Waiting for the king, my mind continues to spin. The silence stretches between us and he simply continues to look through his papers. Is he ignoring me? Is this a way to remind me of my place? Frustration courses through me but I refuse to move. Clearing my throat loudly, I smile sweetly as he looks up at me with a scowl.
“It is time for you to complete your side of the deal.” His piercing eyes stare right through me and into my soul, challenging me to rebel against his instructions. “We need more magic. We are down to the last ten crystals.”
There are only ten crystals left?! How are they going through them so quickly? I knew this day was going to come, yet I am stillnot prepared for the uncomfortable feeling in my chest. This lie has gotten out of hand, yet there is no going back.
With a deep breath, I dip my head in agreement. “Of course, I shall do my best.”
“Oh, I know you will.” His tone makes me look up, my heart jumping in my chest. His expression is meaningful and I know he’s once again reminding me what is at stake. Now he’s given me the information I needed, he’s clearly board of this conversation and waves his hand at me like he’s trying to shoo a fly. “You are dismissed.”
Without waiting another second, I spin on my heels and leave the office. My hurried footsteps are loud as I stumble through the corridors and back to my room.
It’s time to speak to Kit.
Twenty-Six
Slamming the door behind me, I slide the lock into place and try to calm my pounding heart. My mind is racing and I’m struggling to think clearly. Breathe. Closing my eyes, I take several deep breaths until I feel my body start to relax. Leaning against the door, I allow myself these few minutes of peace as I know it will be the last I get for some time.
Amir wants to marry me. I’m so conflicted. When I first kissed him in the garden I never would have even dreamed that I would be in this position now. I cannot deny that my heart flips in my chest when I imagine us together. He makes me feel seen. However, this lie is not how I want to find my husband.
My stomach lurches painfully, dragging a gasp from my lips. Opening my eyes, I push away from the door and move into the centre of the room. I can’t think about Amir right now, I have to figure out how to appease his father’s appetite for magic.
“Kit?” I tilt my head back, looking up at the ceiling. I don’t know why I always want to look upward when calling him, but it’s a habit I don’t think I will break now. Nothing changes and I begin to feel trepidation. “I know you can hear me,” I accuse, my voice louder now. “I need you, please.”
“You just can’t get enough of me, huh?” His smooth voice sounds from behind me.
A small, needy sound comes from my mouth and I whip around to find him standing behind me with a smirk. The attack last night affected me more than I had wanted to admit aloud, and now the added pressure of the kings words are pushing me to my limits of what I am able to cope with. I’m so grateful to see him that I hurry over and throw my arms around him.
He is the one person I can be honest with.
“Woah.” He is clearly thrown off, but he doesn’t stumble or faulter, tentatively wrapping his arms around me. His body is like a slab of rock, but after a few moments I feel him relax into the embrace. We might have danced together, but I’ve never been close to him like this before, and it’s awakening something inside me. This shows he’s capable of human emotion and kindness.
“My dance skills are just that good huh?” His joke breaks the moment and I remember why we are both here. Sighing, I pull back from our embrace and step back, preparing myself to ask for his magic. However, when I meet his gaze, his eyes are narrowed on my throat. His anger crackles in the air around us yet his expression stays the same.
Reaching out, he brushes his fingers against the bruises on my throat, his fingers barely touching my skin but causing it to tingle nonetheless. “Are you okay?”
Am I okay?
Not, who did this? Or, what happened? No, he knew that someone was hurting me, yet he did nothing. Anger courses through me, burning through my veins. I could have died, yet I suppose it doesn’t matter to him as he owns my soul dead or alive.
Knocking his hand away, I snarl at him. “The Queen has gone crazy from demon magic.” My voice is accusing but I dare notask what I fear. If Kit is the one the Queen was involved with. If he is the reason she is like this now. Swallowing the lump at the back of my throat, I gesture to my bruises. “She almost killed me and you did nothing to stop it!”
In reality, I could have called him, but we both know that he can speak into my mind, that he can feel my emotions whenever he likes. His comment had just confirmed that he knew everything that was happening. He’s a demon, I shouldn’t trust him, but I did and now I’m feeling betrayed.
My accusations seem to hit him hard and for a second I swear I see hurt written on those feline features. I must be imagining it though as he is snarling right back at me, those dagger sharp fangs gleam in the light and he leans toward me menacingly.
“Who do you think caught the attention of your maid? You didn’t think it was strange that she turned up in your room in the middle of the night?” He throws his arms up in the air and makes a noise of disgust. Storming away, he paces the length of the room. “Me appearing then would have made everything worse.”
Watching him, I let his words sink in. He did try to help, in a way he thought was best at the time. I should apologise, but I’m not going to. Not yet. Hurt still rules my emotions and it will be a while until I feel back to my usual self.
“Is that what I can expect to happen to me?” I surprise myself with the question. Until now I have not really allowed myself to think about this. The attack by the Queen brings it into focus though. Will I lose my mind, constantly craving a taste of Kit’s power?
He sighs and shakes his head, continuing with his pacing and avoiding my gaze. “No, you are different. That brings its own threats with it though.”
His answer has only given me more questions. Why is he always so confusing? Frowning, I huff a noise of frustration. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
Is that all he’s going to say? No explanation, just a clear expectation that I will drop the topic. This demon seems determined to drive me crazy. Fine, he doesn’t want to discuss that, then I will get to when I summoned him in the first place.
