Page 111 of The Forbidden Dragon King
I dance to the side, almost dropping the tray.
Daire laughs, light and musical.
The cat fluffs up her tail and slinks out of the open door.
I lean down and throw the tray onto the floor harderthan I’m meaning to and the chestnuts roll off into the straw. “You told the fucking cat to do that.”
Daire presses himself against the back wall, putting as much space between himself and me as possible. He may be a bandit and not a trained solider but he’s not a fool; he knows when he’s in danger.
I give a cruel smile, enjoying his fear. “I brought your meal.”
Daire’s gaze darts down to the tray. “Nay, you brought meyourmeal. Treats. I’m fed only porridge, when I’m locked down here.”
My smile fades. “Well, if you don’t want it…”
I bend to pick up the tray, but Daire’s hunger overtakes his fear, and he darts to throw himself onto the floor and drag the meal away from me.
He stuffs a chunk of cheese, alongside a handful of dates, into his mouth.
“Too late,” he mumbles around his mouthful.
“Don’t choke. Remember to chew.”
Daire munches with a happy sigh, finally swallowing. “What do you want? Why have I earned this feast, boss?”
I wince at everyboss.
How is Daire able to mock me so thoroughly, while pretending to be respectable?
I lean against the wall, watching the Shadow Fae as he carefully and with hyperfocus collects every chestnut like they’re as precious as gems.
I look away.
Daire is thinner than he was a month ago.
I won’t have the guards starve my pet.
I should have been watching what happened in these dungeons more closely, but it has been difficult enough to protect myself, the featherglass, and the Guilds from court politics that are much more complicated than the wars I have been fighting.
Yet if Daire is one of the triad of Golden fated Alphas, then he is my responsibility too, even if he’s a psychopathic one.
Can he learn to serve in the Draca Kingdom? To acknowledge me as his king?
I steady my breathing and then straighten my shoulders.
“Kneel,” I command.
Daire pauses in his squirrel like hoarding of nuts. Then he sighs, carefully placing the nuts back on the tray, which he hauls to the far corner of the cell like he’s more scared of the food being spoiled or taken away than anything else.
He quirks his brow at me. “Really?”
I stare at him, impassively. “Didn’t you promise to obey?”
Daire’s expression becomes icy, but he pulls himself up onto his knees. “Do you thinkobedienceis the hardest thing that I’ve endured?”
Doesn’t he understand that I’ve played this game in my own life? To Maximinus, Tarquin, Caligo and every other academy instructor?
I trust the fae’s obedience less than his rebellion, just like anyone with any sense shouldn’t trustmine.
