Chapter 81

Danika’s heart ran away in her chest with fear.

“No, I don’t think so. After all, we’ve been talking and having a good time while we waited.”

She peaked up at the new deep voice gratefully. That was King Valendy, and it was the first time he had come to Salem since the kingdom gained their freedom. Salem was now the biggest of the twelve kingdoms because it was a joint kingdom with Mombana.

King Lucien said nothing, just stared at Danika with those cold, hard eyes. It didn’t scare her the way it used to because she knew that the hardness and coldness of his eyes and heart had become a natural part of him. Unbidden, she remembered that night after she’d been whipped when he took her up in his arms and they heavily sedated her.

“Can your eyes ever be warm again?” she had asked in a daze.

“No,” he had replied. “Because I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have warm eyes.”

Now he met her eyes with his before she lowered her eyes again.

“Wha