Page 120 of Once Upon a Crown
He barged into the tent, grabbed the nearest jug of wine and drank straight from it.
Only once his thirst had been satiated did he look at me.
My stomach twisted.
“You look a little pale,” was the only thing he said.
I cleared my throat, looking out of the tent again. “It’s not a pretty view.”
Aries let out a snort. “Too delicate for your fragile little heart?”
I didn’t reply, knowing that whatever I said would probably get me killed.
“Though I must disagree with you.” He grabbed a nearby piece of cloth and wiped the blood from his face. “I think this is the perfect view.”
My fists clenched in my lap.
“And I must say, your dress is quite exquisite.” Of course he would think so. He’d picked it out. “But I do feel as though something is missing. If you’re going to be seated by my side, then you must look like a true queen.”
I didn’t know what he’d meant until I suddenly felt him behind me. I tensed up, preparing to defend myself, when I felt the cool gemstones being laid against my skin. Aries had one of the Myrgonite objects with him all this time and he didn’t even know it. With the necklace so close, the dagger felt heavy in my pocket. Two Myrgonite objects. Big mistake, Aries.
I watched as he placed the Argonian crown atop his head before taking my crown out from a nearby trunk. I’d been wearing it the night his men kidnapped me. Aries must have kept it for this very purpose, like this was all some sick and twisted game to him. He placed it on my head and let his hands travel to my shoulders, fingers resting on my collarbone, and I tried not to shudder.
“Now we can watch.”
He took a seat on the chair next to me, wine jug in his hand. This was what he’d promised. That I could be sitting there as his wife and the queen of Argon, observing our victory, or that I would be next to him anyway, as his dolled-up trophy, watching as he destroyed everything I cared about.
The Norrandish lines were starting to fall, our men thinning out as the sheer force of the Argonians overpowered them. It was easy to believe they’d originally hailed from an ancient warrior people — brutal and fearless, they used the battlefield as their dancefloor.
We’d always known it was a long shot to take on Aries’ army, which was why we’d tried to avoid it until it was impossible. But to witness the atrocity with my own eyes. To know we were going to lose it all. Not to mention Aries now knowing where the Myrgonite mines were.
But he didn’t have the three Myrgonite objects yet.
My hand found the dagger inside my pocket. It was practically buzzing with magic.
If I had anything to do with it, he would never find the objects.
I had a choice to make. I could let Aries get what he wanted, let him win. Or I could fight.
Old instincts kicked in. I pulled the dagger out and went for Aries’ neck. But being the warrior he was, he must have sensed my movement, and he jerked away fast enough that I only managed to scratch him.
“Bitch.” Aries pressed a hand to his neck, and I used the opportunity to jam the dagger into his shin. He tried to grab it, but I was quicker this time, pulling it out before he could reach it.
I moved to the other side of the tent, putting the table between me and Aries to give me a moment to regain my composure and focus. With little effort, Aries overturned the table, spilling wine and platters of food.
I looked for the object closest to me, which happened to be a candlestick, and threw it at Aries’ head with all my might. Unfortunately, I missed, and Aries let out a laugh that made my blood turn cold. I grabbed another candlestick and hurled it at him. This time, it hit him right between his eyes. Aries was startled for a second, pressing his fingers to the newly formed mark on his head that was now bleeding.
I backed out of the tent, my heart beating rapidly. But there was something else, something more.
The magic of the Myrgonite seemed to flow through my veins. I felt stronger than I had before, braver. Something surged through me, inexplicable as if it had a mind of its own, and for the first time, I understood the danger of this power, how easily it could consume you.
I didn’t have much time to consider it before Aries was out of the tent. Luckily, he hadn’t grabbed a weapon, probably thinking he wouldn’t need one.
Aries came at me like a wolf ready to pounce but I was prepared this time.
I sliced through the air, knowing that if I wasn’t going to get in a lethal cut or stab, I could wound him until he couldn’t fight me anymore. I would make him bleed.
Aries dodged me left and right, his leg and his neck still bleeding.
