Page 45 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“It’s very peaceful when everyone’s dead.” My eyes flash. “No joy, love,chaosor other messy emotions. How peaceful is it now in my sacred forest? How many dead fae did it take?”
Aurelius flinches.
“Beat him,” Maximinus says, coolly.
War punches me in the back, but I’ve been struck by her in battle, and I know that she’s holding back. She doesn’t even break another rib.
I glance at the altar. “Erecting that here is a sacrilege.”
“Only if we’re Shadow Fae.” Maximinus sniffs. “You’re the one worshiping nature and the Shadow Devils, rather than the Shadow Gods as you should be.”
“We worship both.”
“You’re a savage.”
I bare my teeth. “Go to hell and help your ma make bitch stew.”
“What…? What does the Unseelie brat mean?” Maximinus splutters. “Is he insulting me?”
“I believe so.” Aurelius studies me, unsettlingly.
Inside, I’m howling with primal rage and despair.
Outside, I boldly meet the King’s cold gaze.
Aurelius swaggers closer to me.
He leans forward, tipping up my chin. “Aren’t you going to kneel before your conqueror?”
“Go fuck yourself in the arse.”
His lips twitch like he’s suppressing a smile. “Well, that sounds hard to do.”
I want to stab him between the eyes.
War growls, knocking the back of my knees out from underneath me. With my hands being manacled, I can barely catch myself. My face smashes into the leafy ground.
I can’t bite back the groan in time.
When I glance up, I think that I notice Aurelius glaring at War, before his expression smooths out again.
Maximinus laughs. “The fallen king looks better like that with dirt on his face and twigs in his hair. I hope that he’s already learning his place. But there is one thing wrong with this picture.”
Maximinus stalks toward me, grabbing the crown off my head.
Startled, I cry, “Nay, that’s mine.”
Now, that is sacrilege.
I’m shaking.
Furious.
If I still had my magic, it would have blasted Maximinus apart for touching the symbol of my kingship and ripping it away from me so casually.
Maximinus gives a cruel smile, hurling my beautiful crown like it’s trash onto the altar. “Don’t worry. Your head, admittedly parted from your shoulders, will soon be joining it. But you shouldn’t get the honor of dying, while wearing that crown. You’re nothing but a criminal rebel to King Aurelius. You were a child when this kingdom was first conquered. You’ve never had a right to that crown.”
“I bled more times than you have murdered for this crown,” I hiss. “And we both know that’s a lot.”
