A Kingdom of Blood and Betrayal (Stars and Shadows #2)(16)

I stared at him wordlessly as I played those words echoed in my head. But I couldn’t make sense of them.

“That prophecy has been burned in my brain since I was a child. If Gavril is to marry you, the cruelty of my father’s rule will look like child’s play.”

Fear like I had never known before crept up my spine and took root. “And what if the prophecy is referring to you? What if you are the one I should be wary of?”

“We both know that it isn’t.”

“I don’t know anything.” I spat as I watched him carefully. “Other than the fact that I can’t trust either of you.”

“How do we know the prophecy is about me? There are dozens of other Starblessed in this world. Thalia is in this palace right now.” I pointed toward the door. “Marry her.”

My chest tightened as I said the words. I didn’t want to be used as a pawn in their game. A game among kingdoms was dangerous, and I was simply being dangled between the two princes who were both as lethal as they were powerful.

“It’s you, princess.” He stared up at me, and the marks on my skin came to life with his conviction. “You are the reason my father and Queen Kaida have tried to keep the prophecy hidden. I knew it the moment I met you that it was you who the prophecy spoke of. It is you who will change our world.”

“I don’t want to change your world.” I shook my head and my wet hair slid over my shoulders. Evren tracked the movement before standing and running his hands along the front of his trousers. I didn’t know what I wanted, but it wasn’t this. Thoughts of Evren and I running away, of us being alone with no politics of this world to determine our future, flooded my mind. But that was a fool’s dream.

I was nothing more than a girl with marred skin, and he was born to rule.

“We don’t get to choose our destiny, Adara, but we do get to decide what role we’ll play in it. You are inevitably linked to my family, and you have the choice between him and me. You can take my hand willingly, or my brother will force yours.” His words were scathing, and his jaw clenched as he watched me.

“I don’t want to choose either.” Both choices invoked a fear I couldn’t ignore.

His dark gaze narrowed, and I looked away from him as I said the next words. “I just want to leave.”

“That’s impossible.” His voice lowered to a whisper as he stepped closer to me until he was standing but a breath away. He lifted his fingers, and I tensed as his skin pressed against my collarbone. He dipped his middle finger, tracing over a drop of water that had fallen from my hair, and he ran it along the length of my shoulder.

“You may hate being here with me, Adara, but letting you go would mean to allow you back into his arms. If you leave, Gavril will find you. If you choose him, I will have no choice but to respect that, but I will fight like hell to make sure you don’t.”

“The entire time.” I stared down at his finger as it slid down my arm. “You were planning this the entire time?”

“I had no choice, princess.” His hand stilled and gripped the back of my elbow. “I’ve seen what my brother is capable of.” His hand shuddered against my skin. “But if you think for one fucking second that I regret the choices I made that got you here, you’re wrong. I would do it all over again to have you standing in front of me.”

“You would betray me again so willingly?”

“I would tear apart the world, princess. Even if that meant hurting you to make sure you weren’t with him. I would make you hate me all over again just to make sure you were safe.”

“To make sure you were here with me.” His fingers trailed across my skin, tracing every inch of me with meticulous precision. “To make sure that I can touch you again.”

“That’s not what I want.” My voice shook because what I had just said was both the truth and a lie. I wanted him, but I feared him just the same.

“Isn’t it?” He leaned closer until his mouth rested against my ear. I trembled against him as I waited for him to speak again. “Your body is practically begging me for it. All I need is your words, princess.”

I shook my head as moisture pooled between my thighs. Gods, I needed what he was promising. I wanted it, but I knew that I shouldn’t.

A chill ran up my spine as I felt his power release from him, and before I could blink, his dark magic swirled around me.

“Just whisper it in the dark, Adara.” His words echoed against my skin and his lips followed them in a gentle graze. “You are my mate, but I can be your secret sin if that’s what you want. I will be whatever it takes to be able to touch you again.”

His magic danced along my neck before it skimmed over my lips and stole a rush of breath from my lungs.

“I…” I hesitated and my fingers dug into my towel, the only piece of fabric separating him and me. “Please.”

“You have to do better than that.” His teeth grazed against my neck with a bite of pain and a soft whimper fell from my lips. “Tell me you want me. Tell me you’ve been dying for my touch just as badly as I have been dying for yours.”

“I… want you.” My voice shook just as his darkness fell over my eyes. I could still see him standing in front of me, but it was as if his magic knew. The touch of his magic against my skin, the reminder of the darkness that lay inside both of us, it was exactly what I needed. Because as much as I was dying for him, I didn’t want to feel that way. I didn’t want to allow myself to crave someone who was so bad for me. “Please, Evren. I want you.”