“Planning to use that?” I ask.

“Planning to give me reason to?” she counters.

She’s so sure of herself that I can’t help but be curious. I act on instinct alone and bring my hand to her throat, not to actually hurt her so much as to see what she’ll do. I know better than to poke a bear, yet I can’t seem to help myself.

My fingers have barely brushed her neck before she swats my arm aside, grips my wrist, and twists it around until I’m forced to drop to my knees.

“What in the Divine-damned Drained Wood do you think you’re doing?” she snaps. “I’m not some meek toy for you to break. Next time you lay a hand on me, I’ll shatter it.”

“Next time?” I ask. “You think I’ll try again?”

She shoves me forward so hard I barely have a chance to catch myself before I hit the gravel.

That was unexpected. I jump to my feet and turn to assess her.

She’s fuming, her pale face flushed gray with anger.

“This was illuminating, but I have to go get ready for dinner,” she says through gritted teeth.

She turns to leave. I’m losing her, and I need to know more.

“Who is Rochelli?” The question comes out before I can stop it.

It has the desired effect.

She spins on me. “What did you say?”

The rebellion has them rattled enough that a Carrenwell has stopped to see what I’ll say about him. Clearly, I’m going to need to find this man and maybe even help him.

“I heard a few men talking about him at the bar last night before we met,” I say.

“What did they say?”

I rub the back of my neck, trying to figure out how much to share. I have her hooked, but I don’t want to surrender all my leverage. “I assumed at first that it was just drunken ramblings. Those without magic love the idea of someone evening the score for them.” I wait.

She sighs impatiently. “But?”

“But then they said he was gaining ground in the city—becoming more popular with the common people than your family. They’re tired of the blood tax and they say he’s going to get you to abolish it.”

She crosses her arms. “Of course they would say that. The common folk love a fairy tale. It makes them believe they could be more than ordinary.”

I can’t tell if she actually believes that or if she’s been conditioned to respond that way.

She blinks and winces. She opens her eyes wide and then narrows them on me.

“Are you well?” I ask.

“I’m fine,” she says, but her eyes remain squinted and she rubs her temple lightly. A smirk splits her face as she glances around us. “Well, I’ve enjoyed our little chat, but I must be getting back. This is the center of the maze. Hope you can find your way out.”

I turn, and, sure enough, we’ve reached a circular alcove with six paths leading in different directions.

She tosses my jacket at me and gives a mischievous glance at the trail to her left. She’s going to run from me.

“Harlow, don’t.” My heart kicks up, blood pounding in my ears.

Her eyes light with mischief. “Why not?”

I grab her arm. “Don’t ever run from me.”

For a moment, she’s frozen there, her eyes far away and then focused, and she looks murderous as she yanks her arm away. “Why?”

“Because I’ll chase you.”

She arches a brow. “Wow, you wild forest huntsmen really commit to the feral thing, huh? Do you still do all those fancy blood rituals and wild forest orgies to Kennymyra?”

“I’m serious.”

She takes a step away, her gaze darting down the path. A cold wind blows her hair forward, but I can still see the mischievous smile on her lips through the dark, shining strands. “What happens when you catch me?”

I grind my teeth, trying to keep control of my temper. Why can’t she just listen? “If you trust me on nothing else, please trust me on this—you do not want to know.”

She frowns and still looks poised to run.

“So, will we be venturing out again this evening? More victims on your list?” I ask, knowing this is my absolute last chance to change the direction of this interaction.

She crosses her arms. “That’s none of your business, and you need not worry about my nighttime antics until you’ve said your vows. You cannot speak of it to anyone.”

I close the space between us, and her hand skims the place where her blade rests on her thigh.

“Is that a command, lovely?”

“It’s a threat that if you don’t keep quiet, I’ll find a more permanent way to silence you.”

I click my tongue. “I’ve lost track of how many times you’ve threatened my life.”

“I’d say this arrangement is off to an above-average start,” she says, a half-smile creeping over her lips. “No matter how I act in public, let there be no question in private that all I feel for you is loathing.”

I lean closer so she can see the seriousness in my eyes. “The feeling is entirely mutual.”

She steps away and turns toward the opposite pathway. “Good luck finding your way out, my feral forest wolf,” she calls over her shoulder. “I look forward to our formal introduction feast tomorrow evening.”

By the mercy of the Divine, she doesn’t run. She just strolls away casually. I’m too proud to follow her, but she effectively led me to the center of the maze without my noticing all the twists and turns we took to get here.

I shouldn’t be surprised that she walked away. It’s what Carrenwells do.

Ten years ago, her family led the Drained to our gates and left us alone to die.

OceanofPDF.com

6HARLOW

Istumble into the sunroom, panic clenching in my chest and pain throbbing in my head.

Gaven takes one look at me and reaches for the blade at his waist. “What did he do⁠—”

“Nothing,” I rasp, a hand finally coming to my head. “It’s⁠—”

“An attack,” he finishes, crossing the room to loop an arm around my waist. He hauls me down the hallway with surprising speed for someone his age.

I squint. Everything is lit with a bright halo that warps and bends as I move. It’s always the first sign of trouble, and the nausea and dizziness follow close behind. I only have a few minutes to find somewhere private to ride out the pain once the glowing starts. Because after fifteen minutes or so, the pain will grow from a hum to a roar.

I don’t know what causes the episodes, but stress certainly makes them worse, and the past day has been trying.

Servants scatter as we breeze down the corridor toward my rooms. The world starts to tilt and I stumble. Gaven drags me along faster, ignoring my grunted protest.

“How long ago did it start?” he asks as he climbs the stairs.

“Ten, fifteen minutes. I couldn’t just run off when I was expected to walk with Henry.” We pass the landing windows and pain lances my brain as I try to hide from the sunlight. “Hurry—I’m going to be sick.”

I want time to pick apart my first interaction with Henry, but my mind will not allow anything but the impending pain. It builds like a storm on the horizon, lightning strikes firing behind my eyes every time we pass the windows. A cold sweat rises on my neck and my stomach turns over.

Finally, we round the corner into the hallway that leads to my room. Gaven drags me the last few feet and then shoves me through the ornate bedroom door.

“Bed or washroom?” he asks.

“Washroom,” I groan.

He quickly crosses the bedroom and deposits me gently on the washroom floor. I press my cheek to the cool tile and moan.

“I’ll order ice.”

“Don’t forget—” My stomach heaves, and I sit up so quickly I almost fall over, making it to the toilet in time to hurl up my breakfast. I wipe my mouth and look up at Gaven. “Don’t forget to order something to drink with it. If we order ice without a drink⁠—”

He sighs. “The staff will sense weakness. I know. Last time⁠—”

“Last time you were lazy.” I don’t mean for it to sound so harsh, but I can’t stand for him to see me looking so weak. “You’re dismissed. Return with the ice and then keep everyone out of my rooms.”