I nodded.
On the outside, I kept my face cool and impassive, as though I had no problem with anything she was saying. Inside, I screamed. This was my freedom she was taking away. My life she was playing with.
“And after?” I tilted my head, straightening the lapels of my black silk shirt as though I didn’t have a care in the world.
As though the queen wasn’t ruining my entire gods-damned life with this little arrangement of hers. After Athena, I swore I would never let myself become entangled with a human again.
The queen was forcing my hand. As if she knew it, she laughed, the tips of her razor-sharp fangs still red from the Favourite’s blood. The sound of her mirth was as cold as the ice that covered our castle, tinged with echoes of death.
“After that, Sebastian dearest, you can do whatever you want with her. As soon as we meet the terms of the alliance, I don’t care. You can bed her, drink from her, or drain her. Do all three, or throw her in your room and lock her up. Honestly, my dear, it’s your choice.”
The queen’s black eyes met mine, and she continued. “But tread carefully, child of my blood. If your wife comes to an unfortunate end, be prepared for the political ramifications. I donotwant to deal with that bastard Death Elf who calls himself the High King of Ithenmyr, so our borders need to be strong. This alliance is important to me. If you ruin it, you’ll have to find another way to keep us safe from the troubles in the south. Do you understand me?”
I dipped my head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Everything was crystal clear. I had no choice in this matter. I wasn’t sure why that surprised me. This was nothing new. I hadn’t had a choice since the night I was Made. Perhaps I should have said no all those years ago when she offered to Make me.
Bleeding out on the snow and meeting my mortal end would have been better than this.