I Would Rather Die
The Red Shadow stalked around me, his jaw clenched as his black horns reached into the sky. Red sparks surrounded him, and I watched in horror as a ripping sound filled the air. Moments later, wings as black as the night unfurled from his back. They blocked the sun from view as he loomed over me.
He looked like violence, and death personified.
“You thought you could get away from me?” he thundered. Red sparks flicked as magic swirled around him like a red storm.
I bit my tongue against the curses that threatened to escape me. Clenching my teeth, I seethed, “I am not going to be your bride, Remington. I will keep fighting. Keep pushing back. You’d be better off just leaving me alone than trying to make me yours.”
“Is it really going to be this way?” He shook his head, sighing dramatically. “You’re going to make me drag you back, kicking and screaming the entire way?”
“Yes,” I hissed. I could see the anger coming off him in waves, but I couldn’t help it. I wouldn’t marry him without a fight. Not after I’d tasted freedom. Not after I knew how just how horrible his father was.
No, I would do everything I could to kill Remington and the evil king, even if it was the last thing I would ever do. “I will fight you every inch of the way down the aisle.”
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Remington looked at me, really looked at me for the first time in his life. His brows furrowed as he studied me intently. “Why?”
I snorted, taking a good look at the red magic surrounding him. With one blow, he could kill me. “Are you joking right now?”
The prince shook his entitled head. “No. Why are you fighting this? When you marry me, you will be a princess. Wife of the High King’s Heir. You will have a comfortable life. I will provide for you and our children. Keep you safe.”
“Is that all you think about? Providing mecomfort? No one ever asked me if I wanted to marry you!”
“That’s why you’re angry?” He sounded legitimately puzzled, as though he couldn’t fathom anyone being upset simply because their consent wasn’t sought.
“Of course, that’s why I’m upset!” I huffed.
He stepped closer, his wings snapping behind him. “If that’s all—”
I recoiled. “No! That’s not all. You stupid, selfish, pigheaded oaf of a male. I don’twantto marry you. It doesn’t matter if you asked me nicely or not. Your father kept me prisoner for my entire life and you knew about it! I was known as the king’s pet. You’re both murderers! Of course, I won’t ever give you my consent to marry you!”
I was aware of the three males gathering around Prince Remington, but I ignored them. My entire field of vision was filled with red.
Remington stared at me, as though no one had ever spoken back to him in his entire life. My heart pounded in my chest as I seethed, “I would ratherdiethan see myself wed to you.”
Truth. It was an absolute truth. I felt it in the core of my being.
My words rang through the air as the weight of my declaration settled upon us. The wind stopped blowing. The birds stopped chirping.
For a very long moment, no one spoke.
Then, red lightning flickered around me as bands of red flew out of Remington’s hands. They wrapped around me like deadly snakes, tightening around my entire body until I was unable to move at all. Only my face was left unbound.
The Red Shadow prowled towards me, clenching and unclenching his fists at his sides until he stood right in front of me.
“So,” he said in a low, careful voice devoid of all emotion, “you would rather die?”
Gulping, I nodded. “Yes,” I whispered. “I won’t marry you. Not now, not ever.”
He chuckled darkly before waving his hand behind him. “Leave us,” his voice thundered. He never removed his eyes from mine, and I tried not to flinch under the weight of his gaze.
One of the males—Fenris, I thought—cleared his throat. “Your Highness, are you certain?”
A strand of red magic flew from Remington’s fingers as he continued to stare at me. I heard a strangled sound from behind me before the prince repeated. “I won’t tell you again. Leave.”
He twisted his fingers, and the choking sound stopped. Rapid footsteps, followed by silence, spoke to the fact that we were alone. The prince stared at me, and I pointedly looked anywhere but at him. I noted the blue, cloudless sky, the shining sun, and the number of trees that surrounded us.