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I knew she was determined to have her way, but her actions crossed a line. The entitlement. The audacity. I didn’t think Yedina was this stupid, but she’s been blinded by greed.
This time, being a matron will not protect her from my wrath.
I rise as I think of all the ways I am going to punish the bitch. I have held back for so long because of the treasured place matrons hold in our society. I gritted my teeth against Yedina's numerous unwanted advances.
She had grown too comfortable thinking she could walk all over me. I should have struck sooner. I hate to admit it, but fear of my father still ruled over me. If I hadn’t been worried about his reaction, I would have taken care of Yedina years ago.
I had decided long ago not to let my father dictate my life anymore, but it took losing Laura to realize I wasn’t fully committed to that ideal.
But I don’t care anymore.
I will do whatever it takes to get Laura back.
I look at Akos who is visibly upset. I don’t have time to comfort him. Not while Yedina has Laura in her grasp. I need to focus all of my attention on getting her back.
It’s not hard to guess what Yedina’s plans are for Laura.
Her cruelty rivals that of my father. The biggest difference is her ego distorts her worldview and leads her to make choices that ultimately work against her. Her ego is so inflated that she believes there is a path to carrying a royal heir.
If only Yedina had left me alone.
After I’m done with her, there won’t be any question on my stance with her. I’ll make sure she can never speak to me again.
Today will be the end of her pursuit of me, whether she agrees to it or not.
53
REJ’THOREK
The rage that fills me is so potent, it takes on a life of its own. It rises in waves of chaos, palpable and oppressive. I am trying to keep my magic at bay, knowing the very real threat that I pose if I lose control.
But it’s hard to care when my sight has gone red. My self-control hangs by a tenuous thread that could snap at any moment. I can feel the chaotic energy blister and crackle under my surface, threatening to consume my physical form.
I know that I have to act fast.
There’s no telling how far Yedina will go or what she will try. As long as Laura is in her hands, she’s in terrible danger.
I waste no time in grabbing my khopesh, strapping it to my belt. I’m coming back with Laura, one way or another, and I’m preparing for whatever it may take.
Akos watches me with haunted eyes, silent. I know that he’s upset by what he saw, but I know that the greatest source of his worry is for Laura, and the only way to solve that is to go after her. Not that I needed Akos to convince me.
“You stay here,” I command. “Hide and don’t come out for anyone. No one, under any circumstances, except me or Thonir. Do you understand?”
Akos knows that he’s not to leave the house without me. As far as our father knows, Akos is dead.
When Akos was born, our mother died in childbirth. My father blamed him and ordered him to be disposed of as punishment.
I was given the orders to kill him myself.
I couldn’t follow through with it, and instead brought him home to live with me. My little secret. But if my father or one of the trolvor guards should find him here, they’d execute him without hesitation.
Concealing Akos is usually not much of an issue, as I value my privacy and don’t let many guests in. But with the stunt that Yedina has pulled, I have no idea what might happen next. At least I know that I can trust Thonir to take care of Akos if something happens to me.
“Take some rations with you and hide behind the secret panel. You know the one,” I instruct. “It might be a while before I return.”
He nods, his yellow eyes solemn. With a grave expression, he backs out of the room to conceal himself upstairs.
I throw open the front door, ready to storm out, when I hear his timid call.
