Whether he didn’t wish to discuss it in front of the little princess or Emily or simply wanted to spare me the questioning glances, I appreciated his thoughtfulness. Though part of me wished he’d stop treating my mother’s shadow like something I needed protection from instead of something I needed to face.
Yesterday, during our conversation, he explained that something must have been overlooked and that he required solid proof before taking the claim to the Elders. Accusing the queen of being a blood witch could have devastating consequences if he were mistaken.
I understood it was Michael’s job as the king’s spy to gather proof and information, but I disliked how rarely I saw him these days. It felt as if Emily had been traded in his spot to fill the void. Neither could replace the other, but I cherished them both, even after so little time.
‘What will you be doing today?’ The curious princess asked, peeking over her plate. ‘Can I come with you?’
‘No, Isla. Princess Ava needs to focus on mastering her fire, so I’m taking her to the volcanoes. You’re starting your lessons at the academy today, remember?’
The girl all but jumped from her seat, the fork catapulting in the air and covering Emily in sticky honey. ‘Oh my gosh! Ava, you’ll have so much fun!’
‘Will I?’ I begged the Gods to spare me. I survived too much to get swallowed up by flaming mountains.
A smirk brightened River’s face. ‘Remains to be seen.’
‘Volcanoes are what I expected your court to look like, to be honest,’ I trailed off, as three bewildered pairs of eyes fixed on me. ‘I’m still surprised by the amount of life on your land.’
Emily, still trying to clean her blazer with napkins, chuckled before warning, ‘Don’t expect too much life out there, though. And if you’re not careful enough, it might just take yours.’
Her cautionary remark soured the little princess’s face. ‘Don’t lie, Mummy. Uncle would never let Ava get swallowed up in the lava. Oscar said his cousin’s dad was swallowed up there, and they only found his skull. How fun… But, Uncle—Ava is safe, right?’
Bile rose in my throat, and I suspected I was slowly turning sickly pale. ‘It sounds… Why are we going there again?’
‘To train.’
The King
Before long, all of us finished breakfast and moved on to our duties for the day. Leaving the dining room, I couldn’t help but grin at Ava’s worried face. Her imagination must have been running wild at the mysterious land I was taking her to.
The moment I noticed her shake off the shiver that crawled up her spine, I was close to losing it.
Laughter bubbled in my throat, and I cleared it, willing my face to stay serious. I enjoyed this.
What did she think was going to happen there? I wasn’t exactly taking her for a swim in a lava pool if that was what she feared.
‘So… a land of volcanoes, then?’ she asked, and the world echoed around us, like my castle joined in on tormenting our little witch.
‘Yes.’
Uncertainty flashed in her eyes before she paused, stalling our journey toward the portal.
Witnessing her apprehension, I could no longer fight off the smirk. ‘Did your legs stop cooperating or something?’
‘Actually, I was kind of hoping we could keep my legs in the air today…’ Ava cast me a hopeful glance. It did things to me.
What was the little vixen implying? I would gladly work off some of the lingering tension between us, though judging by her glowing blush, fooling around with me wasn’t what she tried to offer.
Too bad; I was past the point of trying to push her out of my mind. Getting my hands on her lithe body was all I could think of lately. It drove me crazy.
‘For somebody who claimed not to be throwing herself at me, you have very specific requests, princess.’
Blood drained from her face as she fumbled for words. ‘Gods no… Skies above, I meant flying.’
Inch by inch I moved closer, noting how her breath caught.
What would she feel like beneath me?
She appeared inexperienced… I could be gentle if she asked me nicely. ‘If you want me to keep your legs in the air, all you have to do is ask, little witch.’
