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“What terms?” I gritted out.

Satisfaction slid across Helion’s face, slow and poisonous. He already believed he had won. Unease coiled low in my stomach as he raised three fingers between us.

“First, you will marry me,” he chimed as he lowered one finger.

“I would rather die.”

For a fraction of a second, something flickered across his expression. His smile dimmed, his eyes turned distant, almost as if he were surprised. If I had blinked, I might have missed it before his arrogant mask slid back into place.

“Second,” he continued smoothly, lowering another finger as if he hadn’t heard me, “you will give me my powers back.”

The air seemed too thin between us as his final finger remained raised, hovering like a blade poised to fall.

I didn’t know what powers he was talking about, and I opened my mouth to tell him as such, but he spoke over the top of me.

“And third,” he said, satisfaction darkening his voice, “you will help me save the kingdoms.”

His words echoed through me, jolting every nerve with an anger so hot it threatened to consume me.

Helion wanted me to marry him. That’s why he stopped the ceremony before Rythos and I could complete our vows.

“Why?” I demanded, voice trembling with anger. “Why do I have to marry you?”

My hand in marriage had always been the measure of my worth.

Princess. Bride. Bargaining chip. Goddess.

It did not matter what power lived beneath my skin—men still looked at me and saw something to claim.

“Because I will be able to keep you safe,” he murmured, his voice losing its sharp edge. His lashes brushed his cheeks as he looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers slowly, like he could still feel the ghost of someone slipping through them.

“No,” I said, but the word felt thin. Fragile. Like it could shatter if he pressed hard enough. “I will not marry you.”

My shoulders dropped, and the weight of uncertainty settled on my chest, threatening to crush me.

The Fire Fates had said if I failed to save my bonded, I would become the destroyer of realms. The monster the Mortals had feared.

Helion held the answer I needed. But if I married him, if I helped him reclaim his power, would I be saving Rythos—or helping unleash the Hells upon the realms?

“Then your monster dies, and I win eventually anyway.” He shrugged a shoulder with infuriating casualness. “Though there won’t be much left to rule after you kill everyone.”

Rythos dying was not a possibility I could look at directly. It was too vast. Too final. A dark sea waiting to swallow every fragile thing I had left.

I could hate Helion. I could hate the Hells. I could hate the prophecy and the gods and every cruel hand that had shoved me toward this moment.

But I could not let Rythos die.

Not if there was even the smallest chance Helion was telling the truth.

The taste of surrender rose bitter on my tongue, and I swallowed against it, trying to force it back down. Trying to hold on to the last splinter of choice I had left.

But love was a far crueller cage than fear, because I would give anything for him.

Before I could stop myself, the word tore out of me.

“Fine.” The word scraped up my throat, tearing a piece of my shattered heart on the way out.

“Come on now, you can do better than that.” He chuckled, dimples deepening as he leant forwards, candlelight flickering over the sharp angle of his jaw.