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Bree glared at him, but she took the cloth and rubbed it across her cheeks. There was still a hint of dirt just below her lip, but he didn’t dare reach forward and brush it aside. The idea of touching her made his head spin. This was the girl who had tried to kill him. He couldn’t very well caress herskin.
After she’d cleaned her face, she stepped out of the cell, but Taveon held up a hand. One that held a pair of wrist braces attached to a chain. Bree’s entire face transformed from mild displeasure to something much darker and dangerous. She looked livid. Her eyes danced with fire, and her whole bodytrembled.
She was a fiery little thing, and she certainly didn’t take anything sittingdown.
In any other circumstance, Taveon might appreciate herspirit.
“What the hell is that?” She pointed an accusing finger at the wristbraces.
“You will be wearing these for the duration of our walk. The sleeves of your dress are long enough to hide them fromview.”
“Are you kidding me?” Heat filled her cheeks, turning her skin a bright pink. “You’re seriously going to keep me chainedup?”
“You tried to kill me, Bree. I will keep you chained up until you prove that I can trust that you will not attempt some other wild plot against thecrown.”
“It wasn’t a plot against the crown,” she said through gritted teeth. “It was a plot againstyou, the fae who lied to me. The fae who wants me to sentence innocent humans to a life of beastlytorment.”
“Unfortunately for you, a plot against me is a plot against the crown.” He held up the chains and jingled them. “Now, you can either stay in this cell or you can wear these and come withme.”
“Fuck off,” Breesaid.
“Verywell.”
Taveon left Bree to stew in her thoughts. She was alone down there with nothing but the dim light of the moon to illuminate her surroundings. While he might not know her well, he was certain about some things when it came to Bree. She hated feeling trapped. She hated being caged. She was fiercely independent, eager to explore. She wouldn’t have left Otherworld to come with him if shewasn’t.
After several hours, he tried again. This time, she was much more agreeable, though the scowl remained on herface.
“Are you ready to wear the chainsnow?”
She noddedglumly.
“Good. First, I thought I’d show you around.” He held open the cell door, and Bree ducked under his arm. The top of her head brushed against his shoulder, and his entire body tensed instinctively. Just as she got two steps away, he snatched out his hand and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. She winced, and a pang went through his gut. He hadn’t meant the ropes to hurt her. He’d only been trying to keep her from boltingagain.
The entire way back to the castle, she hadn’t complained. It was only when he’d removed them that he saw the angry red marks his bonds had leftbehind.
“You have to wear the chains,” he insisted. “I will put them on in a way that will not hurt the raw skin around yourwrists.”
When she didn’t argue, he fastened the wrist braces and gave a curt nod before leading her down the corridor and up the stairs to the rest of the castle. In truth, he would not be showing Bree much of the castle. She would stay in the wings that held no windows so that no one would see her pacing around inside. He couldn’t afford the wrong eagle-eyed fae getting a look ather.
Still, he knew she needed to stretch her legs after a night spent in that crampedcell.
From down the hallway, Taveon spotted his old nemesis, Lord Dagen. His entire body tensed as the golden-haired fae approached them. It was strange seeing him here at this hour, though it was to be expected. Taveon suspected the Lord was intrigued by the new arrival at the castle, and he wanted to get a look at herhimself.
And, despite himself, Taveon didn’t want to make the introduction. He suddenly felt strangely protective of thegirl.
“Prince Taveon,” Lord Dagen said with a slight bow when he reached the two of them. “Good dawn, goodday.”
“Good dawn, good day,” Taveon said in the standard morning greeting of the Dark Fae realm. “Bree, this is Lord Dagen. He was one of my father’s closest allies and sits on the council with me. He’s currently trying to assist me in determining the best course forward for thisrealm.”
There was an undercurrent of hostility in Taveon’s voice, though he wasn’t sure Dagen or Bree would pick up on it. It was dangerous, introducing Bree to this male. He knew that Dagen would want to see someone else on the throne, possibly even himself. And he would see Bree as a little pet to be played with. Unfortunately, there was no way to avoid this introduction. Dagen needed to see Bree for himself. Otherwise, he’d hover around like the annoying insect hewas.
Bree didn’t respond. She just glowered at them both. Irritation flickered through him. Did she not understand her position in this Court? She was his servant, his slave. And she needed to show the appropriate amount of respect, or she would find herself on the wrong end of asword.
“Bree.” He frowned ather.
She arched an eyebrow. “Are you not going to introducemetohim? I got his credentials, but you didn’t give himmine.”
Lord Dagen let out a low chuckle, and Taveon shot him a sharplook.
“Very well,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Lord Dagen, this is Bree. Myslave.”
Her scowl onlydeepened.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Bree.” Lord Dagen smiled as he took Bree’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. A strange kind of anger flared in Taveon’s stomach. What in the name of the forest was this nonsense? He’d been right. Dagen wanted nothing more than to play with Bree, like some new toy or pet. And Dagen must have seen just how infuriated Taveon had become because he let the exaggerated kiss continue on for just a moment toolong.
He even shot Taveon a wink when he wasdone.
And, the forest help him, Taveon swore that Bree’s cheeks were a wild shade of pink. Lord Dagen had made her blush.Blush, for fuck’s sake. Little did she know, Dagen probably wanted nothing more than to see her blood flow freely all over the castle’s stonefloors.
Taveon would need to be careful. If he wasn’t, he feared Bree’s head would end up on astake.
