Page 114 of A Serenade To The Elf Queen
“My knights—”
“Your guards are incompetent fools. They can’t even protect you from an ambush,” he says, dropping his head close to my ear as if he is sharing some deep secret. “It’s almost like they wanted you to die.”
If Rainer hadn’t changed Aelfric’s riding arrangement with the Grimsbane, Darstan would have protected me from the arrows with his heavy shield.
“They don’t—”
“Your people don’t love you. They’re rooting for your death. I’d be doing you a favor.”
“Enough.” I glare up at him. I bite down a dozen nasty retorts reminding myself he has just been released from his prison. “I will never let you hurt any of them.”
Time stands still for a moment as our eyes connect. I feel like I can be disintegrated into nothing by that stare. The air is drenched with tension from our heightened emotions.
He was nice enough to me in the forest that I thought we might have a chance to talk this through. I don’t understand why he suddenly keeps baiting me right now.
Fate brought us together for a reason. I’ve seen him in my dreams. I heard his summon and cry for help. “You called for me—”
A dark laugh escapes him as he glances at the sky.
“I beg the universe to end my suffering,” he says with a long exhale. His eyes return to me, making a slow gaze from up to down. “And they send me… you.”
Svenn gives me a look of utter repulse. Like I’m something filthy. Trash. “A vengeful elven queen on a warpath. Rhianelle Wiolant.”
My heart aches, recalling the way my name played on his mouth like a caress on our wedding night. Now he says it with such distaste that I can feel the bitterness in my own mouth.
“I am no oracle, but the future is bleak, filled with death and destruction,” he continues before I can say anything. “What was it again you told me? A bakery and a fragrance shop? The only scent around you is blood.”
All the kindness he showed me from that night turns to rot. I’ve never opened up that part of me to anyone. Not even to Blaire. It’s a silly dream, even I know it.
“I don’t get why you wanted to avenge your sister’s death. Deep down inside, you envied her. She’s the perfect daughter, the fearsome warrior, the rightful heir. Your sister might have made a better queen.”
His words slice at me like a dagger.
“How do you know all that?” My voice breaks along with my heart. I’ve never told him anything about Aerin.
“I know everything about you, wife.” He gives me a mocking smile.
I level a dark glower at him. The air crackles with tension as we stare at each other, the weight of our exchange hanging heavy between us.
“Screw you. You know nothing about me.” I walk away from him, temper flaring.
I understand Svenn is in pain but that was too much. My steps pace faster before I make an even bigger fool out of myself. I can feel his gaze on my back, searing me like hot iron.
You should bring him to his knees.One of the past curse bearers beckons me.
Quiet,I snap at her. I grab the heir by the throat and throw her into the icy lake. The others shudder and retreat into the darkness.
I swear by the Un I will never do that to Svenn. No matter how infuriating he is, I will never use the Rhunhraefn on him.
Ever.
Wait— I pause my dramatic exit.
Heavens above.
Svenn doesn’t know which one is the royal tent. It’s built the same as my knights’ to confuse attackers. I’d hate for him to stumble on Darstan or worse, Aelfric.
I can’t catch a break, can I?
