he narrows his eyes slightly. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”
“My daughter was one of the lucky girls invited, I am escorting her.” He almost manages to convince me that he’s actually pleased to be here, but I can see the tightness in his shoulders and the hand he places on Aileen’s back, pulling her closer to him.
“I see.” He looks the two of them up and down, and his tone says he has no idea how Aileen was picked as a potential bride for the prince. I bristle, offended on her behalf, but I see Wilson shake his head slightly and know to shut my mouth.
“Clarissa, will you join me for a walk?” Merritt queries, holding out his arm, as if expecting me to say yes.
I don’t want to be anywhere near this man, and certainly not anywhere where I’d be alone with him. How do I get out of this?
“Sorry, Advisor, but I can’t let Clarissa leave my sight, so unless you don’t mind me coming with you, may I request you stay within the hall?” Wilson speaks up as if he can hear my thoughts and I silently thank him.
“Mage Wilson, you’re here too. How lovely.” The barely concealed disgust in the advisor’s tone and his appraising look just makes Wilson smile. His words are a deliberate insult, since he must have already seen the magician at my side.
“Always a pleasure, Advisor,” Wilson replies, his smile strained.
Sighing with frustration, he holds his arm out to me again, obviously not going to let me say no. “Fine, we shall just walk around the hall. Clarissa?”
I glance at my friends, hoping one of them will say something to get me out of this, but they look at me with varying levels of sympathy. Giving the advisor a curt nod, I link my arm with his and follow as we start to walk away. We stay silent for a while, and I start to wonder why he came over to see me if he has nothing to say.
“I won’t ask you to dance,” he says lightly, not looking at me as we walk through the clusters of people milling about. “I don’t suppose that’s a skill they teach the slaves.”
His comment is like a punch to my gut and I stumble slightly in surprise. Catching my footing, I keep looking straight ahead, not wanting to cause any sort of commotion that would bring attention my way. I want to blend in, not stand out.
“You know?” I ask quietly, already knowing the answer deep down. I realise that’s why he was so off with me in the library that time I was there with Jacob.
“Of course, I am the advisor to the king. I advised against this whole charade, but the magicians insisted, and the king wanted to keep an eye on you.” Again, he says this lightly, like he’s discussing the weather, not my life. “I would tread very carefully, Clarissa.” Again, he sneers my name. “The magicians won’t always be around to save you.” We’ve reached the other side of the hall now, near where the musicians are playing, so it’s harder to hear his soft voice over the music. He stops and pulls his arm away, giving me a look full of distain now that we are far enough away from listening ears. “Enjoy the game, Clarissa.” He spins on his heel and strides towards the king, who is watching us with interest from his throne. My heart pounds hard against my chest as his threat rings in my ears.
What did he mean by ‘enjoy the game?’ Is that what this is to them, a game? My thoughts are racing, and I feel exposed being so far away from my friends—was that his intent? To get under my skin and separate me from those who make me strong?
“You are so much stronger than you think, my beloved.” The Mother’s voice soothes me, and I startle when I feel her presence settle over me, her calm soaking into my veins and wiping away my confusion and pain. “It is not Grayson or the mark on your arm that makes you strong. You are a survivor. I chose you because your heart is pure and you have the ability to become so much more.” Her comforting tone continues, easing my ragged soul. “Be strong, my beloved.”
The mark on my arm starts to glow, and the people around me gasp and turn to stare at me, all whispering as