Page 69 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

What was I supposed to do when Theo was professing his love for me and offering an alliance I needed?

She had spoken in the past tense.Needed. Notneed.

What did she need now? And what would she do to get it?

Though perhaps the bigger question was how far I was willing to go. By the time I made it to the Council Room, I still hadn’t decided whether I would rather let her marry Korhonan or start a war with the single, biggest threat to my people.

Rowan strode into the Council Room on time for a rare change, arriving barely a minute after I had, and stranger still, before Korhonan.

She was wearing a gown the same spring-green shade as her eyes. Outside of a small section around her jade-encrusted tiara, her curls were loose today, tumbling down her shoulders with the same flagrant disregard for ceremony as the princess to which they belonged.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the first time I had truly seen her, all vibrant colors standing stark against the black backdrop of the Summit tent. She had felt likelife, and I had wondered how much of that was only the contrast with the death that surrounded us.

But it never changed. Whether she was silent in my rooms or blazing across a battlefield or dancing in a ballroom of her own people, my entire being was inexplicably drawn to the singular point that was my lemmikki.

As she took her seat, I tried to picture the next week while she hung on Korhonan’s arm. The lifetime of Summits and clan events where I would watch her as she bore a series of Elk heirs, wondering if they had inherited her vibrancy or if they were stodgy and uptight like their father.

I saw her walking down an aisle in a navy-blue gown at the ceremony I would be forced to attend, and bile rose in my throat.

My lemmikki or my clan.

Was it ever really a choice at all?

Would it matter when I had given my word in this very room?

Rowan settled across from me, her features carved into a wary sort of resolve. Only the hint of shadows under her eyes betrayed that at least she had grappled with the decision she claimed to have made so easily.

Then again, maybe it had only been her wound that kept her awake, though she wasn’t showing any outward signs of pain this morning.

Avani sat next to her, in the seat usually reserved for Korhonan. Her expression was as impervious as ever, but for the barest tilt to the corner of her lips.

I studied her, wondering why she came today when she had been noticeably absent the rest of the week. And why Korhonan had chosen to sit out his moment of victory.

“Should we wait for Lord Theodore to begin?” The queen’s tone was hesitant.

I wasn’t the only one caught off guard by the change, then.

“No.” Rowan’s voice was clipped, her gaze sweeping over my features with open scrutiny. “That won’t be necessary. I informed him of my decision last night.”

Of course she had. Storms forbid she informed me also and spared us both whatever the hell this morning’s meeting accomplished. I couldn’t fathom what purpose she had for forcing this news on me in the Council Room, in front of anaudience, but I shored up my expression before I could give them a hint of a reaction.

“I’ve taken all the factors into consideration and have decided that for the sake of our people, the people of Socair, and the general promotion of peace, the most advantageous alliance is one with…” Rowan paused long enough for my mind to process the improbability of her words, the intentionality of her phrasing.

An alliance with Elk would hardly promote peace when she knew how I felt about it, let alone serve the people of Socair once Iiro got the throne. However she felt about me or Korhonan, she was no fan of the Duke of Elk.

An ember of hope sparked to life in my chest, even as I told myself it wasn’t possible. Hadn’t she all but said she had chosen Korhonan?

I just wanted to know where we stood.

Why would that have mattered if she was going to choose him all along?

An eternity passed in the heartbeat before she took a breath and met my eyes squarely, her chin rising in a familiar challenge.

“Bear.” The single syllable fell like an anvil in the silent room. I was sure there were glances being exchanged, reactions being processed, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Rowan’s features.

Korhonan’s absence took on a whole new meaning now.

I informed him of my decision last night.