Aknock sounded at my door, andIturned to seeAvlynopen it wide.Imoved to join them before theDragonKingstepped into my view.Ifroze as his tall frame completely filled the door, that haughty look piercing me.Dressedin his formal armor, he certainly cut an intimidating figure.Mywrists chafed under his stare.
“Now,Princess, whileIhave enjoyed having you locked up,Ithink it's time we try again.”Heremoved a key from his belt and leaned toward me.Icouldn’t help but flinch, shrinking away from him.Weak.Ilifted my chin and did my best to face him, pushing my shoulders back to stand as tall as was possible.
“Andwhat exactly are we trying?”Heplaced the key in the shackles, and they popped open.Icouldn’t help but sigh my relief and rub my wrists as they were finally able to begin healing themselves.
“Iwould like you to accompany me into the city.LordBolonis an old business partner, andI’msure he would be pleased to meet the fabledPrincessof thePearlKingdom.”
“FabledPrincess?What, haveIbeen locked in a tower guarded by a dragon?”
“No, you are just a twin who has been kept on a distant island kingdom your entire life, away from the prying eyes of all ofAdimos.”Hisface was deadly serious.Ihad not really thought about the opinion of me in other kingdoms, as we had so limited contact with them.Andthe opinion of me at home was suspect, at best.
Myfather had claimed our isolation was so we wouldn’t become tangled in the fae’s senseless wars, but the era we lived in now was called theLongPeace.AfterEmperorHadeonhad defeated the last dragon and every last king bent the knee, there had been the longest period of peace ever recorded.Ihad pointed this out to him, and he had snapped, sayingIhad been born too late to understand, thatIhad lived a sheltered life.I’dsnapped back,Whosefault is that?I’dearned myself a month of kitchen cleaning duties for that.Morepainfully, two months without my weapons training.
Ilooked at the king, wondering what his motive was.ButIcould hear the hustle and bustle of the city outside calling to me.
Heseemed to follow my thoughts, “Thecity awaits,Princess, if you would give me your word to not embarrass me by say, throwing yourself into the river.”Hesmiled now, “Although, that might be punishment in and of itself, as the river is absolutely disgusting here.”
“Andwhy shouldItrust you?”
“Trustme?Princess, no, we are determining ifIcan trustyou.”Heheld out his hand, my ticket out of this cabin.PerhapsIcould play nice, just for now.Ireached out, slipping my fingers into his palm, which was rough with callouses.
“Wewill see.”
Chapter6
Abraxas
Thecarriage lurched and swayed over the cobblestone roads ofMetlin, as we traveled away from the noise of the docks and up the hills of the city to whereLordBolon’sestate lay.
Theprincess sat across from me and kept her eyes glued to her window the entire ride, unwilling to look at me.Occasionally, she would run her hands over her wrists, where her freshly healed skin was still visible, slightly pinker than the rest.
Ihad not intended to keep her in chains, but she had challenged me, andIcouldn’t let that stand.Shewas much too valuable for me to allow her to come to harm, especially of her own making.Andshe was sure to harm herself, she was much too impulsive.No, she would become the crown jewel of my collection, and as such,Iwould keep her safe.
Ithought back to her sultry words on the boat deck and couldn’t help but relish in the way they had set my skin ablaze.Ithad been a very long time since someone had challenged me so openly, so brazenly, like that.Tosee that fierce defiance burning in her eyes—howIlonged to see her succumb.
Thethought of her on her knees before me, her pink tongue darting over her warm lips in anticipation had me too bothered.Ineeded a distraction.
“Youknow,Princess,Ithink you will enjoy the view inside the carriage much more.”
Sheturned to me; her face neutral.Shescanned me from head to toe, lingering in ways thatIcouldn’t help the smirk that crossed my lips.
“Isuppose it’s true what they say about you?”
“Oh, and what is that?”Isaid, quirking an eyebrow.
“Thatyour ego is larger than your army.”Herbobbed black hair swung around her as she turned back to the window.Spoiledbrat.Shewas being no fun at all.
“Areyou planning your escape route through the city?”Isaw her flinch, an almost imperceptible twitch of her lips, that told meIhad guessed right.Butshe turned to me again, and if looks could kill, hers would have.
“Ihave been locked away my whole life, remember?Ihave never been outside my island before.Iwas simply…observing.”Nolie there.Whata great waste thatKingRahulhad kept this jewel all to himself for so long.
Ipulled back the curtain on my window, “Inthe distance, you will see theAlderiSpiral, or what remains of it.Itis thought thatMetlin, or the city that was formerly here was much larger several millennia ago, butAlderipower concentrated inKoronduring theSecondAge.”
Sheblinked at me likeIwas some sort of slimy toad who had emerged from a pond to ruin her summer picnic. “King, general, and tour guide?Aman of many talents,Isee.”
“Ithink you will find that mytalentslie in many areas,Princess.”Ilet my voice lower, andIloved the way her nose twitched in distaste at my words.Sheshowed every one of her emotions on her face, andIso enjoyed it.
“I’lladd arrogant asshole to the list as well.”Gods, when was the last time someone had said something like that to me?Thiswoman.Ipulled out of my relaxed posture, raising myself to my full height, letting myself fill the carriage.Sheshrunk back from me but kept that defiant chin held high, andIcould see her clamping her nails into the palms of her hands to keep them from shaking.ButIcould smell the fear coming off of her in acrid waves like vinegar and the darkness of a moonless winter night.Good.
