Page 137 of The Spark that Ignites
“You don’t know me,” she snapped. “You don’t know what I’ve been through. And pointing out another person’s actions doesn’t justify yours.”
He gave her a knowing look waiting for the irony of her words to sink in. She wanted to slap it off his face.
Destonne piled several spoonfuls of different dishes on a white plate before setting it down in front of her and then serving himself. Her mouth watered at the smell of potatoes and roast meat, but she chugged her drink, needing the sweet relief.
Emmery seized the wine and poured herself another heaping glass, debating if she should drink straight from the bottle and save herself the trouble. She offered a raised brow and a dopey grin as she found the King watching her with intensity and judgement.
Sighing, Destonne pinched the bridge of his nose. “Eat. Before you pass out and I have to carry you out of here.”
Was it even safe to eat? Emmery pushed the food around her plate and sniffed it before she flipped her accusatory gaze back to him.
Rolling his eyes, he stated, “If I wanted to poison you, I would have put it in the wine.”
Emmery’s stomach clenched as she peered into her goblet, bile rising in her throat. Oh gods, she had already downed half that bottle.
With an aggravated noise, Destonne said, “Why would you think I want to poison you after I went to all that trouble bringing you here?”
“Because you’re a monster.” Was that a flinch? She continued anyway, “I don’t care if you’re a king. You’ve done vile things. And your lack of accountability is sad. Disappointing, really. I thought you would gloat about all the bloodshed. Your excuses make you look weak.”
“I’m weak? I’m not the one who sold your freedom for his kingdom.”
The ground shuddered beneath her, and Emmery gripped the table as her stomach curled like a ribbon shaved by a razorblade. “What—what are you talking about?”
“It’s exactly how it sounds.” He stared at her with those unfathomably deep eyes. Feeling like she teetered on the precipice of a black hole, Emmery averted her gaze. “I wished we would have had a clean start, before Vesper filled your head with nonsense but”—he swirled his wine but didn’t drink—“it seems we’ll need to get some things straight.”
That’s when she saw the lion scarring the back of his hand the size of a thumb print.
The same as Vesper’s.
The King’s symbol, she realized. The one that had been stamped on that suit of armour in the Sacred Lands. Clearly a bargain, yet her mind refused to believe it.
“You’re lying,” she spat, clutching the glass so hard she feared it might shatter. “You must have threatened him or hurt him or ... something. Because he wouldneverdo that.”
“Oh, wouldn’t he?” Destonne arched a brow. “Say, did Vesper tell you why you only had until the Fallen Equinox?”
She couldn’t breathe. Emmery traded her glass for gripping the table’s edge.
Why hadn’t she thought of this? She’d assumed there was some sort of magical restriction with the spell in a land she knew nothing about. Gods, like an imbecile she had trusted Vesper so fully.
At Emmery’s silence, Destonne added, “I gave him until then to bring you to me.”
Betrayal skewered her chest, and she aimed it at him. “Fuck you.”
He blinked at her. “You’re a smart woman, angel. I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out.”
Her blood boiled and magic scratched beneath the markings on her hands, begging for release. “Why would he make a deal with you of all people? Hehatesyou.”
“When you offer the right things, weak men crumple like wilting flowers.” He snatched the wine before she could grab it. “Eat and you can have more.”
Her chair screeched as she hastily stood from the table. She needed to get out of here. Be anywhere but here, listening to this nonsense. She continued, “Fuck this. All of this. And most of all,you. For putting him in this position.”
Destonne raised a hand. “Wait.” Blood trickled from the crown again, following the line of his temple. “Are you ...defendinghim?”
“Do you blame him for taking the deal? For seizing his freedom and reclaiming the kingdom you and your insane father stole?” Her cheeks burned hot with anger, smoke practically billowing from her ears. How dare he? “Vesper losteverything.”
Destonne’s jaw hardened, his eyes blazing, darkness devouring any semblance of light. “He sold you to me likecattle.”
“What choice did you give him?” she snapped back.
