“Why would you ever think I’d kill you?” he asks, holding back laughter.
“Well, I…” My heart skips a beat. “Wait. You’re not going to kill me?”
With a chuckle, the Scorpion shakes his head. “I can’t deny that it hurts to learn that you lied to me. But I’m not going to kill you, Ruby. I only kill people who deserve it, remember?”
“Oh,” I breathe.
“It was definitely a shock, though,” he continues, folding his arms. “Learning I had a princess in my office was quite a surprise. Especially one of Sol’s treasured daughters. Never thought I’d see the day when he’d let one of his own out of their gilded cage.”
“It’s not a cage here.” I narrow my eyes.
The Scorpion chuckles. “Clearly not any more if he’s willing to let you explore Night Alley on your own.”
My lip curls. Just because Father wants to keep us safe doesn’t mean we’re prisoners. He loves us. The world out there is dangerous, and I have first-hand experience of that danger now.
“You’re wrong,” I argue. “This palace has never been like a prison to us. Our father’s just trying to keep us safe. He’s a good king, but there are horrible people out there. Horrible, evil people who don’t believe in him and don’t trust him to make the best decisions. I don’t really understand it. Surely they can see he’s a gift to our kingdom from the Stars.” The smile on my face echoes the pride I feel in my core. I love Father. He’ll always do what’s best for us.
But my smile falters when I catch the Scorpion’s horrified expression.
“He’s really got you, hasn’t he?” he mutters.
“What are you talking about? Father loves his people. He was chosen by the Stars to take care of them. He?—”
“Your father is the worst king this kingdom has seen in centuries!” the Scorpion snarls as he marches towards me. “Have you no idea of what he’s done? The havoc he’s wreakedon our cities? The number ofhispeople who are starving and poorer than they’ve ever been? The unnecessary wars he’s started with our allies?”
“Stop.” I shake my head. “You’re wrong. Father wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t he? What about all the innocent people he’s had executed? The women he’s raped?”
No.He would never.
“But you kill people!” I yell. “Whatever my father did, I’m sure he’d have a good reason!”
“Don’t you ever compare what I do to him!” the Scorpion seethes, his features darkening with anger. He’s inches away now, so close I can feel his breath on my cheeks.
When I don’t reply, he turns from me to pace around my room. “Your father is a swine. And I’m not the only one who thinks that, either. Ask anyone outside the palace. Shit, even the guards here would probably agree.”
“No. That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is,” he growls, continuing to pace back and forth in front of my bed. “Stars, I knew Sol was bad, but I never thought he’d stoop this low. Manipulating his own daughters.”
“Stop.” I scowl.
“You know he visits Night Alley too? I’ve seen him there. He’s no stranger to the whorehouses and dragging unwilling women back to the palace with him. Can’t blame them for not wanting to go, though. They don’t always make it back in one piece.”
“I don’t want to hear any more!” I shout, but I can hardly hear myself over the pounding of blood in my ears. None of this is true. Father is a good man, and he loves us all. The Scorpion is lying. He has to be.
Breathing heavily, I don’t know what’s happening before it’s already too late. One moment, I’m scrambling around forsomething to cover my ears; the next, a pointe shoe is in my hand until suddenly it’s flying towards the Scorpion’s head.
I gasp as my shoe soars through the air. It hits the side of his head with enough force to make him flinch.
My heart stops.
Slowly, he turns to stare at me with a wide-eyed look.
At least he’s no longer talking…
“You’re going to regret that.” His voice is so deep with warning, I can almost feel it vibrate through the floor.
