Nev fought to ignore the prowler’s mention of her mother and focused her thoughts. She dared to test his awareness and took a single step towards him. Watching him closely for any sign that he had noticed her, but saw nothing. She also reached out to Wyatt, ensuring her movement had not endangered him.
“So, tasting blood is just something you do?” Wyatt asked, sarcastically. His levity trying to mask the discomfort and unease he was feeling. Sagrine’s presence saturated his mind. It was as if someone had poured shadows into his thoughts, and now they were consuming everything they touched. He forced his mind to hold the darkness from Nev. Keeping her protected behind a wall of light.
“Sadly, not as often as I crave. The heiress was stolen. Lost to time and to me. And sadly, her mother was long dead by the time I was prepared for my purpose. Still, the empress had been a vision and a visionary. She had such hopes for her daughter, but sadly she was betrayed. First, by her weakness and then by filth like you. He was an untrained blight, just as you are,” Sagrine sneered, taking several steps closer to Wyatt.
Addi and Nellis both felt the situation rapidly growing tenser. However, they were powerless to push things to unfold any quicker or any slower. Just like Sagrine, they could not see Nev. Only Wyatt and Nev knew how near she was to striking the prowler down.
Nev pushed her energy to Wyatt, helping him maintain his vigilant deception. She then steadied her nerves and took several steps closer to Sagrine. She was almost within striking distance and thought, Just a few more moments, Wyatt.
“You think she loves you? You think the first time you possessed her, in the cave, really mattered?” Sagrine insinuated, studying Wyatt and taking a few steps towards Addi.
Wyatt hated that his memory of that moment was shared with Sagrine, but he wouldn’t let it be used to endanger Nev. “Jealous?” Wyatt replied, forcing a small laugh.
“Perhaps. But what of you? Here. A gift. You can have a hint of what I plan to do with her. How I will bend her will, mind, and body to meet my every desire,” Sagrine taunted. Taking great pleasure in watching Wyatt grimace as the twisted thought took root in his mind. Taking another small step toward the Tink, he lifted his head, purposefully allowing Wyatt to catch a glimpse of his face.
Seeing a hint of Sagrine’s face was something Wyatt wished he could forget. It was contorted in anguish and lust. Clenching his jaw, Wyatt tried to hide the anger and disgust that was building within him. He had to hold on… for Nev.
Nev could sense Wyatt’s discomfort, even if she hadn’t seen what the prowler had shown him. Her hand started to tremble as she moved within two steps of striking distance. Gripping the hilt of her dagger, she swallowed hard and took one more step. Nev needed her mind and body to be centered when she struck. She wouldn’t get a second chance.
Sagrine grinned at Wyatt’s reaction and paused his advance. Tapping his dagger against his leg. “You do realize she is using you, don’t you? You think she will stay with you when she becomes empress? Or that she will turn down the throne? Or not find someone else, someone better? Have you fooled yourself into thinking that she even has a choice? Any choice? Her path is set. Her blood will demand the promise be fulfilled. There is only one destination, no matter how many detours she takes or guardians she recruits. She has only seen hints of what she is, of the greatness she is destined for. All will tremble and bend before her. The throne, the empire, everything. But not before her body and mind are broken.
“You, however, are insignificant. You are a fool, just like her father. He didn’t deserve her, and neither do you. Neither of you should be allowed to delay her from meeting her destiny,” Sagrine growled, glaring at Wyatt as he walked behind Addi.
Nev sighed slightly as she watched Sagrine circle behind Addi. She would need to wait for him to draw closer again. The delay was excruciating.
Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, Addi shifted on her feet. It reminded her of when she was tested, and she shivered in response.
Wyatt hated seeing Addi’s reaction. She should never have needed to be so close to Sagrine again. As he watched her, he felt the prowler slithering through his thoughts and pulling doubts out from the shadows. Worries about his future and Nev were yanked forcefully to the forefront of his mind.
“Her father used tricks and deception to steal her away, just as you did at the cabin. I took such pleasure in picturing him burning and then watching him burning. He suffered for nothing. Just like you and your sister will. But our time together will not be so quick or so pleasant for you as it was for the girl’s father,” Sagrine taunted as he moved back to in front of Wyatt.
Nev moved ever closer and prepared herself to strike. She took a deep breath and slowly raised her dagger in the air. Breathing slow and steady, trying to ready herself for what was about to come. Unexpectedly, a small spike in anxiety from Wyatt drew her attention momentarily.
A nagging feeling had begun to grow in Wyatt. Something wasn’t right. The prowler didn’t see Nev, but there was something they didn’t see as well.
“You feel it, don’t you? Fear. Doubt. Her mother felt that too.
