“Likearmor,YourHighness,”Ciarahad said.Itmade me grin.Thiswould have been the worst armor anyone had ever seen, but somehow it did make me feel more secure.PerhapsIwas getting used to this court’s ridiculous fashion.Icould appreciate how it certainly emphasized the best parts of my body.Ihad gotten strong training with the cohort, and my legs were toned in a wayIhadn’t seen in years, my arms showing off lines of muscle with each twist.
Despiteprevious failures,Ciarawas trying again to tame my hair into some kind of updo.Ialways let her, knowing she would eventually settle for just a single pin when all my other hair escaped.
“Ciara,Ihave something for you.”Shepaused, more of my hair falling out of the pin she held in place while she wrestled with another.Ireached into the drawer of my vanity and pulled out a small box to hand to her.Shecautiously lowered her hands from my hair and opened it.Insidesat a pair of earrings.Theycertainly weren’t elaborate, but they were beautiful, with a small ruby connected to a larger yellow topaz hanging below.Thejewel and gold metal offset her eyes perfectly.
“Alittle bird told me that these were the ones you had been looking at.Icouldn’t help you win the bet, soIfiguredIcould make up for that.”Shestared at me, and as was becoming uncomfortably common,Icouldn’t read the emotions on her face.
“Icannot accept this,YourHighness.”
“Youcan and you will.”Ididn’t let her protest beforeIgrabbed one of the earrings and started placing it on her ear, just as she had done to mine.Shekept silent asIadded the other. “Justa belated solstice present.”Theydid look lovely on her and didn’t seem out of place with the finer clothes she wore for the celebration.
“Thankyou.”Shebusied herself with the fabric at the hem of my dress, andIlet her be.
Shortlythereafter, my door opened without a knock.Thatcould only mean one person. “YourMajesty.”Ididn’t turn to greet him.
“Ciara, you have outdone yourself,” he spoke to the half-fae woman at my side.Ilooked at her and saw her swell with pride, that lingering awkwardness vanishing.
“Isn’tshe gorgeous,YourMajesty?”Isaw that mischievous gleam in her eye then.
“Indeed.”Iwould not let that affect me,Iwould not.
“Timeto go.”Iheld out my hand to him, and we were off.
Aswe made our way down the halls, he was unusually quiet, and not in the typical icy wayIknew.Ilooked at him, but he refused to look back.Ilistened in the stillness of the hallway, andIcould hear his pulse racing.
“What’swrong?”Hedidn’t answer me, soIstopped, holding him back. “Ican handleHadeon.”Iwasn’t entirely sure ifIbelieved myself, butIwould say it untilIdid.Icontinued with a sing-song voice of mockery, “Areyou worried about me,Abraxas?Bestbe careful orImight start to think you care.”
Hefinally looked at me, “Hadeonhas brought your brother with him.”
Myheart stopped, “Jun…is here?”Thatrestless anxietyIhad felt all day exploded like fire all over me.Itwas so different from the crashing wavesIfelt in my mind, and it worried me.Itcompelled me to act, andIknew that was dangerous.ButIcouldn’t fight it.
Ipulled at the king’s arm, “Imust go see him, take me to him now!”ButAbraxaswouldn’t move.Itried to release his arm to run, but he held me fast.
“Thisis a trap,Tori.”Hestared at me with those emerald eyes, the intensity locking me down more than his grip, “Idon’t know what he is planning, but you must be cautious.”
“Iknow that; let’s go!Ican’t—“Hecaught my cheek in his hand, his gaze only intensifying.IthoughtIimagined it, but he ran his thumb over my jaw gently, and it seemed to calm the fire eating at me.Isaw now the faintest pink line on his neck where my sword had marked him.Myheart beat faster now, but for an unforgivable reason.
“IfIdidn’t know better,Iwould think you were jealous of me accompanyingHadeon.Iwould have thought you would be happy to show off your little pet to your emperor.”
Hisvoice was deeper than usual, “Idon’t like other people touching what’s mine.”Ifinally managed to wiggle my hand free from his arm.
“Abraxas,Iwill never be yours.”
Thatsoft look was immediately gone, “Wellthen,Isuppose it’s time for me to deliver you to your new master.”
Hegripped my hand in his, but it wasn’t kind this time.Ifelt my bones press together as he dragged me down the hall.Werounded a corner into the entryway and were greeted by a throng of people.Atits center, the emperor stood, surrounded by adoring sycophants.Iscanned the crowd quickly, looking forJunas the king dragged me forward.
Ifinally saw him behindHadeon.Hewore a finely tailored jacket with a high collar and slim pants, the fashion of theCourtofFlames.Ihad never seen him in anything but the robes of our home, so it took me a moment to spot him.Hisposture was slouched, and his long dark hair was falling out of his high bun.Hiseyes were unfocused, his mouth slightly slack, almost like he drank too much ambrosia, butIknew better.
Itried to catch his attention, butHadeonstepped between us.
Abraxasreleased my hand, “PrincessToriKhato, as you requested,YourEminence.”Hadeonraked his eyes from my head to my toes, butIbarely noticed asItried to lock eyes withJun.
ButthenHadeonlaced his arm through mine and pulled me in the opposite direction, “MylovelyPallascouldn’t accompany me this time, butIthinkIshall enjoy the evening nonetheless.”Icouldn’t turn my head to see my brother without basically bending over backward now.Ifinally turned to faceHadeon, and was greeted by the look of a wolf who had cornered its prey.
Butwe were quickly surrounded by the nobles of both his court and theDragonKingdom.Itook a deep breath and focused on the stillness of the sea.Iplastered on my best smile.Icould do this;Icould pretend for one evening.ForJun,Iwould manage.
Ididn’t say much of anything, asHadeonparaded me around like the dancing monkeyIwas.Hewas courteous with the nobles, the picture of ourDivineEmperor.Theonly hintIhad of his true nature was the iron clad grip he held on my arm.
