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Golden swirls erupted across his chest as a faint mist seeped out from somewhere under him. “Do not even think it.”
The embers continued to swell, goading me to do more than just think it. They wanted me to act upon the rage and power building inside me.
“Your Majesty?” Phanos interrupted.
“What?” Kolis bit out, his gaze never leaving mine.
“I assume Court has ended for the evening,” he said as, from the sides of my vision, I saw others peeling away from the shadows of the alcoves, some in states of disarray, their clothing wrinkled and hair tangled as they crowded around Veses and Kyn. “But I need to speak with you.”
The mist faded around Kolis. “I have something I must take care of first. Then, I will return.”
“Of course,” Phanos remarked, his tone indecipherable. “I’ll be waiting.”
Chest rising and falling rapidly, I seethed as Kolis released my chin and took my hand. He guided me toward the doors we’d entered through, Kyn’s laugh echoing in the Hall.
“What did I tell you?”
Kolis towered over me as we stood in the cage, his nostrils flared. I couldn’t answer. His compulsion still had me in its grip.
But I didn’t think he wanted an answer.
“I warned you not to question me, and within the hour, you not only did so again, but also in a very public manner.” Golden swirls raced across his face at dizzying speed. “I warned you not to use the essence, and you did so twice in the same span of time.”
Damn it.
He had felt it.
“I can see it even now.” He grasped the sides of my face, tilting my head back. “The essence that does not belong to you, fueling your stubbornness. Your temper. I deserve neither of those things from you.”
I would’ve laughed if I could have.
“I defended you against Veses’ insults, and you proceeded to interfere with her punishment,” he said, angling his body to the side. Beyond him, I saw Callum. He paced silently. “And this is how you repay me? With disobedience and ungratefulness?”
My gods, he was…he was demented.
“You repay me by siding with the woman who would have my cock in her mouth in five seconds if I allowed it?” His eyes were wide. “Have you no honor?”
I could not believe what I was hearing.
The fury faded from his features, from his voice. His eyes slammed shut. “Why did you have to disobey me? Not once. Not twice. But three times.” A shudder ran through him. “I had such high hopes for today. Plans.”
So fucking demented.
“I wanted to show you all I was capable of.” His voice dropped, his eyes opening. The glow behind his pupils was almost too bright to look upon. “I wanted to show you what I’m risking for you.”
What he was risking…? My gods, there were no words, even if I could speak.
“But now, today ends like this.” He breathed in deeply through his nose, releasing the sides of my face. “You…you are my soul, but I am your King. You need to learn that you cannot question me, and you cannot use those embers.”
A trickle of fear broke through my anger. Not for me, but for Ash. For Rhain. Kolis had told me what he’d do if I disobeyed, and I’d done it—without even thinking about the consequences.
Kolis stepped back. The compulsion lifted, unlocking my jaw as my shoulders slumped. “You will be punished.”
I lifted my head. Callum had stopped pacing. “And?”
“And then we will see.” His eyes…they shone. “We will see if further action needs to be taken.”
Before I could speak or process the tears I saw gathering in his eyes, chains rattled.
