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I scanned her dress, stretching against her figure in a layer of thin, red nylon. Her eyes flashed with anger when she caught me looking. “It seems you and your husband just can’t keep your eyes to yourself.”
Heat prickled into my neck, flushing my cheeks. “Nothing about you is alluring enough to capture either of our attention, but I wouldn’t expect a narcissist like you to believe that.”
She clicked her tongue, taking in another drag of smoke. She turned her focus onto her daughter, running thin fingers through her hair. “Sweetheart, what were you saying to our princess?”
She grinned, showing off her pearly white teeth. “I was just about to go into heavy detail about how good her husband tastes. He was more than happy to spill his cum down my throat in the dungeons.”
A picture of him kissing her, his dick deep in her mouth, formed in my mind. My appetite quickly faded, and swirling hurt forced vengeance into my voice. “If you’re telling the truth, then I guess we’re even,” I snapped, and her smile fell into a frown.
I cocked my head, the muscle above my jaw twitching as I took in her wide, blue eyes. “Astor came to my room only days ago,” I said, practically smiling. “He begged me to take him back, even kissing me.” I paced forward until she was inches from me. “But don’t worry. I didn’t kiss him back. I wasn’t that desperate. I am, however, wondering if you’re obsessed with me. First Astor, now Sebastian. Do you enjoy having my seconds?”
She gritted her teeth. “I had Sebastian long before you arrived.”
“Yet he married me, and even Astor wanted to put a ring on my finger before the ceremony. So clearly, you’re not wife material. Just something to fuck,” I bit out, normally despising tearing down another woman. But Gwen made it impossible to feel a shred of sympathy.
Velda coughed on an inhale, wheezing as Gwen turned on her heel, her face redder than the roses blooming in the arches.
I forced my way past her, knocking into her shoulder. “Oh,” I said before weaving through the confused crowd of vampires as they searched for their food. “There are no mortals here. My father sent them down to the dungeons, so it looks like you’ll need to take another trip down there.”
Carefully, I tucked away the anger and sadness as I strode away, lifting my chin because I refused to let her see I cared about her confession. Truth was, I had no right to him or to his loyalty. I knew he didn’t want this when I chose him as my betrothed, and I’d pretended I picked him just to save his life. But that wasn’t the only reason.
Iwantedhim, and I hated it. Even more now.
Azia approached me from across the room before I could grab any breakfast. “Your Highness.” He sunk into a deep bow, then raised his dark eyes to meet mine. “Your father sent me for your lesson.”
“Lesson?”
“Yes. I will assume by the puzzled look on your face you were not made aware.”
“No. I was not.” I paused, staring at the colorful tattoos covering his arms, neck, up to his bald head. “What lessons?”
“My king would like to enhance your powers, so you may become more of an asset to the crown.”
“I see.” I did my father saying he wanted to teach me more about being a princess, but I hadn’t known he meant he’d be doing it through someone else. “I don’t know. There’s so much going on right now, I don’t think I have time.”
His forehead wrinkled. “You will make time. I can teach you how to control your powers, use divination, and mold the surrounding energy. With practice, you will have more power than anyone. Being immortal with magic is a miracle indeed.”
The burden placed upon my shoulders by the gods grew heavier with each movement. Nevertheless, I owed it to them and myself to try.
“I guess…” I trailed off as I spotted Kalon gliding across the room. His snake-eyes slid to me, the green in them more prominent from the forest color of his robes. Within half a breath, he was standing in front of me.
“You didn’t bow,” I snarled, remembering his plot to keep me in limbo on the other side.
“I am a prince, you a princess. As I've said before, we are not required to bow to one another.” The corner of his thin lips lifted. “I’ll forgive your naivety. You are so new at this, after all.” His head tilted to the side, disheveling his red curls. “Azia,” he addressed the sorcerer, with a quick glance.
I saw Azia nod in my peripheral vision, then focused on Kalon. “I know what you tried to do to me.”
“And what is that?” he asked.
“To make me stay in the afterlife with your little herbs.” His eyes widened, and I smiled. “Shame it didn’t work. I admit, it was a good plan. Just not good enough.”
His bony fingers entwined as he looked me up and down. “I would never try to do such a thing, and to my only niece,” he enunciated in a tone far too hurt to be genuine. “Even if I did—which I would never—there’s no proof of this so-called plan you’ve imagined.”
My nostrils flared, but I swallowed the anger, refusing to surrender my control to his provocation. Sticking only to the facts, I kept my expression empty. “I already know what you’re capable of. You want me dead and vile enough to see it through.”
He tutted under his breath, sighing with exasperation. “I truly do not know what you’re talking about.”
I noticed a man, pausing and listening, in my peripheral vision. Kalon wouldn’t admit it, not in public anyway. I shrugged and gave him a small, knowing smile, promising payback. Kalon was diligent, but everyone had their weaknesses. I just had to find his.
