He blinked. “What?”
The air in the Thorned Court tasted of rust and dying roses.
“Kaelen,” Riven said, and her name in his mouth was a velvet trap. “Come forward.” court of blood and bindings vk
She cut him.
“Sit,” he said, gesturing to a slab of obsidian. He blinked
She sat. Not because she wanted to. The binding pulled at her joints like invisible strings.
A shallow line across his palm. His blood welled up, black as ink, and when it touched her skin, the binding screamed —then went silent. “Come forward
“We all are, little bird.” He pressed the flat of the quartz blade to her palm. “Which is why I need your blood willingly. Not by command. Not by binding. Willingly .”
He laughed—a real laugh, hollow and tired. “Monster. Yes. I’ve been called worse by better people. But I did not choose to bind you, Kaelen. Your father chose. I merely accepted payment for a debt older than your kingdom.”
The binding.
“The Solstice Tithe approaches,” he announced to the court, though his eyes never left her. “And my little mortal has bled for me three years. But bonds must be tested, must they not?”