and a group flying away toward the mainland. I had all my guards mobilized within hours. I must admit I was surprised to realize who you were traveling with. What happened to my emissary?”
I pause with another bite of pastry halfway to my mouth. Magnus’s face is a neutral mask of innocence, but I’m not fooled. Even if Connell hadn’t told us that Magnus orchestrated my first kidnapping, and I didn’t already know exactly what sort of man he is, I would have known immediately that there wassomething off about Magnus from his eyes alone. They’re cold and emotionless even when he’s smiling.
I put another pastry in my mouth and chew slowly, giving myself a second to think. Then, making the split-second decision not to reveal that I know he planned my abduction, I swallow and clear my throat. “He was killed on the train…unfortunately.”
“Oh my.” Magnus’s face falls. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
He’s not sorry. I don’t know why or how, but I’m certain that Magnus wanted his emissary removed and decided to kill two birds with one stone by having the pirates murder him during my abduction.
“Well, what’s done is done. “He shrugs, putting on an expression of false humility. “I’d rather focus on happier things, now. I’ve brought you here, as I’m sure you know, because I want you to be my queen.”
I choke on my pastry. Good gods, this man is insane! He’s trying to ignore the fact that his soldiers kidnapped me and he won’t tell me where Kastian is, and move straight into wedding planning? “You’re out of your mind. I was never going to marry you, and I certainly wouldn’t now.”
“See, I think you will. You’re not the only one who knows how to persuade someone, and you’ve conveniently already told me whom I need to threaten to ensure your cooperation.”
My heartbeat pounds against my chest, and the pastry falls from my hand onto the bed. “You can’t. Forget about me, if you hurt Kastian, then Daemon will never agree to ally with you.”
“I don’t know about that. I think he still might, once I’m married to his cousin.”
“If you believe that then you don’t know anything about him or about me. You’re going to be in for a rude awakening.”
“I think your cousin could be persuaded when he learns how happy you are here, but if not, then it’s no great loss.”
My brow furrows. “I thought you were only doing this for the alliance.”
“Actually, I think you misunderstand. The alliance would be an added benefit, but this is really about you. I’ve had you in the back of my mind for many years now.”
I look up. “What? Why?”
“Because you’re a land-born siren; the first one I’ve ever seen outside of historical accounts and portraits. You have no idea how useful you could be to me.”
Nausea washes over me and my chest burns with an odd combination of disgust and anger. Of course it’s only because I’m a siren. He’s like a collector—like every other vile man that taught me to hate how I looked from far too young an age. Who taught me to flinch every time someone called me beautiful.
Magnus takes advantage of my silence, walking over to the bed to look down his nose at me. “I’m not a monster, Odessa,” he continues. “I don’t want to force you into this. I’d rather have an obedient queen. Someone who knows how to keep the peace—someone who understands what’s at stake and that you sometimes have to do unpleasant things for the greater good. I believe that person could be you.”
I make a noise in the back of my throat somewhere between a growl and a scoff. “You don’twantto force me, but you will.”
