Chapter 35 · The Throne's First Command

"Take your hand off her."

Rafe's voice cut across the throne chamber.

It was low. Flat. Dangerous enough to make every soldier near the dais stop breathing.

Marek didn't move his hand from my chest.

His fingers pressed against the old marriage seal burned into my skin. Black lines ran from my collarbone to my ribs, pulsing with every beat of my heart.

Rafe stood ten feet away, a blade in one hand and blood running down the other.

"You heard him," Marek said. "Move back, Rafe."

"You don't give me orders."

"I do when I own the thing keeping you alive."

My heart kicked hard beneath Marek's palm.

Rafe's jaw locked. His eyes dropped to the seal, then snapped back to Marek's face.

"Helen," he said, "are you hurt?"

"Not yet."

Marek's thumb dragged across the center of the seal.

Heat ripped through my chest. My knees bent, but I refused to fall.

"Don't touch it again," I warned him.

"Still making threats?" Marek asked. "You always did love pretending you had choices."

"I have one right now. I can bite through your hand."

His mouth twisted. "Try it.