Page 5 of Of War and Realms

Hurried footsteps sound just outside the door, and I tense, my back straightening to its full height. My heart kicks my chest walls, telling me it’s time to beg the numbness to take us before the pain starts. When did the air get so thick? I can barely take a breath. I need to calm myself…showing weakness to him will just make it worse.

How the fuck can I calm down when swallowing feels like glue trudging its way down my throat? I’m going to choke from my own panic before he even touches me. I huff a breath into the deadly silence. Imagine that…Andras would be so angry. I wish I was so lucky. Anything has to be better than this; than him.

More footsteps. I bite my cheek so hard I taste blood, savoring the thick liquid that coats my mouth, giving me something else to focus on. I can’t do this today—why can he not leave me alone for just one fucking day? Why is he so obsessed with hurting me? He knows I will not give him anything he’s asked for! I’ve made that very clear over the years. I wish he’d just stop trying and leave me down here to rot.

I blink into the darkness, feeling the shapes of nothing form together and drift away. Always alone.

Nell! I jolt, my surroundings hitting every sense at once. I’m not in the prison…I’m in Anloria. I’m in a council meeting. My bonds are sitting right next to me. Emrys is leaning over the table, blocking the others’ view from me. Concern is etched deeply into his beautiful face; his eyes lock on mine, helping me out of whatever that just was.

He squeezes my hand, and I look to my lap, seeing it trembling in his grasp. I don’t feel it. Get yourself together, Nell. We don’t have time for this.

I glance at my bond, giving him the best smile I can manage. I’m okay. Thank you for pulling me out. He nods, squeezing my hand once more before sitting back, allowing me to see everyone yelling at each other. How the fuck did I miss this?

“I will not listen to more excuses and half-truths, Casmir,” Viktor mutters through clenched teeth.

“You have to underst—”

“No!” Geneva’s piercing voice starts to un-thread my resolve. “I think we’re all in agreement that we will not vote on any of this.”

“This is a serious matter!” I can feel his frustration; he doesn’t quite know how to handle this.

“We’re done here,” Conan states loudly, standing to leave. Everyone except for Lila stands with him, making their way to the door. Casmir runs a hand through his hair, resting his arm on the side of the chair. His emotions hit me hard. He’s not even angry with them; he’s just…sad. He feels like a failure, and that insecurity is so heavy it's like a dagger slicing through the hollow of my chest.

No. Fuck this. I do not care if he doesn’t want them to know.

I let Conan reach the door before calling to my essence, wrapping it around each fae, pulling them back to their seats before shoving them down roughly. I create restraints that hold their hands and legs to the chairs, not allowing them to go anywhere. Voices bellow through the space, fighting to be heard over all the others.

“What is this?”

“How are you doing this, Casmir?”

“What is going on? Release us!”

I cannot deal with this any longer. I let it go on for far too long.

“Enough!” My voice is full of power and command. I stand, placing my palms onto the cool surface of the table, leaning forward to stare at the wide-eyed council members. The only one I didn’t restrain is Lila, though she has the sense to not move from her seat. Good girl.

“You are all foolish; bickering like children whose magic hasn’t awakened yet. I may have let your ignorance and self-serving thoughts go…but then you disrespected your prince.” I saunter around the table, meeting the eyes of each council member. I’m deathly calm. “Which means you disrespected me.” I laugh, the sound slithering over every surface. When I’m behind Conan, I bend, making sure my words go through his ears first. Placing my hands on his tense shoulders, I say, “Because, you see, he’s mine. And I don’t take kindly to those who threaten what’s mine.”

“Nob—nobody threatened him,” Conan stammers, and I roll my eyes. So fucking weak.

“No?” I sing sweetly and am interrupted before I can go on.

“Please! I saw you at the party; you’re nothing but the prince’s whore!” the white-haired male bellows out, and I freeze, attempting to rein my anger in enough that I don’t kill him.

A coughed laugh cuts through the thick, tense air and my gaze finds Emrys, who’s staring at me with carnal hunger. I look to Casmir and he shrugs, sitting back and folding his arms, as if to say, "show them who you are, princess."

Gladly.

I reach into Viktor’s head, my stomach turning at the action. I learned how to control this part of my magic so that I wouldn’t use it accidentally. Being inside others, forcing them to do my bidding, sickens me. It’s not a power anyone should have.

But I do…and right now, I want nothing more than to make each of them regret hurting my bond.

Viktor grunts when he’s forced to stand and walk around the table to me. Gasps ring around the room, though no one speaks. The male struggles to control his limbs. Unsuccessfully. I halt him in front of me, a smile cresting my lips at the fear in his wide eyes. He looses a breath when he involuntarily drops to his knees, a crack from the impact blessing my ears.

“W-w-what are you?” he stutters, trembling heavily below me. I chuckle. Not so confident now, I see.

I reach to grab a strand of his bright hair, twirling it around my fingers absently. “You’re right, Viktor. I am Casmir’s whore. And Emrys’s, if you were wondering.” He swallows loudly, looking to my males for help before watching me again, tracking every movement I make.

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