Page 35 of King of Flames and Shadows

I feel my lips curl into a sneer, the anger needing somewhere, someone, to be unleashed upon.

“What are you doing here?” I bite out, voice low and venomous. “You aren’t permitted to leave your chambers.”

She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t shrink away, but she does lift her gaze slowly, deliberately, to meet mine. Her eyes—clear, steady, but with a veil over them. Something contrived, something … false.

“I asked that I might take a turn about the castle. I was walking, Your Majesty,” she says, her voice even and calm. Too calm. “I thought I might—”

“Spare me your excuses,” I snap, cutting her off. “I know your deceit too well, girl. I should have you sentenced to further labors for this.”

A flicker of something passes over her face. Anger, maybe. Frustration. But she smooths it away so quickly, it’s gone before I can be sure.

“Is that what’s bothering you?” she murmurs, tilting her head slightly, like she’s genuinely curious. “That I’m not still on my knees before a bowl of rice in your court?”

My fingers twitch at my sides. She has no idea what I’m dealing with right now, no idea how much I’d relish an outlet for this anger. But striking her would be too easy. Too … unsatisfying.

“I could have you dragged back there,” I say softly, letting the words drip like poison. “And you’d finish the task, no matter how long it took. A day, a week … months, if need be.”

To my surprise, she lowers her gaze again, that same placid mask sliding into place.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she whispers. “I’m sure you could.”

Something about her compliance sets my teeth on edge. It’s not real. I can feel it, simmering beneath the surface.

“What’s wrong, Calliope?” I ask, voice dropping to a dangerous murmur. “Where’s that fire of yours? The one that had you spitting at me in defiance not two days ago?”

She swallows hard. I watch her throat as it bobs, her silence louder even than her screams were as she kicked and scratched at me.

“I’m … sorry, My King,” she says finally, softly. “Apologies for whatever dissatisfies you.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I snarl, stepping closer, looming over her. “You’re not broken. You’re pretending.Why?”

Her shoulders tighten, her hands clench at her sides. I expect her to lash out, to retort with some biting, reckless remark. But she doesn’t.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” she murmurs, her voice small, subdued. “If you want me to beg, I will. If you want me to scream, I will. But none of that changes anything, does it?”

For a heartbeat, I just stare at her, at the way she stands there—too still, too compliant. I can’t see through her. It’s infuriating. Aggravating.

“Stop playing games with me,” I hiss. “If you think for one second that I’m going to be swayed by some pathetic show of submission, you’re wrong. You’re mine. And you will obey me. Always.”

She blinks slowly, then nods, a stiff, unnatural motion. The act is so transparent, it’s almost laughable.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” she says softly, like she’s speaking to a child. “After all, I’ve seen how you behave when you become so enraged.”

The fury inside me roars, its own loud and tempestuous dragon.

This is no victory. This is mockery. She’s taunting me, showing me just how little control I truly have. Even now, even beaten down, she dares to undermine me.

I lean close to her, looking imperiously down upon her. Our faces are closer than they’ve ever been, and her warm, fluttering breath breaks against my face.

“You do not know the meaning of the word,” I promise with quiet danger in each syllable.

I cannot speak any more. If I say a single word more, I will howl, I think, surely—I’ll come undone with rage.

Without another word, I storm past her, away, away, as far from the girl as I can possibly get.

Chapter 14 - Calliope

The castle is restless that night.

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