Page 59 of A Kingdom of Pleasure and Torment

His words taunt me. “You were born for it.”

“Arcus finds you exotic because of your humanity.” Luthian’s mouth hovers at the rim of his cup. “Don’t sully that with a mention of magic.”

I choose to believe that’s the real reason. Whether or not he granted my mother’s wish to plot his revenge, making Arcus in any way suspicious will sink my own goal.

“Good morning!”

I jolt at the chipper voice. “Firo!”

He strides into the great hall shirtless, smiling at both of us. But before he sits across from me, he drops a casual kiss on Luthian’s forehead.

My bite of pastry tries to claw its way up my throat.

“You were asleep for quite a while,” Firo says, oblivious to the dagger he’s thrust through my heart.

Luthian won’t look up from his plate. “She had quite an ordeal in the maze.”

“So you said.” Firo looks me up and down. “You’re all right now, though?”

I nod with enthusiasm I don’t feel. “The king is going to take me riding later today.”

“From what I understand, he’s quite—”

“Smitten?” I reach for my glass. “So I’ve heard.”

Firo laughs. “You’ve truly taken the court by storm. If I was a betting man, I would wager you’ll have a crown on your head by the end of the summer.”

“That long?” I press a hand to my chest in mock offense, proud of myself for not dissolving into tears. Firo is my friend. My acquaintance, at least. I don’t want him to be my romantic rival.

You flatter yourself. My own mind sneers at me. You really believed that Luthian could be, what? Growing to love you? He’s giving you away to the prince. He only cares about what he’ll gain.

I’ve been so stupid.

My chair makes a terrible scrape when I stand, startling both Luthian and Firo. I pretend not to notice. “I can’t eat. I need to decide what I’ll wear. What time do you think I’ll be summoned?”

“I’m sure you have time—” Luthian begins.

My laugh is somewhat hysterical. “Better to be prepared. I never know when those sylphs will appear.”

“This is why she’s a much better student than I,” Firo says, giving Luthian a slow smile that sears my heart like a flaming blade.

I cannot bear to watch more. I run from the room, feigning eagerness until I’m safely behind my bedroom door.

Only then do I let myself cry.

* * * *

The dragon is easily the height of a house, and as wide. I gape up at it, unable to speak when confronted with such breathtaking size and beauty. Its scales are red, flashing with a gold and green iridescence as the light plays off them. The fearsome beast’s talons are black and deadly sharp, each one as tall as I am. The dragon kneads the ground like a cat and rubs its face into the grass with a distinctly feline purr that shakes and trembles the soil beneath my feet.

“I thought you meant horses, Your Majesty.” I mean it to be teasing and coy, but I can’t help the wonder in my voice.

Arcus grins, pleased with his own largesse.

“If it helps,” a deep, lazy voice booms overhead, “I did eat several horses for lunch.”

It isn’t shocking to me that a dragon can speak, but knowing a fact and experiencing the truth of it are two vastly different concepts. My mouth falls open, and Arcus closes it playfully with a finger beneath my chin. “A ride on horseback is too simple for you and requires too many guards for adequate privacy. I long to have you alone, Cenere. Away from the palace, where too many can overhear.”

“Your Majesty flatters me,” I demure.

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