"Isn't that what it was?" I shot back. "A victory over what? Over you? Over the idea that anyone can own me?" I never saw it before, but now I know that Merol is exactly like them. He wants to own me.
His grip tightened until pain laced through my wrist; I tasted metal on the back of my tongue. "You don't understand," he said, voice small now, stripped of the earlier thunder. "You're playing a dangerous game, Your Majesty."
"I understand perfectly." I lifted my chin despite the pressure. "Elowen uses me. Darius nearly killed me. Kairos mocks me. And you—" I let the word hang, dangerous and bright. "You betrayed me, Merol."
"I said that I am sorry for betraying you. What will it take to forgive me? I thought that our relationship is back to normal, but you just gave yourself to Elowen!"
