Page 73 of Fear the Flames
“Thank the gods,” I mutter. The thought of being vulnerable enough with someone, to let them see every part of me…well, I don’t think anyone could love all the parts there are to me. Especially not someone like Eagor.
“Sorry, what was that?” Eagor inquires.
“I said that’s very odd,” I say above the music. My stomach rolls as I give him a broad smile. It’s getting harder to keep it looking genuine. “It’s a good thing it didn’t work out because now you have Valia.” He spins me in tandem with other couples, but his hand is lower on my back than it was when we first started dancing.
“She and I are a marriage of convenience, not love.” He flashes a pearly white smile. I really hope this song is almost over. “The both of us have other…arrangements. We keep it quiet.”
Gods, the room feels too tight. I feel trapped. I can’t punch him; I can’t walk away. The only thing I can do is smile and finish the dance. Aestilian needs food. I just need him to sign the damn papers. I can’t make an enemy of him minutes before the stroke of his pen will determine the difference between my people surviving or starving. I can suffer for them a bit longer.
“I’m sure that’s convenient for you both.” It’s a miracle I keep the sneer off my face when his thumb begins to stroke the top of my hand.
“There’s a brothel, a very expensive one close to the castle. Sometimes royals and people buried in riches go there for a night to forget who they are and seek something new.” It’s taking everything in me not to vomit on his shoes. “The atmosphere is reason enough to even meet someone there for a private room.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I inquire.
Don’t start shaking; just keep smiling.
Don’t start shaking; just keep smiling.
Don’t start shaking; just keep smiling.
“You’ve lived hidden away for your adult years. I’m unsure of how much experience you’ve had, and I want to make sure you go to the right place to seek it.” The instruments play a shrill note, and he takes the opportunity to press his fingers into the center of my back; hard enough for me to feel them through the thick material of my corset. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Elowen.”
“So I’ve been told.” Anger, disgust, and malice boil in me. “I assure you that you don’t need to fret over my life experience. I’ve had plenty. In fact, do you know what I do to prisoners in Aestilian that make untoward advances on my citizens or me?” My smile keeps him intrigued, and his eyes are filled with eagerness. “I castrate them,” I whisper in his ear.
It’s a lie, but the fear it instills in him is a large dose of satisfaction. Let him believe me to be as vicious as a feral beast with fangs and venom. I have my own tactics for torturing predators, methods I don’t need to disclose to him. Once the alliance papers are signed, his use to me expires. If he makes an unwelcome and nonconsensual advance on me, I’ll make a crimson waterfall flow from his neck and throw his body to a netherwraith. The dance ends, and a set of doors on the opposite side of the ballroom opens.
“Shall we sign the treaty, your grace?” I smile sweetly at him.
“Y-yes!” he stammers while extending his arm to me. Let this be the last time Eagor Dasterian looks at me as anything more than a political ally. I won’t fault him for his eye, but I will fault him on his judgment, execution, and approach.
We glide through the doors and meet Cayden and Valia inside the room. The noise fades behind us. I slip from Eagor the second the doors shut, and my feet carry me toward the large oak desk in the center of the room; it’s the only piece of furniture in here. Cayden and Valia already signed the treaty. After quickly glancing over the words to make sure it’s identical to the copy I read, I sign my name and seal my fate with my own hand. An immeasurable weight that I didn’t even realize the magnitude of rises off my shoulders. My people will have a steady food supply. The treaty includes a clause that states, even if I die, the food chain must exist for five years after my death.
Now, it’s time for phase two—my dragons.
Eagor scribbles his name below mine but hardly has the chance to rest the quill on the desk before Cayden grips his tunic and shoves him into the nearest wall, rattling the frames. Valia shrieks next to me, and even I clutch a hand to my chest in surprise.
“Unhand me!” Eagor exclaims, but Cayden doesn’t let go.
“What did you say to her?” Cayden demands in a voice laced with lethality. It’s dark and cold, just like one would imagine death to sound.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said something to Elowen. She looked uncomfortable. I could read it from across the room. You’re lucky I know her well enough to know she wouldn’t have wanted me to haul your ass off the floor in front of everyone,” Cayden growls.
“Cayden, it’s fine,” I try to reason with him, but he’s too far gone in his anger.
“You’ve lost your mind! Remember your place, Veles!” Eagor shouts.
Cayden lets out a humorless laugh. “If it wasn’t for me, your people would’ve revolted against you. So, Dasterian, I suggestyourememberyourplace.” Valia and Eagor’s shocked eyes flash toward me, both laced with astonishment that Cayden let that information leak in my presence. I join in their astonishment, but I’m also filled with a strong sense of satisfaction. It really feels like we’re a team. “If I see you reach another hand toward her, I will happily cut it off,” Cayden adds.
“Would you restrain your beast?” Valia directs her anger toward me.
I slowly crane my neck in her direction, my eyes laced with just as much venom that Cayden conveys in his tone. “What did you call him?” I take a step toward her, ready to pounce, and smirk when she jolts back, crashing into the wall.
“Angel,” Cayden’s voice drifts my way, stopping me in my tracks. The way she’s cowering by my mere presence is making my blood rush. Cayden shoves Eagor into the wall once more; I can tell by the dull thump and Eagor’s groan. “An insult to Elowen is an insult to me. She’s my ally, and you will watch your tongue unless you’d like to face the consequences. This is your first and only warning. Now apologize.”
I don’t expect him to follow Cayden’s command, but sure enough, he complies as I continue to pin Valia to the wall with my eyes. “My apologies, Queen Elowen. It won’t happen again.”
