He wasn’t hurting her, but she couldn’t move, could barely catch her breath.
Magnus spoke very slowly and very clearly. “Do you see? You’re at my mercy.” He leaned even closer so he could whisper. “Whatever I want to do to you, be it to inflict pain or pleasure, I will do whenever and however I like. Understand that.”
Suddenly, Cleo couldn’t breathe at all.
His grip on her tightened, his words hot against her ear. “My father wanted this union, not me. But this is what I must do to keep my position as his heir. One day everything my father has will be mine—his kingdom, his army, his power. I’m not risking that for anything or anyone. But let this much be crystal clear between us: I would sooner share flesh with a beast from the Wildlands than you. I believe its claws would be much less sharp.”
Magnus let go of her and stepped back. Her breath returned in a rush as she stared at him with shock.
“I could have you executed for this.” He touched the dagger beneath his coat. “You know that, don’t you?”
Cleo just nodded, keeping her gaze locked on his. Looking away now would only show her at her weakest.
“If you value your life and that of your good friend, your only friend, Nic, you will behave as a doting and besotted bride on our trip across this goddess-forsaken realm that begins tomorrow. You’ll put on a good show for the brainless masses who choose to believe my father’s lies about us. Do you understand me?”
She nodded with a jerk of her head. “Yes.”
Magnus turned to leave. Before he closed and locked the door behind him, he paused long enough to say one last thing. “And should anyone ask, this night surpassed every one of your wildest fantasies about me.”
o;And now she’s dead because of you!” It took every ounce of control she had not to pull the knife out from behind her back and thrust it into his chest.
His expression darkened at the accusation. “No, I defended her. Or I tried to. My father acts before he thinks, especially when it comes to nosy servants. I would have spared her life.”
“You’re a liar!”
“I’m not lying. Not about this. Your friend Mira was treading in very dark places just by being in the same room with a Damora, and she paid a high price. As did your guard in Paelsia.”
Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes at the mention of Theon. “Never speak of him again.”
“I will never ask for your forgiveness for what I did.” Magnus looked away. “But I know I acted out of panic and cowardice that day. For that, and only that, I am ashamed of my actions.”
A hot tear slipped down her cheek. “My family is dead. My kingdom has been stolen from me. My friends are dying at your and your family’s hands.”
“And you still breathe only at our mercy.”
“Merciful isn’t a word I’d ever use to describe any of you. And I don’t believe a word you say about your grandfather. If he was of your blood then he was a tyrant and a bully too. Limerians are as cold as the kingdom they rule. No wonder your heart is forged of ice.”
This earned the edge of a very unpleasant grin. “Before you said I had no heart. This is definite progress, princess.” He studied her. “Now, enough about history. What are we to do about the problem you present to me this fateful evening?”
“What—?” Cleo didn’t get out more than this before Magnus grabbed her arms and roughly turned her around. She shrieked as he snatched the dagger from her grip, then shoved her so that she staggered back and landed hard on the bed. She stared at him with horror as he inspected the golden blade.
Magnus flicked an icy glance at her. “Did you mean to use this little dagger on me, princess? And here I’ve been nothing but cordial to you this evening.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the weapon. Images of him using it on her as punishment blinded her to anything else.
He paced slowly, watching her, like a predator who’d cornered his prey. “Who gave this to you?”
She bit her tongue to keep from saying a word.
He glanced at the knife again. “This is an ornamental bridal dagger from Kraeshia. What a generous gift from Prince Ashur. I hope you thanked him for this.” When she didn’t speak, he continued. “No words, princess? And here you always have something cutting to say. Perhaps now that I’ve removed your sharp weapon, there will be no more cutting tonight.”
He tucked the blade into his coat and took a step closer to her.
Cleo scrambled off the bed and put some distance between her and Magnus, succeeding only in backing herself into a corner. “Stay away from me!”
He watched her with amusement. “What is this? A frightened rabbit trying to find shelter from the wolf? Apologies if I find such a facade of innocence difficult to swallow.”
“You will not touch me tonight.” She forced herself to sound strong. “Or ever.”