Page 38 of Cursed Evermore
“I suppose then we wouldn’t need to get married.” He gave me a tight-lipped smile. “That would sadden me. But I imagine you’d be relieved to be free of your duty to me.”
Tension rippled through my gut, and the heat of discomfort settled on my shoulders.
What the hell answer was I supposed to give him when he’d hit the nail with the hammer? Part of me was actually relieved he was aware of how I felt. But how did I tell him he was right? “Thayden, I?—”
“Don’t.” He shook his head. “No need to give me an answer. Perhaps that was an unfair observation about you, because every time you see me, it feels like a first meeting. But I’ll do what I must to make sure you come to trust me. Maybe even love me, with time.”
He brushed his thumb across my cheek, a presumptuous caress that made my skin crawl and my breath snag in my throat. I gazed back at him, not knowing what to say, so I kept quiet.
He was the only person who made me feel this discomfort. I’d always felt it, so I couldn’t imagine him doing anything to change my mind.
“Your mother also mentioned she had a talk with you about magic. About staying away from it.” Although he changed the subject, he still gave me a sharp, assessing gaze.
“Yes, she did.”
“Good. You need to leave everything to do with magic here in this home. Zyvaris is far stricter than any other mortal land.”
“I’m aware.”
“I’ve assured my people you have no powers, so they don’t need to worry. They’ve only been accommodating of the idea of you because they trust my word as a knight.”
Accommodating… as if I had some kind of leprous ailment. But truth be told, I was also accommodated here in Stormfell because of my father. And the people believed I had no magical powers.
“I see.” I spoke mindlessly for the sake of answering.
“We still need to be careful.” Thayden nodded. “When we reach Zyvaris, it would be wise to keep close to the manor and have guards with you at all times.”
So, I’d never leave the house?“I can assure you, you don’t have to worry about my magic. I know the consequences.”
“I’m sure you do. But I need to make sure everything is kept in line. That includes you.”
How strange. This conversation had started out almost promising yet quickly turned to ashes in my mouth. What a bastard. Gods, I wanted to argue with him, but I held my tongue knowing anything I said would only get me in trouble.
“Have you got all your journals together?” Another subject change.
“Yes. Everything is ready to go.”
“I’ll be reading them as soon as I can to ensure I’m up to date with everything that’s happened. We don’t want to risk any mistakes.”
My mouth fell open, and a bolt of shock slammed into my ribcage. “What? You don’t need to read my journals.”
“I think it makes sense that I do.”
“But those are private journals. You can read my grandmother’s journals; she’s packed those, too, and they have sufficient information about me.”
He shook his head, dismissing me. “Your grandmother’s journals will be helpful, but nothing will be better than something written by you.”
“But we could just talk and get to know each other.” I couldn’t hide the sarcasm in my tone any more than my disdain for this marriage.
“If we relied on that, you’d only tell me what you want me to know.” A crude smile tipped his lips.
“But—”
“No, Elariya.” He set his shoulders back and levelled me with a harder stare. “The matter isn’t up for discussion.”
“But it should be.” I balled my hand into a fist on my lap, trying to hold in my fury. “Those are my private things. There shouldn’t beanydiscussion.”
“I appreciate there areprivate thingsyou probably don’t want me to read, but we’re in a very unique situation. I think I’m entitled to have all the information I need.”
