Chapter 16
Blue
He gripped my hand a little tighter, breathing deeply. Seeming for all the world a contented male.
What was his endgame?
Now Father knew the prince and I had an acquaintance. Working in secret would be next to impossible with the eyes he’d placed on me now.
“You gave Severos quite the fright, you know,” he said softly, a low laugh in his words as his thumb scraped tenderly against my hand. “I’d have paid a thousand gold coins to have witnessed that.”
I sniffed, lips twitching, recalling the frightened doe eyes of the Prince’s personal guard. “You could have at least given me a challenge. And why set a spy on me? It is only by my mercy he still walks.”
He sighed, “I do so love your bloodthirsty nature. Such a cute, little bird of prey, and yet you’ve the claws of a tigress. You fascinate me, Blue, but more than that I respect you. I sent him to you because even the best of us need a loyal hand now and then. Our world is dangerous, one wrong smile could see you sent to the gallows.”
I sighed, even though I was secretly pleased by his vain flattery. But if he really had respected me, he never would have asked me what he had earlier. Stupid male. “Do you think me a fool? That I cannot play this game as well as you? And what need have I of a guard, you know who I really am. You’re the one who must be protected. You’re a Prince of the Kingdom after all.”
He shook his head. “You play the game better,” he said and I didn’t detect any vain flattery just honesty in his words. I frowned. “And as to my needing protection, don’t make me laugh. All but one prince was a knight. You know this as well as I. I’m not as weak as I might look, mistress, deformity or no.”
There was no smirk on his face, just honest sincerity. I frowned. His arm banded even more tightly around my waist, he was holding me close. Too close. Almost like a lover would. Had he not given up on his ridiculous notion of having me in his bed?
“I trust no one more than Severos, and you are far too precious to my… cause, to fall into the wrong hands.”
He spoke, of course, of my father.
I almost denied it, but I thought of myself dying in that back alleyway and knew that if I’d had Severos at my back then, Father likely wouldn’t have managed to harm me as he had.
I was powerful, but I was not infallible.
“And how do you plan to get into my father’s good graces, Prince—”
“Mikael, when we are alone it is only ever Mikael to you.”
“Ah, but we are not alone,” I said with a smirk.
He flicked at the tip of my nose. Openly. Brazenly. His flirtations were so obvious that around me I heard several ladies gasp. This wasn’t good. I wish he’d stop, even if my heart was racing and my pulse pounded. His bloody cologne was starting to give me a headache it was so strong tonight.
“What care I for the opinion of sheep?” he asked lazily, green eyes dancing with humor.
I felt a lot like how Severos had in my chamber, cornered and out of my element. I thinned my lips, and the brute had the nerve to chuckle low.
“Prince Mikael,” I said forcibly, “do not forget that we are far from alone now. And I do not believe that will ever change.”
“We’ll see,” he said.
I barely contained an eye roll. Men like him, I’d met plenty in my life, so why did I not want to kill him? Oh, he’d wounded my pride for sure and I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t want to separate him from his nethers for it, but… I didn’t wish to see him dead. That was a first.
“I know what Damian wants.”
I narrowed my eyes. Everyone knew what my father wanted. I shook my head. “Please tell me you are not foolish enough to—”
“I am many things, little bird. But a fool I am not. Place your trust in me as I’ve placed mine in you. Only then can we truly be partners.”
I quickly squeezed my eyes shut before looking back at his handsome face. His dark hair was tied back with a red satin ribbon, making him seem somehow more dark fae than usual. His bright green irises almost glowed.
I could only imagine the thoughts running through the heads of those around us. One of the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelors and brightest minds was so openly favoring a half-blood bastard. He spoke of being partners, and yet he was placing me in a terrible situation the more attention he paid me.
I glared at him.
“If you tell the emperor to cast his blessing at father, it will make you far less of a threat, you will lose alliances,” I hissed beneath my breath.
“Ah, but now I have the mistress of whispers and shadows behind me. I cannot fail.”
He spoke so confidently but even I wasn’t sure if fate could truly be changed. I was trying, but already I could sense Father’s image growing. He still had far too many allies for my liking.
“You must take the throne, Prince Mikael,” I whispered urgently, “it is the only way to keep the realm secure.”
His look was strange, piercing. Then he grabbed a lank of my hair and gently slid it between his fingers.
I felt like my soul was tethered to that touch.
“Is that your wish, little bird?”
I nodded.
“Then it is done,” he said without even the slightest hesitation and my heart fluttered, how could he sound so sure of something even I wasn’t sure of?
“I may lose alliances now, but I will gain more. In three weeks’ time plan your trip to the East. I will await you there. Now walk me back to my cane, I must meet with your father.”
I walked him back to his table, almost numb as I thought of all we’d just discussed. He’d sounded so sure, but I couldn’t help but fear that this was far from a done deal.
And father wouldn’t blindly believe that Prince Mikael no longer wanted the throne.
He picked up his cane, releasing me once he had. I felt his heavy look.
“Everything about you baffles me. Why you have pledged yourself to me as you have, but I know what your father does not. It is you, not him, who will win this war. And if you are truly for me, I cannot fail.”
He gripped my chin in his hand, his touch was tender, but it scorched me all the same. I took a trembly breath. For a moment I saw a flash of hesitation scrawl through his eyes, would he kiss me? His mouth was so close I would only need to lean up and we’d touch.
He wouldn’t dare.
He couldn’t.
Even something as simple as showing me such open affection would weaken him in the eyes of those around us. He had to take the throne. It was the only way to save this world.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but I didn’t dare move. I was still a lowly half-blood, and he was the Prince of the West.
A heavy sigh spilled off his tongue and finally, I felt him release me.
Giving a hard clip of his head, he turned and headed toward where Father stood. I watched him go. Wishing I could listen in on them.
Father stood, bowing deeply to the emperor before walking down the steps. He looked at me, and in his stare, I read the fire of his simmering fury. I would pay for my audacity this night.
I had to get out of here.
Turning on my heel, I marched swiftly for the door. Only once I’d slipped into the hall did I call the shadow to me, draping my body in thick waves of it. Making myself invisible for all intents and purposes.
I sensed Severos’s panic when he lost sight of me. But I didn’t care.
I ran toward the gardens. Running until my feet screamed and my lungs burned with fire.
But when I did not find what I was looking for I flashed myself toward the village. Heading deep into the belly of the darkened alleyways.
Stopping only once I heard a woman’s furious screams and a man’s grunted slur to “shut up, an’ take it like a good lass.”
The woman was splayed out on the filthy cobblestone street, her dress up around her waist. The drunken lecher rolled on top of her, his stench filling my nostrils. She cried, kicking and screaming at him, her mouth was bloodied and her eyes were swollen from the beating she’d taken.
Walking up to them, I grabbed him by his vest and snatched him off of her. He fought like a demented panther, clawing at me and hissing violently.
“Go. Run,” I told the frantically sobbing female.
She said nothing, only gulped and scrabbled to her feet. Running away as fast as her broken body would carry her.
Then I slammed the man down onto the ground.
“You like raping women. Then let’s see how well you enjoy my dark pleasure,” I hissed, straddling his wildly bucking form.
He was a pureblood male, but with shaved horns, he’d lost his status some time ago judging by the filth of his body and the tattered rags he called clothes.
“Get off me, you filthy mutt!” he cried, trying to ram his knee between my thighs.
I grinned, revealing my teeth. “You like hurting women, then hurt me.” I slapped him.
He cried out, bucking like a wild stallion. There was fire in this one. Good.
I laughed. “Hurt me!” I slapped him again.
His red eyes turned bloody, burned with fire. I shook my head. He reached for my throat, wrapping it tight around me.
I only laughed harder, extracting the dirk from its sheath at my thigh. His fingers squeezed.
The pain was brilliant.
I could feel my breaths growing wilder, my lungs ached.
Shoving my hand into his throat, I jerked my thumb upward, causing his jaw to open reflexively. I grabbed his tongue, his teeth pierced me instantly.
I laughed harder even as the darkness began to consume my vision. Behind me I heard the rush of footsteps.
With one swift strike, I sliced his tongue off.
He screamed, the sounds were muted now. His hands instantly lifted off my neck as he covered his bloody mouth with them.
His ichor spilled over the two of us. I thought about that poor half-blood he’d tried to rape, and fury filled my bones to a fever pitch. I didn’t think. I simply rolled off him, pulled his pants down, and with one more swift stroke I stole his manhood.
Calling my blue fire, I burned it to ash. Not caring who saw my power here. Something wild and terrible had crawled out of me. I wasn’t sure what I was doing. All I knew was no one deserved to be degraded in such a way.
Ever.
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