You Are Mine (Mine #1)(91)
“Zade,” I whisper.
“It's fine,” he whispers back. But it's not. He moves toward me, but then takes four steps down the stairs. For the first time, I'm looking down on him.
“My sacrifice.” He waves his hand toward me.
This can't be happening. He's not saving both of us, just himself from death. I can't believe he'd do this to me. This isn't who I thought he was. This can't be happening. I want to do something, but I'm frozen to the floor. “Zade.”
Again, he looks directly at me and whispers, “You're fine, Serena.”
Does that mean it will be a painless death? None of the sacrifices ever called out. They didn't seem as alert as I am either. I was willing to try and stop a sacrifice, but how can I stop my own? Is it worth it if it saves Zade?
No. I'm willing to become a tarnished for him, but I'm not going to become a sacrifice so he can stay Chancellor. I tighten my legs. Maybe I can rush into him. It may not stop it, but it could prolong it.
He faces the crowd, hand still extended toward me. The perfect time. My muscles tense as I get ready to pounce. But his words stop me.
“My sacrifice. Serena, daughter of Councilman Stephen, I will her to accept my sacrifice of ownership of her. She's as free as any warlock.”
Golden light bursts from his hand, surrounding me with its warm glow. I stare at him, unable to believe what he just said. My breathing becomes shallow. How could I ever have doubted him? I'm not bound by any one man. My body grows light as burdens I didn't know I carried lift. I'm free as Katherine, but without the constraints. Free. Truly free.
But how can he do that? He can't. The lightness shifts back into the burden I carry. The burden of being owned. Only now, it's worse. Knowing what I could have had, but can't.
The murmur of voices below me must agree. Their noise grows by the moment, confusion building to anger.
A warlock yells, “You can't do that. Women aren't able to be free. They need to be owned.”
“He's right. You can't free her,” another calls out.
Zade silences them by holding up his hand, the glow around me fading, but still present. “I can. Before you protest, I offer proof.”
He holds something up. A book of some sort. Thick with pages I was required to learn. The Woman's Canon. How can that help?
“I've found,” he opens the book to a page somewhere in the middle, “a woman must always submit to her Master's wishes.”
It does say that, but it can't really free me. Can it?
The book slaps closed. Zade motions to a servant behind him.
The servant brings him a hefty book. Using two hands, Zade holds the book open. “While not typical, the law was used one hundred and eighty years ago. A man's wife never provided an heir. Despite wanting a new wife, he didn't feel his old one deserved to be tarnished. He used this law to free her, ultimately giving her the status of a man. The council upheld it.”
Did they? My heart pumps again, but I refuse to let the load lift. The current council hasn't approved it.
“You're bending things to your own ways, Envadi,” a hairy man says.
“Come,” Zade says. “Come look for yourself. Councilmen and warlocks, come. Then let your wives and daughters and sisters and mothers see.”
The Grand Chancellor appears at the bottom the stairs, those closest inching away from him. The murmurs from the crowd quiet. He says nothing, but climbs the stairs. Slowly, but deliberately. Once he gets to Zade, he takes the book.
For several minutes, he does nothing but study it. His eyes move back and forth as he takes in the words. I intertwine my fingers and place them over my mouth. What is he thinking? His expression is one of concentration and gives nothing away. Will he stop us from using the law in my favor?
Finally, he snaps the book shut and shoves it at Zade. His gaze bores into me, black with anger. The air grows cold. He hates me and I'm going to die because of that hate. I'm sure he'll kill Zade as well for trying this. There will be no need for a vigilante group. His nose flares, then the expression wipes from his face and he faces the crowd.
“It is as he says. She's free.”
He saunters down the stairs. Zade looks at me, a huge grin on his face. I'm free. Free as a man. Free!
The crowd's murmuring returns.
Zade quiets them with his words. “This is only the beginning of the delights we have planned for you this night. Please enjoy them.”
He raises his hands above him and strikes them together. Black light surges from them, shooting across the room, plunging us into darkness.
A woman screams, but I'm not frightened. I wait anxiously for the next step. My whole body feels light and free. No Master. No punishments.
In the darkness, a single spark flickers. Then another. And another. White at first, then the sparks growing in colors and brightness. They multiply quickly at my eye level, but above the guests. Soon there are enough to fill the room. It's as bright as a summer day. Bright as I feel inside.
Flowers appear in vases scattered through the room in full bloom. A scent comes to me. I know others are smelling whatever brings them the most happiness. Another spell I'm finding I enjoy. To me, the faint citrus scent smells suspiciously of Zade, but I don't let the thought dampen my spirits.
Music fills the air, slow at first, but steadily building into a familiar dance. The sound comes from all around.