Fires of War (War and Deceit #4) - Erin O'Kane Page 0,105

goddess abandoned us,” he accuses, stepping towards me, closing the distance I try to put between us. The other dancers continue to move around us like nothing’s happening. Rhydian takes one last step and grabs my wrist, making me hiss with discomfort at the sense of wrongness radiating off him, but he doesn’t seem to care as he stares down at me. All smiles are gone now, his face is completely serious, and I swear for a moment his eyes seem to…quiver, like the black retreats and I can see some of the blue of his iris. Except he blinks and it’s gone. I must have imagined it.

“Are you going to save us, Clarissa?” Voice a whisper, he lowers his head again, and for a horrendous second, I think he’s going to kiss me, but he doesn’t, he just stares into my eyes. “You’re our only hope now.”

“Rhydian,” a voice snaps, breaking the spell over us. Rhydian straightens and steps away, his usual smirk back in place as he looks at the speaker—the king. Suddenly able to breathe, I feel a strange sense of gratitude towards the king, which I never thought would be possible. Now free of the strange nausea his son was causing, I look over at the king and see he’s frowning at Rhydian.

“Don’t monopolise all of Clarissa’s time,” he chides. He smiles and pats Rhydian on the back as if he’s gently chastising him, but from the tightness in his eyes, it’s obvious he’s not happy about something. My stomach churns, there’s so much more going on here that we don’t understand. The bonds in my chest are tight where my three mates are all reaching out, their concern like a siren going off in my mind and making it difficult to focus on anything else.

The king turns from his son, and his eyes land on me, glinting as he takes me in. “Why don’t you come and join me, Clarissa?” He gestures towards the dais where the five thrones sit, and I realise with a shock how far Rhydian and I had travelled while we danced. The king’s eyes glitter with glee as I look up at him again. “A woman like yourself should be sitting on a throne,” he declares.

Horror and rage race through my system, and from the look in his eyes, he knows the exact effect he’s having on me. How dare he? He wants me to sit on my mother’s throne, knowing full well what that would do to me. It’s another power play to make me look like the heartless ruler he’s trying to portray me as.

“No, thank you, Your Majesty.” I’m unable to keep all of my anger from my voice as I reply, but that doesn’t seem to bother the king.

“Shame.” Shrugging, he takes a step closer before circling me. My back stiffens, objecting to being examined like a prize pony, but I bite my lip. “I see you like the dress I picked out for you, a dress fit for a queen,” he comments from behind me, but I refuse to react, keeping my gaze ahead until he finishes his appraisal. “You look so much like your mother.” The king sighs wistfully as if some tragedy befell my mother rather than the fact he murdered her in cold blood. Rhydian makes a sound of agreement next to his father. Again, I refuse to react, despite the icy anger that’s freezing my veins, but I push it away, saving it up. I need to know what’s happened to Jacob and why I’m here before I decide what to do about the king.

Realising I’m not going to rise to his bait, the king makes a noise of amusement and waves his hand, gesturing for me to follow him as he turns on his heel. “Come with me, we have much to discuss.”

This is it. Trepidation fills me along with a sense of relief. We may finally glean some answers. Turning, I gesture for my mates to follow, but I’m cut off by the king’s barking laughter. “That won’t be necessary.” I whirl to face him, an argument already on my lips as my dress twists around me, but I’m stopped by the king’s snarl. “My dear, if you think I’m letting elves anywhere near me, you are more dim-witted than I thought.”

I’m taken aback by his sudden animosity. Until now, he’s at least pretended to be civil in front of his subjects, so the change in attitude is giving