As she climbed out of the car, his gaze caught hers. She tried for a reassuring smile, but was pretty sure she failed. She followed Mal and his guards into a wide hall, wood-paneled and dark. Muted voices drifted to them from up ahead. Finally, they halted outside a closed door. In front of her, Mal stood up straighter, appeared to transform until he crackled with barely-leashed power.
Kyle pushed open the door. The voices stopped and Mal stepped through, gesturing to Lily to follow. The room was huge, maybe once a ballroom, with one wall lined with floor to ceiling windows, through which she could see the lawns outside, bathed in moonlight. There was no furniture and small groups of men stood scattered around the room. They all turned to gawp at her, and she stood up tall and glared back. Their gazes dropped as she met each one until she came to a man who stood alone.
Vortigen. Unlike the others, he met her stare, triumph blazing in his face. His dark blue eyes roved over her possessively, lingering on her right arm, and the mark throbbed beneath her shirt.
He strode to where she stood with Mal in the doorway. Lily resisted the urge to step back; she couldn't afford to appear weak. Halting in front of them, his gaze finally left her and he turned to Mal. Coldness seeped into his eyes, but when he spoke, his tone was almost genial.
"Well, Mal, I see you've brought my mate at last. Even if you required a little nudge in the right direction."
"We were on our way. As per our agreement."
"Of course you were. But it doesn't matter-you're here now. My thanks." He turned and gestured to the other men in the room. "All our thanks. You've brought us the means of our deliverance, and we are grateful." Turning to Lily, he smiled, sending a shudder of revulsion through her. He took a step toward her, his hand outstretched. "Come, my dear, take your rightful place at my side."
She ignored the hand. His eyes narrowed and something dangerous flickered to life in the dark depths. "Come." This time the snarled word was clearly an order. She didn't move and surprise flickered across his features. As he reached for her, she shifted back. Instinct drove her. She didn't want this man to touch her. Reaching behind her, she fumbled for the knife at her waist, tugged it free, and held the blade in front of her.
"Don't come any closer. And don't fucking touch me."
Vortigen glanced from her to Mal. "This is Cara's daughter?"
Mal ignored the question. "Where's Killian?"
The King gave the knife in her hand a wary glance then took a step closer to Mal. His voice was quiet so it didn't carry beyond the three of them. "Your brother has been detained. Sadly, he won't be joining us this evening."
"What have you done with him?"
"Nothing terminal. He's in a safe place, and just so you know, Cassandra has warded this whole building. There's no point in trying any magic. Now, tell her to put the knife down, and we can get on with this." Mal said nothing and the King frowned. "This doesn't have to be difficult, Malachite. You do your duty and you won't be sorry. You'll be well rewarded when we return to Ankesh."
"What happened to your vow? You promised us safe passage in the name of the Goddess."
"No one heard that but Killian. Do you really think the Goddess listens to our vows anymore? Do you think she's going to strike me down for taking what's mine? No, the Goddess has forgotten us. Come, tell her to lay down the knife and give herself to me. I'm impatient to see the mark."
Mal stared at him for a long moment. "Lily will never be yours."
At the words, the breath left her, and she sagged in relief. She didn't doubt Mal, but still something deep inside had needed to hear him stand up and claim her in front of this man. In front of this room. She glanced up at his face while keeping a wary eye on Vortigen.
"Put away the knife, Lily," Mal said. "It won't help us here."
He was right, and her heart sank. At least thirty men surrounded them. A sub-machine gun might have helped. A knife would only piss them off. Why hadn't they brought a sub-machine gun? She sheathed the blade. Mal reached out for her and she slid her hand into his. Together, they took a step back from the King and stood facing the room. Mal raised their linked hands.
"I give you Lily, daughter of Cara, and the last of the Dragon Princesses. And know this," he said loud and clear. "I have taken her as my mate. She's mine. She will never belong to the King."
Elation surged up inside her, as though she wanted to burst with the rightness of his words. She stood up tall and glared her defiance at the room. Whatever happened next, she knew that it was worth it for this one moment of belonging. This one moment of knowing exactly who and what she was.
There was a muttering around the room.
"You bring this on yourself," Vortigen snarled. "Do you think they'll ever follow one such as you? They'll never believe your stupid tales of her powers or that together you can open the portal. And you're not strong enough to fight us all."
He made a gesture with his hand and four of the men stepped forward. "Take them."
Lily tightened her grip on Mal's hand. She looked into his face, searching for reassurance, for some direction. "Vortigen is right," Mal murmured so only she could hear. "I can't fight them all, but this isn't over. Stay strong. We have allies here, but the four approaching are Vortigen's sons by Cara. They will remain loyal to him."
She studied the approaching men. It was almost impossible to believe, but these were her half-brothers. Two looked like their father but the others were dark haired and green-eyed.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders, tearing her away from Mal. She struggled but their strength was inhuman, and her hand slipped from his. A wail was building up inside her, and she tightened her throat against it. She kept her eyes fixed on Mal as they dragged her across the room. Two more men held him between them, and she could see his muscles flexing as he fought to stay calm. She closed her eyes and tried to call up the magic Mal had taught her.
Nothing.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to be calm, to go limp in their arms.
Vortigen came towards her and she eyed him warily. He reached out a hand toward her and she pressed herself back against her captors until she could move no further. Vortigen smiled, his hand stroking down over her face, his fingers trailing over her breasts so she shivered in loathing. His fingers toyed with the neckline of her T-shirt. Then he stepped back and Lily breathed again.
"Strip her," Vortigen said. "Let us see the proof that she is in fact the one we've waited for. She's like no princess I ever came across."
Hands fumbled at her top, attempting to drag the T-shirt free, and a surge of rage flooded her. There might be no way she could win, but this time, she wasn't giving in without a fight. She twisted in their arms, wriggled, fought until she stood heaving with exhaustion between them. She couldn't get away, but they couldn't strip her either.
Vortigen stared down at her, his mouth a thin line, and then he punched her hard in the stomach. The air left her in a whoosh, and pain blossomed in her belly. Gasping for breath, she was dimly aware of Mal fighting his restraints. She hung limp, waiting until the pain became manageable, knowing she had to look okay or Mal would lose it. They wouldn't kill her; they needed her, but she wasn't so sure about Mal. She slowed her breathing. Vortigen stepped up close and leaned toward her.
"It doesn't have to be like this. Give in, do as I say, and we can be friends."
"Friends?"
He nodded, triumph blazing in his eyes. He thought he'd won. A wave of hatred rose in her. Without thinking, she kneed him in the groin with all her remaining strength. "I'd rather be friends with a snake."
Vortigen stepped back. The only sign she had hurt him was in his rapid breaths and the ruby glints flashing in his eyes. "You'll pay for that."
Lily rolled her eyes. She stood up straight, wincing at the pain in her stomach. "Yeah, right," she said. "Does that mean you're not going to be nice anymore?"
One of the men holding her laughed, but Vortigen didn't appear amused. He regarded her thoughtfully through slitted eyes.
"Cassandra?" he called.
Lily recognized the name-the sorceress Mal had spoken of, the one who had betrayed them at the first meeting. Lily rather liked her for that. A woman stepped forward. She was beautiful, small, long blonde hair, pale skin and a dark red mouth. A delicate doll with the eyes of a serpent, eyes that filled with hatred when she regarded Lily. She sauntered toward them, then pressed herself up against Vortigen. "Yes, my Lord?"
Vortigen's eyes flickered toward Lily, and he smiled. "Cassandra," he said. "Can you do a compulsion spell?"