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One day, she would get her revenge on him. One day, she’d show him exactly what she thought about him and his stupidrealm.
Until then, she just had to hope the deeds he made her do wouldn’t break her soul into a million tiny pieces along the way. She had to hope she could hold on to herhumanity.
* * *
The horses were long gone,so Bree and Prince Taveon were forced to continue with the rest of their journey on foot, Bree stumbling behind Taveon as he yanked her down the path. Every single time he did that, the ropes would dig even deeper into her raw skin, but she couldn’t bring herself to merrily walk along like nothing waswrong.
There wasn’t much she could do to rebel against him, so a little pain felt worth making his journey as difficult aspossible.
It took several more hours to reach the castle, a hulking monstrosity that rose up from the beautiful scenery like an ugly toenail. Everything was all sharp angles and drab steel gray. Skinny towers sprouted from the ground, narrowing into jagged peaks that cut through the inky sky. The sight of it made Bree shiver, even though she wasn’tcold.
This was where she would be living for at least a few years. Maybe even the rest of herlife.
“I guess you Dark Fae aren’t really into the aesthetic side of things,huh?”
Prince Taveon’s jaw rippled as they slowly approached the gates that were guarded by half a dozen armed guards. “My father had this castle built as a demonstration of his rule. He wanted it to reflect who he was as a pointed message for hissubjects.”
“Right.” A beat passed. “So, his message was that he’s got a bit of a inferioritycomplex.”
Taveon raised his eyebrows inquestion.
Bree gestured to the towers, a slight smile playing across her lips. “Those are very phallic towers. One might think he was trying to make up for a lack in other...areas.”
At that, the Prince’s lips quirked, which surprised her. She thought that comment would have pissed him right off. “Best not say that kind of thing once we getinside.”
“Why? Your oh-so-loyal subjects who want to fight you for your crown might think you’re suffering from a similar issue?” She barked out the words without eventhinking.
He scowled and yanked hard against the rope, making her tumble forward and almost splat face-first on theground.
“I told you to show me respect. If you do not behave, then I will have to make an example of you in front of theCourt.”
She wanted to snap back, but she didn’t know what tosay.
When they reached the gates, several guards clad in all black approached while two more began to push open the heavy doors. Their faces were covered by steel helmets, only revealing sets of reddish eyes. Bree found them unnerving, to say the least. Things were different here in Underworld. The fae of Otherworld were so much more in tune with nature. They wore billowing cloaks full of color. These fae liked metal andblack.
“Prince Taveon,” one of the guards barked out. “Why are you on foot? Where is your father? Who is this prisoner you have withyou?”
They didn’t mention the blood or the fact the Prince didn’t have a shirt on, when those were the first things Bree would have noticedherself.
“Please send word that I would like to gather the council together immediately,” Prince Taveon said in a clipped tone of voice that caught Bree off guard. He hadn’t exactly soundedsoftbefore, but this tone was so much harder, so much more full of steel. “And do not speak of this to any of the other guards. Keep my request as quiet as possible, fornow.”
“Yes, my Prince.” The guard gave a slight bow and scurried off through the now open gate while Bree turned to the Prince with a liftedeyebrow.
“Why all the secrecy? You’re not going to tell theguards?”
“The news of his death will not be taken well. It must be handled carefully,” Taveon said, his jaw flickering. “But that is none of yourconcern.”
Bree fought back the urge to roll her eyes. Of course. In his eyes, it wasn’t her concern. She was just his slave, a captive. Already she could tell he was going to be one ofthose. The kind of fae who wouldn’t tell her anything but the bare minimum. The kind of fae who liked to keep secrets, even when she’d been involved in this whole thing every step of the way. And it was already starting to piss her rightoff.
“Whatever,” she said. “I didn’t want to knowanyway.”
Oh, but she did want to know. She just wasn’t going to let him know how much she hated the fact he wouldn’t tell her. She wasn’t about to let him get the upper hand in anythingelse.
“Come on.” He yanked her forward, and the ropes dug into her skin once more. She glared at his back as she stumbled forward. The cuts from the Wilde Fae attack had completely disappeared, the red splotches fading into smooth golden skin. The fact he showed no remnants of the attack only made the anger she felt toward him grow even more. It wasn’tfair.
He yanked her through the courtyard and into a large building with few windows overlooking the faerie lands outside. Sconces lined the walls, and a yellowish light danced against the stone from the small fires. The Prince was completely silent, and the only sounds were their footsteps echoing through the emptyspace.
Bree hated the silence. She had to get him talking again, more for her sanity than anythingelse.
