Page 154 of The Princesses of Ruin
Fynren palace guards ready their weapons against me. I land close enough to be heard but far enough to be safe. I remove my new mask, one Alyse had forged with my artificer’s goggles so I could keep my vision sharp and my face safe from the biting wind.
A familiar voice calls my name as a guard steps forward. He removes his helmet to reveal a broad, sun-kissed grin.
“Hemsworth?”
“It is, indeed, sir—or should I say, my lord? My prince? What is the situation here?”
He picks up his pace, breaking away from the other guards. I turn and walk with him.
“It’s none of those. Just Kazimir,” I say.
He hums. “And why in the blazes are there dragons about, and why was it you were flying with them?”
I glance up at the beasts, who keep tight circles in the air near me. I’m not sure what to tell him, to tell anyone.
We made a deal with the dragon and now he’s going to court my daughter…
Well, he’s not going towinmy daughter’s hand, so there’s no point in divulging too much.
“They helped with the war effort, and we promised them safety from being hunted for all time,” I say, raising my arm and showing him the lightning mark on my wrist.
“You lot aligned withdragons!Not one, but two!”
“Yes, well, it was mostly Alyse doing the negotiating. I tried to kill the blue one,” I say.
“Is that was all this is?” he asks, gesturing to my face.
The sting of my deformity tries to worm inside me deeper. It tries to make me reach for my mask, cover my face, hide and not let myself be hurt any further.
Instead, I gasp overly loud. “What? Is there something on my face?”
His eyes go wide. “I…you’re scarred, my lord.”
“Scarred? Dear me! Am I hideous?”
“What? No, I…I don’t know.”
He’s so flustered. The reaction is exactly what I wanted, and it fuels my impish need to keep going. I put my hand to my forehead and make a pained face.
“How will sweet, beautiful Alyse ever look upon me again?”
His mouth hangs agape and he stutters, his eyes so full of shock and discomfort I can’t take it anymore.
Maybe just a little more.
“Do you think she’ll leave me for someone more handsome, like you?”
His eyes get even wider somehow, and a flurry of words tumble out of his mouth, promises that he’d never, that she’d never, that she wasn’t like that.
I sense Alyse’s amusement moving through me, and I can almost hear her laugh. And that makes it worth it. Fighting through thepain, the humiliation, and the fear of rejection is easy because I know she loves me, all my scars included. Her love is all I need.
“It was a tease,” I say and pat his shoulder affectionately. “Yes, it’s from the fight with the dragon.”
He sighs deeply. “Gods, you know you’re a right cunt when you’re not a brooding shadow.”
“You thinkIbrood, just wait until you meet the dragons.”
His face lights up with joy. “Do I get to meet the dragons?”
