Page 39 of To Bleed A Kingdom

Knowing full well he never grew out of hishabitual need to terrorizethose more vulnerable than him, I knew he wouldn't be a good fit for the Cascadonian Guards. Which is why I denied his application. His father – Lord Kanus – caused quite a scene when he stomped into my office demanding I reverse my decision. When I refused, I have no shame in admitting I howled in laughter at his shocked expression. After all, he's just as awful as his son, if not more so. I thought the issue was resolved when Kanusstormed from my office, sputtering profanities the entire way, but I should've known they wouldn't accept my rejection gracefully.

After I dismissed her father, Princess Kiora went to her husband – my brother, Prince Theon –and demanded he give Jareth entry. Theon, always overly indulgent to his bitch of a wife, went over my head and ordered the processing of Jareth’s application. Even going so far as promoting him to Lieutenant despite my protests. From the moment I was forced to authorize Jareth’s enlistment, I knew he would be an issue. But I never thought it would get this far without my knowledge.

“Jareth, this isn’t a social visit,” I bite out. “I’ve recently received some serious allegations against you.”

“These allegations are…?” he asks, seeming unsurprised.

Leafing through Ajax's statement, I list off all his crimes. “Mistreatment of guards under your command. Falsifying reports. Whipping a fae without cause. Sexually assaulting females and women.” Losing my composure, I clench the parchment tightly, crinkling it as I growl, “Burning and branding a human child with your insignia ring. Disfiguring him for life.” I slap the parchment onto the desk and grit my teeth. “Basically, participating in all types of illegal activities when your sole purpose as a guard is to uphold these very same laws. A male within my command is supposed to be a protector for all the people, including fae and humans, but is instead terrorizing and striking fear into our most vulnerable citizens.”

“You’ve always been so righteous,” he mumbles. He crosses one leg over the other and adopts a bored expression. “These accusations are false, and I'm deeply offended.”

“I doubt that.”

“Who made these ridiculous allegations?”

I remain silent.

With an audible sigh as if this whole conversation is nothing but an inconvenience, he says, “I have a right to know who's slandering my name.”

“Only if I wish it,” I state coldly. “And I don't.”

Jareth narrows his eyes. “I'll find out one way or another.”

Disregarding his threat, I carry on. “These charges cannot go unpunished.”

His expression hardens to stone, searching my eyes for mercy or weakness. I can see the exact moment he realizes he won't receive any. He sits back in his chair and relaxes his posture. “You have no proof.”

I smirk. “I don't need any.”

The dumbass really must believe he's untouchable because he huffs a laugh, a taunting smile spreading across his face. “Oh, pray tell, your high and mighty bastard prince, what punishment will you give me?” He places a palm to his chest. “I am brother by marriage to the heir to the throne. His wife’s adored brother.”

“Theon is not yet King, and your sister not yet Queen. They have no power over my decisions.”

Jareth’s face reddens and I stifle a smile as I nod to Kace. He walks to the door and cracks it open, whispering to the guards stationed out in the hall. Once the whispers cut off, Kace resumes his position beside me and Jareth’s face drains of all color when he glances over his shoulder, seeing three guards along with Lennox file in behind him.

Tone cold and unyielding, I sentence, “Lieutenant Jareth, you will pay three months ofyour earnings to all your victims.” His mouth pinches and I hold in a laugh at his outraged expression. “In addition to any expenses for those with extensive health related issues, including lost wages as a result of your assaults.”

“I'm not paying shit!”he spits venomously. “This is absurd. I never touched an immortal. And no one gives a fuck about the fae or humans anyway.” His gaze purposefully swiveling to Kace, he sneers, “They’re filthy and pathetic. No better than animals.”

I slam my hands on the desk and Jareth blanches, cowering into his seat as I rise slowly to my feet, lowering my head towards his until we're almost nose to nose. “The only pathetic creature in this kingdom is you. You're weak, narrow minded, and cruel.” I express every ounce of loathing and disdain I have for the cowardly male with a sneer.“You're worth less than the shit Iscrape off my boot. Nothing but a piss stain on this great kingdom.” I grip the desk with all my might, listening to the crack of wood as I crush the edges of the thousands of years-old oak. “I’m tempted to kill you myself.”

And I would without a second thought if he was anybody else.

Watching him as I slowly lower myself back down to my seat, I clasp my hands together with a smirk. “Lastly, you'll receive ten lashes before being imprisoned for a minimum of a fortnight.”

Regaining some of his courage, Jareth’s face turns to scarlet, the vein in his forehead thumping in tune with his rage.

I jerk a nod, a silent command to my guards, and Kace, Griffin, and I watch in silence as they close in on him.

Jareth’s head swivels toward the approaching guards, his glare quickly turning to panic. As Lennox reaches for him, his eyes flash and he suddenly shoots to his feet, raising blue, glittering palms and blasting a shot of air at us… only for his power to be swept up in the cyclone of air that I summoned a split second before he attacked.

Arms extended, chest heaving, and his face dripping with sweat, Jareth fights tooth and nail against the raging winds I conjure while my breathing remains even and steady, almost bored. His power battles pitifully against my own and his hands glow brighter, desperately searching for his last reserves, until he can take no more and the power slips from his grasp. His palms dim and his hands fall to his knees, then his head bows as he gasps for air.Remaining that way until his laboring breaths eventually slow, he then cautiously lifts only his head, eyeing me timidly.

Before he can utter a single word, I whip up a glittering orange palm and a braided rope made of fire streaks towards him, coiling around his neck all the way down to his feet.

Rising to my feet, I stroll towards Jareth until I'm only a finger’s breadth away, glowering down at the pitiful excuse as he wails and sobs. Watching him thrash against his binds that give him not an inch, seeing his skin char beneath the flames, my lips curl into a cruel smile, euphoria filling me as I relish in his suffering.

Unwilling to wait until he screams himself hoarse, I snap my palm shut into a fist and I suck the air from his lungs. His screams cut off mid-shriek and the room silences all but the shuffling of his clothes as he grapples with his binds. Eyes widening, his struggles become more fevered when he gulps for air that will not come. Instantly forgetting his pain, he focuses on the direst of issues: his body’s need for oxygen.

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