Tori
Ispent the night running my hand over my neck, tracing the lines of the king’s bite as it healed.Hecouldn’t have known, but it was in the same spot that guard had bitten me in the dungeon.Hisbite had been shallower, but my freshly healed skin stung all the same.Ithad taken longer thanIhad expected for it to heal, but maybe it had been the repeated injury.Still,Icouldn’t help but run my fingers over it again and again, relishing the discomfort of it.
Ihad killed that man in the dungeon with no hesitation and would have killed the other.Myrage and hatred had served me well then.Whyhad it abandoned me with the king?Ifelt that same anger, that same burning hatred, but it was tainted.Mixedwith somethingIdidn’t dare look at too closely, lest it distract me, causing me to hesitate whenIshouldn’t.You’vealready hesitated.Ireplayed the man in the dungeon again, willing myself to feel that same way, but my mind always snagged on the king’s face as he ripped the heart from the soldier when he had saved my life.Hehad saved my life again, today on deck, when he cut me free.
Ididn’t understand his intentions, not in the slightest.Heobviously desired me, but that was a simple thing.Whatwas going on between us was anything but simple.Ithought back to his comments on my status as a twin.Perhapshe thoughtIwould wield some great magic or hold some great power.
Jokeson you,YourMajesty.Theonly great powerIheld was the ability to ruin a good thing.Ithought of the soldiers' faces today whenIcrawled back on the deck.Ihad put them in grave danger, and worse,Ihadn’t even thought about it before acting.Therewas no wayIwould be able to show my face at training again ifIwas even allowed to.
Dreadfilled me, thinking of not being able to train, to not spend my days in the sun.Ihadn’t even been considering it, but training with them also gave me much better options for planning my escape.Mychest tightened, andIfelt tears rising to my eyes, and with them, even darker thoughts.No,Ineeded a distraction.
Ilet my mind wander back to the king’s cabin.Tothe sensation of his body crushing me against his door, the way he had groaned asIran my hand over his firm ass.Onlynow,Ireached for his dagger and brought it to his neck. “Ithink it’s your turn to obey,YourMajesty.”
Islid my fingers underneath my leggings, finding the wetness already pooled between my thighs.AsIimagined him falling to his knees,Islid my fingers inside myself, pulsing in and out, the heel of my hand pressing down on the flesh at the apex of my thighs.Butit was his mouth, his tongue, his lips as my climax came closer and closer.Myleg hooked over his shoulder, using my knee and calf to pull him tighter, deeper asIfound my release.
Thenew flesh of my neck ached as my pulse returned to normal, and my breath stabilized.Iran my fingers over it one last time before the boat rocked me gently to sleep.
Chapter14
Tori
Iawoke to more shouts, and for a momentIthought we might be under attack again, but the tone of the yelling was much more excited.Irose to exit my room only to find that my door was locked again.Ipulled my hand back from the latch as if it were made of iron.Isupposed that was to be expected.
Idressed myself in clean clothes and peered out my small window.Mistshrouded everything, but asIsquinted,Icould just see the outline of the shore approaching, grey and moody in the early morning light.
Thehandle on my door jiggled, andAvlynopened it. “Upand at ‘em,Princess, we are here.”Theyled me out onto the deck, and the mist continued to burn off.Theshore drew closer, and the city ofXyrappeared before me.
Thebeach that touched the sea was a deep, charcoal grey composed of volcanic rock that had been worn down over the ages.Thisled to rolling grassy hills that lay up against the edge of the city.Buildingsmade from wood and stone sprawled across the land, nestled up together like colored eggs in a nest.Thecity rose into a great volcanic cliff, the rocks there taking on the most interesting formation.Thecliffs rose like monoliths from the sea, each column a perfect dark hexagon shape.Thebasalt rock formed huge crystals frozen in time.Fromthese dramatic cliffs, a dark castle had been carved that loomed over the entire city,TheObsidianKeep.Firesfrom within lit the windows, as if it were a sleeping beast keeping watch overXyr.Orwas it more like a predator, waiting for a chance to strike?
“Home, sweet home.”Avlynleft me at the railing, shouting commands and preparing the ship to dock.Iwrapped my hands around the railing, my knuckles turning white.Home.Whatdid that word even mean to me now?Withmy brother taken and mother gone, wasNiatastill my home?Iremembered littleTomcarrying around his baby sister, and pulling onBrianna’sapron as she swatted my hand away from the cookies she had made, the baby’s pudgy little cheeks jiggling asTomnearly dropped her.Iremember my days on the beach, training with my favorite cohort, our bodies shining with sweat in the summer heat as we would duel and test each other.
Iremembered running through the deep jungle withJunwhen we were younglings, evading our guards and giggling while hidden in the roots of trees.Oncethe guards had passed,JunandIwould lie back and watch the sun dance through the leaves above us.He’dhad a beautiful voice even then, andIremembered how he would sing silly folk songs that seemed to still the air of the forest, as if every bug and leaf wanted to listen.Butterflieswould gather on the branches around us, and songbirds would harmonize with him, and then he would giggle, and they would all flit away as our laughter chased after them.
ThenJun’sface shifted, he was older, butIcould barely see him.Hiseyes were filled with fear, and his voice sounded so far away, “Tori, wake up, wake up!Youcan’t leave me here alone!”
Therailing under my hands snapped, splintered wood falling into the waves below.Iwilled my breath to still, eyes peering out at the ocean.Itwas calmer today, andIlet my mind mimic it.Ishifted my hips and swung my arms, not caring if my motions looked foolish to those on deck.Controlyourself,my father’s voice.Ipushed every thought away and synced my breath with my body.
“Interestingdance moves.”Iturned to seeKaleosstriding towards me.Hewore that stupid grinIhad seen on him before, andIwas happy to see he didn’t look any worse for wear after the encounter with theLeviathan.Idropped my hands.
“I’msurprised you want to be seen talking to me.”Heran his hand through his wavy dark hair, which he had left loose today.
“Yeah, the others are a bit pissed, huh?Idon’t really know why you let that thing go, butIdo knowIwouldn’t be here to chat with you about it if you hadn’t freed me,” he said and extended his hand to me. “SoIwanted to say thank you.”Ididn’t move, but the warmth in his grin only grew, “Look,Iknow that normally it’s supposed to be the princess who needs saving, butI’ma big enough man to admitIdon’t mind it the other way.”
Hishand was still extended, andIslowly placed my fingers in his.Heslid his hand up to grip my forearm, andIdid the same to him—the same gestureI’dseen many of the soldiers do after a duel.Hesmiled again and pulled me in to slap me on the back.Itwas friendly, but it still sent the air from my chest.
“Don’tworry about the others.Assoon as they get their feet back on dry land, they’ll forget the whole thing.Tellyou what?I’llconvinceAvlynto let us duel, and when you kick my ass, you’ll be back in their good graces.”Hewinked at me again, but it didn’t feel like before.Thisfelt more— well it felt different.Ifinally returned his smile.
“Well,Ihave been doing this longer than you have been alive,Kaleos.Ipromise not to hurt you too badly,”Isaid with a grin.
“I’mglad only my pride will suffer,Princess.”Andhe released me, returning to his duties.
* * *
Imilled around the ship,not able to help but trying to not look too useless.Apparently, this didn’t work asAvlynwaved me over and had me coiling a massive rope onto the deck as we pulled into the dock.Evenfor me, as a fae, the water-logged thing was burdensome, and my muscles were burning by the timeIfelt the slight jostle of the ship as we collided softly with the dock.
Immediately,Avlynwas at my side, but they didn’t place their hands on me as we walked off the ship, merely staying close behind.Wewere some of the first to disembark, but the soldiers were frenzied to get off the boat, and a great wave of them pushed me further down the dock.Avlyngently placed their hand on my shoulder and steered me toward an awaiting carriage.Acrowd had gathered near the end of the dock, andIsaw soldiers sweeping up spouses and children into their arms, tears being shed for safe return.Ithought then of those who had died in theLeviathan’sgrip, and the tears of grief that would be shed for them.Mystomach turned as guilt rose inside me.Ididn’t think any men had died afterIhad freed it, butIdoubt that would make much difference to the bereaved.
AsIentered the carriage,Isaw more ships docking and soldiers unloading until we were swept away up the street.Wemade our way through the city using what seemed to be the main road, which was wide and took a direct path to the castle.Wepassed a plaza large enough to fit two of the boatsIhad traveled on, the edges lined by three and four-story buildings.Agreat statue of aDragonlay in the center, its wings spread wide to the sky.
