“I am not with the attackers,” I respond.
“Then why are you fleeing?” he retorts, and I catch a glimpse of something glinting in his hand.
“I’m not fleeing,” I bite out.
He makes an incredulous sound. “And why did you want to dance with the future consort?”
“All the lords were—” I sputter.
“You shouldn’t have come here, Vann,” he says.
Shock sparks through my veins. I reach for my cleaver, as it is still decorated and tied to my back since I did not fight.
“How did you know it was me?” I demand.
Thorne tracks my movements, seeing my intention. Mistrusting Thorne had come like second nature to me from the moment I’d met him.
“You look at Arlet like she created the moon and stars. None of the elves care for her so strongly.”
“You betrayed us all,” I spit.
“You sound just like her,” Thorne says. He stalks closer, wearing all black.
I sneer at him. “Tell me where she is and I promise to give you a quick death.”
He doesn’t flinch. “I’m serious: You shouldn’t be here. And put that weapon away, or I’ll have you killed.”
“Not before I kill you first.” The words taste like blood.
He purses his lips. “And why would you do that? I brought her back safely from those islands you were hiding away on.”
I don’t lower my blade. “Yes, and then you handed her over to that sadistic bastard. Where is she?”
“I kept her alive.”
I charge forward, trying to grab him, but it’s as if he vanishes midair and then reappears a few feet away.
Thorne’s jaw tightens, but his tone stays level. “You don’t understand the game anymore. Go home.”
“No.”
He sneers. “You know nothing of us elves. Of what it is to be a half-blood. What having a half-blood heir to the throne would mean. Mrath wants to take over the dominion—which is fine. I seek to make it better before she does that.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your sob story.” I step closer, grip tightening. “You served Mrath once. You swore to her, bled for her. What did Arion promise that was worth betraying your own queen?”
“Mrath was a fool,” he snaps, and for the first time, his calm slips. “She wanted the crown, but she never had the stomach for what ruling costs. Arion does.”
“He’s a power-hungry pig,” I spit, analyzing his movements and tracking them with precision. I am prepared tokill him.
“He’s malleable enough to make a better future.”
I move before I think, grabbing him by the front of his armor and slamming him against the nearest wall. His head smacks against the stone, and his blade jerks up, the edge kissing my ribs.
“You kept her alive,” I snarl, “so you could watch her rot.” I steal his blade and press it under the bottom of his armor.
“Do it,” he says through gritted teeth. A bit of blood trickles down from his nose, mixing into his mouth. “End this, if it will make you feel better. It might makemefeel better. And then you can continue to play hero, and she can marry him in a few days. You will die. She will die. We will all fucking die, and I will be free of this damn world.”
I groan and let go of him.