Page 68 of Vicious Princess
I’m not going to hide behind him like a weak, scared human.
Leti’s nostrils flare as she inhales a greedy gulp of air between us. Her pretty nose wrinkles in disdain. “You’re beautiful for anyrathiwoman. But the stench of fear is pretty disgusting if you ask me.”
My cheeks are flaming, fists trembling.
To Daegel, she says, “Is that what gets you off these days, sweetheart? You shoulda said so instead of spinning a tale of how we’re too different to make it work.”
So an ex-girlfriend.
“Interesting taste in women you have,” I murmur under my breath.
Of course, the damn fae hears me. Daegel steps in front of me right as Leti’s gaze snaps back to me.
“Watch your tongue,yrathi,” she says, deadly calm. “Or you might find yourself hanging on that wall behind you in the next round.”
When she notices the bow on my shoulder, her eyes narrow. “Is that…a bow?” She looks at Daegel again. “Is your little human pet an archer?”
I step to the side again. “A Phantom Ranger.”
Her perfectly manicured eyebrows rise all the way to her hairline. “You don’t say.” Her smile turns vicious when she glances at Daegel. “I see you found yourself a mini-me as a replacement.”
I scoff. “You wish. I’m not the one hiding in an underground gambling parlor because I have nowhere else where to put my talents.”
She laughs, the sound like music dancing in the air. “Talents, you say? Why don’t you show me those talents of yours inAni-ki-ga, huh?”
Before I think better of it, I open my mouth to agree. Thankfully, Daegel cuts in with a harsh “absolutely not.” Swiftly, he turns to me.
I yelp from surprise when he lifts me in his arms and roughly throws me over his shoulder. “Hey!”
“That’s enough,” he says, and we’re charging through the crowd, away from Leti.
“Tell your father I say hi,” she calls after us, “and that he can summon me anytime. Our ties are still strong, even if you and I are over.”
Once we emerge into the dark alley, Daegel sets me down on my feet.
“What the fuck?” I straighten my uniform.
Daegel’s shoulders are tense. He runs his hand through his hair, jaw set tight. And then he walks away.
“Hey! Where are we going?” I try to catch up with Daegel, who marches through the streets of Jaakii with determination, like he’s trying to get away from me as fast as he can. “Daegel! You’re faster than me, for fuck’s sake! You brought me here with you, so you better take me back to the academy without getting me in trouble!”
He halts and whirls on his heel so suddenly, I walk right into his hard chest. His fingers wrap around my arms tightly and push me an inch away.
I look up at him with a frown. “Are you angry at me?”
“Fuck yeah, I’m angry at you. Furious, actually.”
With a scoff, I step away from him and push his hands away from me. “Excuse me? Why on earth are you furious withme?”
“Because you talk a big game aboutnotbeing a princess. Yet you sure as fuck act like one.”
I’m so shocked by his words, my jaw drops. I recover quickly, throwing my arms up. “What does that mean?”
Daegel’s nostrils flare, and he steps closer to me. We’re face-to-face. I want to step away, since I’m overwhelmed by his presence and his delicious scent. Instead, I lift my chin and hold my stance.
If he can be angry, so can I.
His chest rises with a deep inhale and then drops when he sighs. “Why on earth would you be so reckless with Leti? You were about to agree to anAni-ki-ga!”
