I pretended to sip, swishing it around in my hand.
“That dress in stunning on you, Elira.” He said. “Do you like it?”
“It’s heavy.” I said, adjusting it roughly around my feet.
“It’s made from the finest silks in all of Varrowmere.” He spoke, his eyes narrowed. “Many would kill for such finery.”
“I’m sure they would. And I don’t mean to sound ungrateful,” I said carefully, forcing my voice to stay calm. If I angered him, I had no doubt I’d die here and now.
“But you are, aren’t you?” he snapped, his eyes glittering with something unpleasant.
I exhaled slowly through my nose, burying my temper deep. “The dress is lovely. Thank you,” I said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.
He watched me for a long moment, as if weighing whether to push further. Finally, he hummed low in his throat, pleased enough for now. “I heard you were out fighting with my Shades the other day.”
“I was with them when we were attacked,” I corrected, stiffly.
The King laughed, the sound deep and grating, like he found the whole thing amusing. “Ahh, Vael. Still determined to kill me and mine, isn’t he?” His tone was almost fond, like he was talking about an unruly dog rather than a rebel leader.
“He took off with a lot of civilians, sire. He killed many of your men.” My voice sharpened with disgust before I could stop it.
He waved a lazy hand in the air, as if batting my words away like gnats. “They're just soldiers. What else do they do butstand between me and certain death?” He chuckled, like it was a joke.
“They are people, sire!” I shot back before I could think better of it.
“Are they?” he mused, cocking his head slightly, as if genuinely considering it for the first time. He shrugged, utterly indifferent. “I suppose they are. It doesn't matter either way. Thorne and his Shades will hunt Vael’s men down, kill them, and the cycle will begin again. It comes with the territory.”
“How can you be so cold?” I asked, despite my plan to stay calm.
“What would you have me do? Cry about it?” Ashton shrugged. “One day, Vael and I will face each other again and it will be over. Until that day, that’s why you are here, my dear. As my newest weapon, you will be standing before me, like the rest of my Shades, ready to die for me. It’s a noble destiny, protecting your king. What’s not to like?”
“A true king stands between his people and their enemies, not behind them.” I growled.
Ashton’s eyes grew darker.
“Is that a fact?” He asked, his voice dangerous.
I gulped, wishing I had access to my shadows right then, but I was stunted. Something brushed my legs under the table, something soft and velvety.
A cat?
I kept my chin up, refusing to let him see my fear.
“Yes sire.”
The king seemed to swell with rage, his hands bracing on the table as he pushed to his feet.
“You dare speak to your king like that?” he thundered.
I clenched my fists, steadying myself.
“You will never be my king,” I hissed.
Ashton’s face twisted with fury. He raised his hand to strike me —
—but before the blow could fall, a sleek black cat leapt onto the table. Midnight-dark, its yellow eyes fixed steadily on the king.
Ashton froze, his hand hovering midair.
