Page 31 of A Kingdom of Destruction

“It seems even the fiercest warrior can be cleaned up,” the Fae King said in greeting. “You look almost presentable, Princess Aven.”

Being brought in front of the king again felt like her worst nightmare had come to life, and only reminding herself that she had already survived the worst made her straighten her spine. She faced the monarch with as much strength as she could muster, even when she felt the blood draining from her face.

“Well? Usually at this point, when I’ve given a compliment, it is acknowledged. A simplethank youwill do the trick.”

Ruthless prick.

“Thank you.” She forced her lips to move, to say the words. She wanted to tell him exactly what he could do with himself and had a feeling, from the light that entered his eyes, the king knew her thoughts regardless.

She schooled her expression into a smirk and might have even caught Roran’s approval. Cillian said nothing at her side. Whatever the two brothers thought of each other, it was impossible to make out with the King such a larger-than-life presence in the middle of them.

“Leave us.” King Donal lifted his hand to send his sons away. “I want a moment alone with the girl.”

“Father—” Roran protested.

Cillian automatically released his hold on her like she’d burned him, anxious to do his father’s bidding.

“I should not have to repeat myself, even for you two. Leavenow.” The last word boomed out in a command accompanied by magic.

Cillian was the first to move, although Roran took his time, slinking from his perch at the side of the throne as though it were his choice to move. Aven felt his absence keenly.

“I want you to understand this, child. You might consider yourself a prisoner here, and yet this is not the case. You are a valuable asset to me.” The King tapped his hands against his thigh before he took a step forward.

She automatically moved in the opposite direction. A blast of cold air rippled off of him, chillier than any winter night. A subzero chill designed to freeze a person from the inside out.

“I appreciate the room you gave me. It’s much better than my first accommodations,” she snapped at him.

“Thattongueof yours. My son warned me it would make you unlikeable.” The King’s brows ferreted downward. “Make sure you use it only when the moment calls for it, otherwise it will get you in trouble,” he warned. “The dungeons were a mistake, and it was corrected the moment he brought it to my attention. The other one rather thought you should be treated as something dangerous. As though a slight thing like you would cause us any problem here.”

A slight thing… Wow.

She wanted to remind him of the problem she’d caused on the battlefield, but his warning about her tongue took hold in her head and she bit down on it.

“What do you want from me?” she asked through numb lips. Goosebumps erupted over her skin.

“There are many things. The most pressing of which… well, I can speak plainly.” King Donal lifted his hand again, and the air grew dense around them, cutting them off from the rest of the revelers. “There. Now no one will overhear us.”

The thought of being cut off from the room filled Aven with a dread too powerful to name. Her throat closed up further and she choked, gasping. “What—” she started.

“You and your kind are a burden to this earth. You are a scourge, a plague, draining valuable resources and multiplying like rabbits until there will be nothing left. Even the Sacred Trees will fall to your greed once more, as they did in the past.” The King dropped any measure of civility and let her see the beast lurking underneath his skin.

This was the real predator they had been fighting against. An ancient, cruel, merciless man who would live for far longer than any human king. Who might rule with an iron fist and determination spanning centuries rather than decades.

The cold he put off took hold of her, first in her bones and then in her blood, and Aven found it impossible to move away.

“Don’t try to run. Plague though you are, I attribute at least a small amount of sense to you if not your family. Prove me wrong, and the consequences will not be to your liking.”

“What do you want from me?” She clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering while this malicious creature stared at her,throughher. Spearing her to the ground with his assessment and his expectations.

“Since we’re speaking frankly, then I’ll cut to the chase. My wants are simple. You and your kind,dead.”

He paused, and only locking her knees kept Aven standing.

“It is the only way, in my opinion, to keep this mistake from happening again. The perfect world is the one in which only faeexist.” He let out a sharp exhalation. “Unfortunately, my son will soon rule. He may look close to your age, but my oldest has had close to a century of training under his belt. Cillian has more than proven his right to rule, and his victory over Grimrose has cemented his position.” King Donal shifted, a small burst of motion after so much stillness. “I am deferring to him. For now.”

Fornow. Until what? Cillian slipped up? Even the fae had to make mistakes. The fact that human weaponry worked against them proved they may be immortal, but they were not infallible.

“As much as I’m loath to say this to you, Cillian believes it will be beneficial to align our two kingdoms in more than a simple peace treaty.” The King stepped toward her again. His presence grew, morphing into something dark and formidable. A wall of pure blackness with no light or hope in sight. “It would be in your best interest to pick at least one of my sons.”

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