Chapter 35 Spiraling Threads
Varek
I slam the office door hard enough to rattle the shelves. The echo follows me as I stalk to the desk, my wolf still snarling inside me. I can still feel her against me, breath drifting across my face, her heat burning through my clothes, and that fucking dagger's pommel in my side.
I should have put her on her knees right there in the hall. I should have dragged her back to her chamber, silenced that insolent mouth until she remembers that she's just a pawn, and she should act accordingly.
My jaw clenches so hard it aches. The dream pushes to the forefront of my mind until I can see her disapproving expression, but there's more fire in it now. The disgust in her eyes is only feeding this twisted desire to make her want me until I'm all she breathes, to bind her to me in every way possible. It's maddening and not according to plan. I need her here, under my control, to get what I want for Caldara, to ensure that my kingdom stays standing.
I can't let these urges derail that plan.
I can hear my father cursing my weakness as if the man were sitting right here.
"For Caldara," I whisper like a mantra. "We live, breathe, bleed, and act for Caldara until our last day."
Didn't I know this? I thought I had learned it in every way possible. I thought I had ingrained it into my bones by now. How could Solara's little princess have put a crack in years of training and focus?
I had to get her out of my castle, out of my kingdom, and out of my life as soon as possible before I unraveled any further and really started losing it. I lean over my desk and pull out the map of the continent. I had already marked where all the suitors were coming from who had announced themselves. I was hoping for kingdoms further south to come, but it might be that the news hasn't reached them.
The door creaks open behind me. Ronan saunters in, Lucian on his heels. They’re both silent and a little too stiff. Lucian shuts the door, taking in my face before dropping into the chair across from me. Ronan takes the other chair with a smirk.
“Well,” Ronan drawls, “that was quite the show in the corridor.”
My glare cuts toward him. “Tread carefully.”
“Carefully? Me? Careful?" He cocks an eyebrow. "After that?"
"Don't."
"You nearly kissed her, Varek. If not for Liora—”
Lucian interrupts, lounging back. “Is this part of your plan to break her or something else?"
The growl tears out of me before I can stop it. "She got lucky."
"And you could have died," Ronan says. "That's not like you. Do you think she won't kill you given half the chance?"
"After all the pushing to let her onto the training field, you're the last person I expect to lecture me about underestimating her," I say.
"Did you underestimate her?" Lucian asks quietly.
"Of course not," I hiss. Ronan folds his arms, and I hope whatever I come up with to say is convincing enough for them both to drop it. "Hyath isn't going to budge about their offer for her without a little push. He's the type to want what other men want… So is the king of Jorsen." I turn back to the map. "And Divan will want her if they even think I am toying with the idea of keeping her."
"You're going to let them in the castle?"
I smirk, noting the shift in Ronan's tone. I've convinced him. "Of course. Can't have a lucrative auction without everyone present."
“Have you heard from Divan?" Lucian asks lightly.
"Not yet," I say, tracing a path from Morak toward Divan across the map. "But if Morak arrives today, Divan will be nearby. The king has so many spies crawling through Morak he may as well run the territory."
And from Divan's movements, others would come. Before long, it really will be an auction house. Renting her out sounds more and more like a good plan, even as the thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I have no need for an army, but fertile land, farmers, workers, and all the things that will make Caldara survive well beyond my reign are something different.
"How many more suitors do you anticipate by dinner?" Lucian asks. "Do we even have the stores for it?"
"After the raid on Solara, we have plenty, and I don't anticipate this taking longer than a few days."
It can't take more than a few days for the sake of my sanity.
"A few more letters have arrived since this morning," Lucian says. "But I'm not sure if they're of the variety that you want."
My hands curl into fists. “Why?”
Lucian shrugs, but his eyes sharpen. “No talk about price. Most don't seem to be convinced that you have any power over her." His lips twitch. "I doubt the show earlier will do anything to help that impression."
I set my jaw, mulling it over. I have to change tactics, it seems. I needed her to have as much appeal as possible. Something to break, but broken in enough that their investment wouldn't be wasted. The thought makes my head pound. The prince of Hyath’s cold eyes flash through my mind. His father's covetous leer follows, and I know that they are perhaps the tamest of all the suitors to come.
There's also the fact that I don't have the power to make Fiona do as I say. My compulsion will work on her, but it will leave her mindless. Beating or starving her will only make her fight harder and make her less valuable and appealing. I needed her in pristine condition. Seduction is too dangerous unless I can rein in these urges. I can't leave it to chance. As much as I hate the idea, there will be a time when I will have to cooperate with her, maybe even negotiate with her, but it can't be now.
I can't let her think she's gained any more ground. Fiona might have an arrogant streak, but I don't know how to tap into it to lure her into a sense of security. Looking back, I'm beginning to think that I screwed myself in the beginning. I'm too deep into it now to change course.
“She’ll bend," I say. "She knows she has no choice."
Ronan tilts his head, studying me. “Does she?"
“Yes.” The word snaps out sharp, too sharp, and both men exchange a look that makes me want to break something. "And if she doesn't yet, she will."
Lucian leans forward. “I would advise you to work on that sooner rather than later."
"Talk to Liora," I say, looking at Ronan. "And the guards on her room. I want to know what they're talking about."
Ronan's lips twitch. "So, you admit her bad mood is your fault." He sighs. "I guess I can go soften her up."
I grit my teeth, thinking of Fiona's disgust earlier as he saunters towards the door. The office falls silent but for the crackle of the hearth. My wolf paces inside me, restless, and I focus on the map.
"If nothing else, maybe you can compel her," Lucian says, standing. "It doesn't have to hold long, just long enough for her to say I do."
I work my jaw and say nothing. "Talk to your sister. I need to know what they were talking about in the parlor."
Something in there had set Fiona off. Liora was an excuse, I'm certain of that. She had likely always planned to act out at the first opportunity, but there is some truth to her words. She did feel anger about the situation in the parlor. I usually don't get involved with the women of the court outside of an occasional dalliance. I blow out through my clenched teeth as my mind starts spiraling through all the possibilities. I sink into my seat and mull over her words.
Something made me hesitated to use my compulsion on her, and I know my other power won’t work on her. There has to be some form of loyalty there to make it work. Besides, given her strength at such a young age, she could also be an alpha herself. That possibility makes her trickier to sell. I can't let anyone find out if it’s true, but I do need to confirm it.
I close my eyes, taking stock of my bond with Liora. It's still there, no more frayed than before, but it feels less material. I focus and see the threads of it that were once twined around our blood connection peeling away and reaching out into the darkness. I follow the length of it to where the bonds pull away the sharpest. Closer to her core, I can see another bond reaching out in a familiar direction. I used to have a bond in that direction, but it had long been severed. I turn away, straining to see where the frayed threads that had once connected me to Liora reach out into the dark, stretching for a new, tentative bond.
It's not to Ronan. He would have said something. My suspicion that they're reaching for Fiona is enough to chill my blood. I open my eyes and go to the door, shouting down the hall.
"Have Liora and the captive brought to my office."