Page 29 of The Curse of a Kingdom
“Either way, him putting me here is more to ensure I don’t do something reckless,” Nava supplied with a smile. It wasn’t that she had any reasons not to trust this girl, other than the fact that the king had kidnapped Arkimedes and she was under his allegiance.
“For that, he could have assigned you to any room with multiple guards. Instead, he put you right next to him.” Leela worked on her hair with nimble fingers. Her wide blue eyes met Nava’s through the reflection, and it was easy to see that this faerie was a hopeless romantic. Leela wasn’t that far off, since in this case Arkimedes and she were soulmates, in love, and fully bonded.
“If it makes you happy to think this, then go for it.”
“It does, my lady. It has been awfully dull in this castle for many years, ever since the queen—” Leela let her words fade and lowered her gaze back down to Nava’s hair.
“Ever since the queen what?”
As she shook her head, her long locks of fiery red hair whipped across her face. “I can’t say any more, my lady.”
“Please call me Nava. I’m not anyone’s lady.” Except she was a prince’s soulmate, however weird that was to grasp. Cameron would have a major freakout when he learned this. He had always been so curious about the royals and their kingdoms.
“Of course, miss. However, I think you’re someone’s lady. Aren’t you going to be married to Mr. Black?”
Right.“That’s what I keep hearing.” Lies to appease Arkimedes and buy them time to form a plan she was struggling to come up with.
“How exhilarating! To have these two men fight for you! I mean, we both know who will win. Our prince is one of considerable power, and I haven’t sensed the Crow’s power yet since he is wearing the jewel, but he is very handsome.”
Was Devon Black handsome? She guessed he could be considered a more typical handsome man if you took away the evil veil that covered him. With his height, muscular build, and sharp cheekbones. It was hard to see him as anything other than a bully who’d tortured her and her friends. Someone who’d tried to kidnap a whole village to take them back to the crown and enslave them.
However, the perk . . . or downfall of having a soulmate was the lack of attraction to anyone other than the person the gods bound you to.
“I guess I never thought about it.” Nava shrugged, inspecting the intricate braids around her scalp that met into a low bun behind her neck.
“But the prince, now he has the beauty of our royals. The women of this kingdom have been swooning over him ever since he came back.” Leela finished pinning the bun back. “Wouldn’t you say he is the most handsome?” This girl could give Nava a run for her money for fitting so many words in one conversation. Leela was an utter gossip and a breath of fresh air in this prison.
Nava felt her cheeks warm as her mind supplied images too heated for someone who appeared as young as the fae behind her. “I agree. He is handsome—and seems tense.”
She had known Arkimedes from a soul-sharing level for a year. He was different now, like his soul was weighed down by things he didn't have a week ago when they were back home together.
“He is also wicked,” Leela added with a delighted expression.
“How so? Has he done something bad since he’s been here?”
“Not quite.” The fae placed a pin in Nava’s hair, a large white pearl with a hanging charm. “But it is known that in the Society of Crows, they called him the Reaper.”
“The Reaper?” Nava repeated, a wave of annoyance running through her. Why was it that everyone knew more about Arkimedes’s past than she did?
“I have no idea why, but it sounds dark and wicked, doesn’t it?” By the large smile on the fae’s face, they had a different understanding of those words.
First thing she would inquire about next time she crossed paths with either of the Crows. “Where has he been going during the day? I half expected Devon and I would see more of him as his guests.” Nava's casual tone could have fooled anyone. She tucked a strand of wavy hair behind her ear.
“I guess it won’t hurt if I say anything. No one has told me to keep quiet.” Leela exhaled, lowering her attention to the ground as her delicate eyebrows twisted. “There have been rumors of attacks in the forest. We dispatched guards during the week.”
“He has to go?” Maybe seeing Ari would jolt some memories back.
“His Royal Highness likes to go on the hunt with the guards. It’s said around the halls that hunting helps him gain power—when he takes others, it happens with His Majesty the king as well. They are so alike. It’s like the king was reborn in his son, and of course, none of the mixed blood is hindering his powers. The queen couldn’t take our heir away, after all.”
Mental note, say nothing to this girl that could paint the queen in a positive light. “So it’s only the royals who have that power? I notice only them and the guards have wings as well. Are most of the fae asked to put their wings away?”
“Put the wings away, how could someone do such a thing? Fae that have been gifted by the gods with wings should proudly walk amongst us with them on display.” Leela’s brows almost hit the edge of her hair.
Why indeed? Arkimedes had always chosen to do so. Maybe it was an insult? Nava had a lot of learning to do.
“I—I don’t know. I haven’t met many of your kind. I grew up in the Iron City, and there aren't many fae there.”
Leela relaxed a fraction and nodded. “Iron is toxic to us.” She took a deep breath and continued in a lighter tone. “Not all fae have wings, Dark Ones do. So the royals and the guards possess them, but not me, for example.”
