AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My stomach flutters with nervous energy at the thought of swimming in a pond. I've never swam in anything bigger than a pool before. The prospect of swimming in something where I can't see the bottom is moderately terrifying. Not to mention, fish and frogs and snakes and God only knows what else lives in ponds.
What if they bite? What if they're enchanted by some strange magic in this place and I end up cursed for another ten years?
It could happen.
"Maybe we should go back to the cabin," I say, anxiety churning through me.
"No. We're going to the pond, and you're going to swim when we get there, Thalia," he says.
"But—"
"No."
"I've never swam in a pond before, Troy," I whisper.
His obsidian eyes lock with mine. "All the more reason for you to do it now, sweet Thalia. I won't allow anything to happen to you."
"Maybe you should swim, and I should watch from a safe distance," I negotiate. "Like the shore. The shore seems safe."
"Absolutely not." His tone leaves no room for argument.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're a tyrant?" I ask, scowling up at him, not particularly used to being told no. I don't think I like it. But he says it as if he's had plenty of practice. It's probably his favorite word.
Part of me expects him to be amused by my little temper tantrum, but he isn't. There's no humor in his laugh and no warmth in his tone. He's cold and distant when he responds. "A tyrant? You haven't seen just how tyrannical I can be, Thalia."
The flash of self-loathing in his eyes tells me he actually sees himself that way. He truly believes he's a tyrant.
My chest aches at the realization.
Is he a tyrant? I see flashes of it in him—the cold, commanding man capable of shutting off emotion and making ruthless, devastating decisions. I think maybe that's part of the darkness lurking in the depths of his obsidian eyes. But I don't think that's all of him. There's more to him, so much more. But he's buried it for some reason, choosing to believe this is who he is instead.
Why?
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I ask, "Why do you believe that?"
His expression hardens. "My father may be king, but I'm the one who rules. I've ruled for years. I don't make decisions from a place of emotion or kindness. I'm not a tolerant man. People do what I say, when I say, or they suffer the consequences. That's simply the way it is. If they don't like it, they're always free to leave. There are other kingdoms."
I don't believe what he's saying. I don't think he believes it either. He's convinced himself that he's a terrible man, but it isn't true.
A surge of defiance courses through me—determination to prove him wrong.
"Oh, yeah?" I challenge, courage welling up from some pit deep in my stomach. "Does that include me, Prince Troy?"
He swallows hard, staring at me, his jaw set, his eyes full of determination.
I pace toward him, curious how far he's willing to take this, how far he'll let me push him. He remains silent, the tension between us crackling like a livewire.
"Answer me, Troy," I demand, my heart pounding. "Am I free to leave if I want to?"
His silence speaks volumes. He wants to tell himself that I'm just like everyone else, that I haven't touched his heart and made him feel anything, but he can't.
I stand my ground, tipping my head back to stare up at him, defiance burning in my chest. "If I didn't like your rules and wanted to leave right now, would you let me?" I challenge him.
"No," he growls. His hands curl into fists, something dark and predatory flashing in his eyes. "You belong to me, Thalia."
"But this isn't your kingdom," I remind him, unwilling to back down from the intensity of his gaze.
"That changes nothing." He grabs my hands, encircling my wrists as if caging them in shackles. His dark eyes bore into mine, sending sparks of electricity surging through my veins. "You're still mine."
