Page 19 of The Illuminated
“Don’t even finish that sentence,” I begged.
Santana elbowed her lightly, and Amaya shrugged.
“But we know who you really are.”
Chapter7
Iwas picked up outside my chambers by Daelon and Simon, dressed in their elegant black guard uniforms, and Lucius, donning his usual black and gold royal garb and kingly crown. My heart skipped a beat at all three men’s wide-eyed, jaw-dropping reactions. Daelon went pale, and Lucius broke out into a triumphant grin.
Lucius offered me his arm. Simon just cleared his throat and quickly averted his gaze, taking up his flanking position with Daelon as we began to walk down the hall.
“Smile, Áine,” Lucius said low to my ear, which only made me want to frown. “These witches will soon be your loyal subjects, and now they’ll know it. Stop pretending the idea revolts you. I’ve already seen the way you wear power. You’ve never looked more alive.”
No one moved, and no one spoke as Lucius and I entered the throne room, which had been transformed into its daytime lounge layout. Chairs and couches sat in arrangements all around, with everyone dressed up in bright, glamourous daytime attire. Every day was a party in the castle, apparently. I just rarely attended. But I doubted my self-isolation would be tolerated now.
The sound of knees hitting the floor broke through the deafening silence, everyone bowing their heads in unison for Lucius.
For me.
Forus.
I could feel Daelon behind me without having to look, flanking us with Simon and more guards we picked up along the way. The collective shock and awe in the room’s auras sent a ripple of intensity through the energetic atmosphere.
Lucius’s hand flexed as it rested low on my back.You do look perfect, finally. Exactly as I designed.
I ignored him, the implication of his words making my power flicker with annoyance. Lucius didn’t want an equal. He wanted a puppet. He wanted me to be a gift forhimrather than a gift to the world.
We followed a natural clearing down the center of the room toward the tall black throne with golden carvings.
“When you accept the coronation, you’ll get your own,” Lucius said as he sank down into a seat and left me to the side. “I guess you could sit on my lap, for now.”
I made a face. “Unlikely.”
But he just smirked, and I inhaled sharply as his magick pulled me closer to him. I stumbled over my feet, clutching the tall arm of the throne as I glared.
“Wipe that look off of your face and play your part. I don’t have a problem humbling you in front of my subjects. Again,” he whispered harshly.
And I wanted to scream. Again.
The guards lined up all around us, and with a clap everyone resumed their conversations and games as if Lucius had hit the unpause button on his kingly remote.
A group in the far corner began to throw fiery darts at a dartboard on an easel. But most of the nobles still stared our way, speaking in low voices. I already knew the topic of the slew of hushed whispers flying all around.
As Lucius’s favorites made their way to us, Christine with her sour face included, I suffered the sinking realization that I’d taken her place since my first time in this room. She’d been hanging all over him like a lapdog, unfazed by the way he’d pushed her aside with his magick just as hard as he’d pulled her in.
I felt Daelon close to me, but I didn’t dare turn my head and meet his eyes. I didn’t want to know what he thought of me right now, in this dress, or about Lucius’s remarks. I sensed him pressing at the corners of my mind like a telepathic telephone ring.
I didn’t pick up.
Christine did a curtsy before us, her blond curls swaying forward. She smiled, but her eyes were dark and beady like a crow’s. “My King,” she said, her voice sultry. Her baby blue dress plunged past her breasts and hugged the curves of her hips.
I cast a glance toward Lucius and quickly looked away, his eyes holding hers in a way that seemed more sexual than a pornographic act itself.
“You look stunning, Áine,” she offered, but the words didn’t line up with her wild red aura. It was spitting like a wildfire, uncontrollable rage and jealousy lapping beneath the surface of her energy.
“Thank you,” I said. I put on my bestI am not your enemy and want nothing to do with the Kinglook, which clearly wasn’t working. I tried to take a step away, but with a flick of the wrist Lucius pulled me back.
Seriously?I forced into his mind as I grit my teeth and clutched the arm of the throne once more.
