I clench my jaw. Play nice, you’re trying to marry him after all. “I only wanted to ensure you knew I was coming and for your guards to adequately search me,” I say with sickly sweetness.

“You need not lie to me. I know you have little control over your magic, witch.” I try to hide my flinching at his words, but I’m unsuccessful. He notices and gives me a menacing grin. “If only you’d agreed to marry me. I could’ve counseled you, and we might have been able to avoid the tragic accident that led to your parents’ deaths. Committed by one with too much power and too little guidance.” My fists ball, and I feel magical energy begin to pulse through me. I try to speak, to scream at him the truth of his treachery, but he cuts me off. “No, there’s no need for lies between us. I know why you’re here, why you sent your pleading message to call for temporary peace and a meeting with me. You want to surrender. Want to beg me to wed you as a last desperate attempt to get me to agree to end this war.”

It takes all the willpower in me to hold my tongue. He just needs to stroke his own ego first. Let him get it out. This doesn’t change your plan.

“And since I’m demanding no lies from you, I’ll hold myself to that same standard. I’m the Golden King, after all. Driven by honor and duty and all the things my people believe me to be.” He grins, flashing his bright white teeth in what feels more like a snarl than a smile. “The truth is, I don’t need to marry you. Not anymore. I don’t need to end this war in a peace treaty. I’m winning. Decisively. And considering you aren’t even half as beautiful as my first wife, and certainly more trouble than she ever was, I have no desire to shackle myself to you in marriage when I can take what I want so easily.”

My chest tightens, panic rising. “Mazus, Your Majesty, please—my people—”