“Soundslike you have a lot in common with the beast.”
Iwanted to hurt him, but he just smirked, “Ihaven’t been alone in a very long time,Princess.”
Herounded his desk then, and my hands shook as he approached, “Nothinglike warm bodies to keep the demons away,”Iknew that all too well.Hissmile only grew more feral, andIstepped back, trying to keep some space between us and failing.Icouldn’t help it as my eyes darted to the bed, andIknew he saw it.Ibacked up more, my eyes never leaving him, and ran into the door of his cabin.Hepropped his hand up on the doorframe above me, his body enveloping mine.
“Iknow you remember whatIsaid would happen if you disobeyed again.So, are you ready for your punishment,Princess?”Hisface was an inch from mine, and almost every part of me screamed to look away, look away from those eyes that burned with emerald fire.Butthe part of me that was always screaming, always hurting, the part of me that freed a deadly mythical beast, saidFight.AndIalways listened.
“Isthis how you get everyone to your bed?Throughfear?”Hechuckled, and the sound sent heat flowing through me in a way thatIhated, as the warmthfrom his body enveloped me.Flashesof my dreams came to me unbidden, and the heat curled deeper.
“Princess, not once in my long life haveIhad anyone who wasn’t willing,begging, for me.Besides, you don’t smell like you are afraid.So,Iwill ask you again, are you ready?”
Isnaked my hands around his waist, andIsaw the smallest hint of surprise in his eyes, “AndifIsaid yes, what would you do?”Iran one hand up his broad chest, and he was solid beneath my fingers.Itraced my other hand around his waist and over his back, the muscles there tense from leaning over me, corded and ready to release.Myarm brushed the handle of his dagger, butIran my hand firmly down the curve of his ass, to hide the sensation.Ipulled him so his hips collided with mine, andIcould feel the hardness of him press into my stomach.
Iheard him emit a small growl then, andIknew he was losing control.Heleaned down further so his words tickled the sensitive skin beneath my ear, “Iwould do everything you have been dreaming about at night when you bring those long fingers between your legs.”Ihesitated then, revealed bare.Ilooked up and his smile was wicked, andIhated him more than anything else.
“You’reright,YourMajesty,Ihave been dreaming of this sinceImet you.”Iswept my arm back, grabbing the hilt of his dagger.Islid it up asIwent.Ourbodies were too close together for me to apply lethal pressure, butIfelt the dagger cut through his shirt and flesh, the warmth of his blood flooding onto me.Itried to raise it to his neck, his chest, his heart, anywhere.Buthe was too fast, and he slammed my wrist into the door next to my head, and the dagger clattered to the floor.Hepushed himself back from me and looked down.Isaw the blood welling onto his torn shirt, but his skin underneath was already knitting back together.
“Cleverminx.”Heleaned into me again, andIwas crushed between the door and his weight.Myheart beat faster than my body could handle, andIfelt his teeth wrap around the flesh at the base of my neck, “Ifit’s pain you wanted, you should have just asked.”Ifelt his teeth break my skin and couldn’t help the hiss that escaped me.
Butthen a loud knock sounded on the wood we were pressed against, and he released me as an aggravated huff escaped him, “What?!”
“YourMajesty, the port bow is taking on water, and we need—“Hespun me away from the door and wrenched it open.Thesoldier at the door looked down at the blood on his shirt, and on me as well, andIsaw his eyes open in fear, realizing what he might have interrupted.
Butthe king stormed passed and called, “Getthe princess back to her quarters, and make sure she stays there.”Thesoldier swept in and led me off, butIcouldn’t help but take one last look atthe dagger that still lay on the floor, covered in the king's blood.
Chapter12
Abraxas
Therepairs to the ship were simple, and it only filled me with greater rage that the princess andIhad been interrupted.Avlynsidled up to me as the last of the patch was put in place. “Getme the name of that sailor who came to fetch me.”
Avlynraised an eyebrow at me, “Iwill do no such thing.”
Iturned to them, “Andwhy the fuck not?”
Avlyn’seyes locked on my torn bloody shirt, “Isent them to fetch you,Iwon’t have them taking the brunt of your rage.”
“Andwhy the fuck did you do that?”Iwas at the edge of my control now,Avlyncould see that.
“Youknow why,” they said and gave me a disapproving look.Iturned away from them, trying to regain my composure beforeIdid somethingIwould regret.AvlynandIhad been together for centuries, andIhated how well they knew me sometimes.Itook a deep breath that shook, but after a few more,Iuncurled my fists.
Ilooked down at the bloody tear in my shirt, thinking ofTori’sface as she had pulled my own dagger on me.Fierceand unafraid.Deadly, if ineffective.Ihad let her distract me too much and fallen right into her trap.Herhands on me had been intoxicating, but really,Ihad already been halfway gone when she had hit me with that perfect smile on deck earlier.Ishould have known it wouldn’t be easy with her.Shewanted a fight, andIwould give it to her.
Ishook my head to clear my thoughts, thoughts of my bite directly over where that scum had bitten her before, marking her.Iturned back toAvlyn, that annoyed look still plastered on their face. “You’vebeen sloppy with her.Youwant to let me in on why?”
“No.”Avlynrolled their eyes, something only they could get away with.
“It’stoo bad about the beast.Theinjection of magic from its death could have really helped with this season's crops.”Buttheir face grew more serious. “Themen are talking about her.It’sno small thing to fall into the sea with aLeviathanand survive.”Theyraised their eyebrow at me again, “It’sno small thing to enter a room with you that pissed off and survive.”
Ihuffed a laugh. “It’syour job to keep them under control.Besides, we will be back inXyrby morning, and then they won’t have to be around her.”
“So, you would keep her from training then?”So,Avlynhad seen it too.ThewayTori’sface lit when she worked with the sword.Theonly timeIhad seen that darkness hanging over her chased away.
“No, but we will have to keep the situation under control, keep everyone in line.”
Avlynlet out a hearty laugh, “Ido not doubt that the princess can take care of herself.”Ihad no doubt either.
Chapter13
