My friend’s muscles completely relax.The air ripples with danger.Despite myself, my fingers graze the hilt of my daggerin fear.
Clenching my jaw, I force the memory down.But it lingersin the form of a bad taste, a tormented energy that needsto be expelled.My muscles twitchas I storm through the halls of the castle.The urge to pick a fight, any fight, coursesthrough my veins.
Tightening my hands into fists, I flex them and then relax.I roll my neck from side to side.Biteback the urge to throw a fist intoa fuckingwall.The guards watching us look quickly away, no one meeting my gaze.No one issuing a silent challenge.
Once we step out onto the balcony, Idiveoff the edge, hurling straight down to the dungeons.
But not even the high speedscanrip the guilt off my shoulders.
The sharp twists and turns as we enter the mazedonothing toexpunge the energy eating me alive.
“Did you do it?”
Jacedoesn’tlook me in the eye.Barrelling past me, heisthe epitome of a haunted man.A broken one.
Pulling up at the last second, Ilandhard on the balconyleading into the dungeons.We don’t bother to guard this place; no prisoner has ever escaped.The cell doors can’t be opened without the magic of a wand, and any witches we take into custody aren’t held here.But even if a fairy were to break out, they wouldn’t be able to fly through the maze.We cut off their wings before we lock them up.These cells aren’t for the average prisoner; they are only for those on death row.
But if, by some miracle, someone did manage to climb their way out, the next floor up houses the palace guards.Any escapees would be killed on the spot.
Sweat dripsdown my face.My breath releasesin hard exhales.Jace landssoftly behind me, his footsteps damn near silent.
I stop at the top of the stairs.Frowning, I lock eyes on my brother’s discarded tunic.
Jace laughs, loud and carefree.“Zeus’ ass.I hope that bastard’s getting laid.”
I want to smile, but Idon’t.Assaulted by the image ofapink-haired brownie in the arms of my brother, I’mfilled with an even bigger urge to hit something.
Ignoring the unwanted snake of jealousy, I turn around and face the maze above us.“We’ll leave them to it,” Isay.
With fast flutters of my wings, Itaketo the air.Iflyjust as hard going up as Ididcoming down.Except this time, itisn’tthe guilt driving me.
It’sthe image of myqueengetting her brains fucked out by my brother.
Whichiscompletely.Fucking.Unreasonable.
She isn’t mine, Itellmyself.
Even when she marriesme, shewon’tbe mine.
I touch down on the next floor up, needing to wash the guiltand jealousy off my skin.
“Will you speak to her at the wedding then?”Jace asks.
Ignoring him, I head inside.
The hallsarewonderfully quiet, this morning’s sparring session having not yet finished.As soon as itdoes, these corridorswillbe packed with sweaty warriors.
“Which one do you think Nicholas is with?”Jace asks, not taking the fucking hint that Idon’twant to talk.Or rather, he’staken the bloody hint and then thrown it out the godsdamn window.
Pretending as if I haven’t heardhim, I head towards the back chambers, where only my elite guardsareallowed to bathe.The sound of a moan cutsmy stride mid-step.
My chest tightens, and I know without a doubt thatthemoanishers.
Myqueen’s.
The brownie thatisn’tmine.
“Dear gods, this feelsamazing,” she moans, each word slamming into my heart, making it pound with a fervour Idon’tdesire.
