Page 58 of The Maleficent Faerie
“We have a few hours until dawn,” Malec says thickly. “We should both get some sleep.”
22
My fist slams into Vandel’s cheek, and his head whips to the side.
I’m restraining myself. He should be grateful for that.
Since dawn, I’ve already dealt out plenty of bruises to Ember and Kyan in the name of “training.” They all know what I’m really doing—condemning them for stealing Aura’s clothes in the bath-house, punishing them for ogling and touching her when she was dancing bare-breasted for them all. I gave Andras a few bruises too—minor ones compared to the others.
I’ve saved Reehan for last. He seems most interested in Aura, and I plan to clarify for him how I feel about that.
Vandel staggers forward, fists up, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth, his red hair wildly tousled. I grab his wrist, dart behind him, and deliver a sound smack to the back of his head. As he falls to his knees, I release his wrist before it cracks. He’s human, and I don’t want to damage him too badly. I need all my men in good fighting condition for the ride to Ru Gallamet.
“Go,” I bark. Vandel hunches his shoulders in defeat and walks over to stand with the others.
“Reehan, you’re next.” I crack my knuckles and flare my wings as the blond Edge-Knight approaches.
His serpent’s tongue flickers out while he paces slowly, eyeing me. “What’s this little ‘training’ session really about, my Lord?”
Ah, so he’s voicing what the others silently realized and accepted. He thinks himself courageous for confronting me.
As the youngest and least experienced, he also tends to be less respectful than the others. His lesson may need to be more—strenuous.
He’s part Fae. He can take it.
“What do you think it’s about, Reehan?” I ask.
“I think you favor the Caennith princess.” His purple eyes hold my gaze.
“I demand you respect her. Which you have failed to do on numerous occasions.” I tense as if I’m about to attack, and he dances backward nervously. Grinning, I expand my wings to their full width, and when his gaze flicks to them, I land a punch to his kidney.
Reehan grunts and retreats with a baleful glare. “There were some interesting noises in the Chapel last night.”
“The captive had a nightmare.”
“Some of us heard—other noises.”
“Did you indeed?” I reply coolly.
“Yes. And some of us are concerned.”
I face him, feet planted apart, fists at my sides. “Why don’t you say it outright? Speak your concerns.”
Reehan glances over at the other knights. Whatever he sees in their faces must embolden him, because he says, “All of us have sacrificed for your goals, Lord King. Some more than others. We would hate to see those sacrifices cheapened or wasted because you wanted to wet your dick in a Caennith hole.”
Out of the corner of my eye I see Ember put a hand to his brow, shaking his head. Ember knows how much I value the thoughts and guidance of those who follow me. But I do require a certain level of respect. After all, I am their king.
What infuriates me more than Reehan’s coarse words is the truth behind them. Aura fell asleep as soon as I saw her safely back to bed, but I prowled my room for the remaining hours until dawn, wracked by guilt and dread.
I am recklessly, helplessly attracted to her mind, body, and spirit. I’ve known her for two days, and already I crave infinite time with her. She is the blend of sweetness and violence I’ve always wanted in a woman. Her pain calls to mine, her prickly reluctance tempts me, and when she yields—goddess, the passion that surges out of her—it’s exhilarating. The thought of losing her to the cursed sleep in just a few days—I can hardly bear it.
But Reehan is right. After everything I’ve asked of my people over the past decades, I can’t let a personal attraction get in the way of what I must do.
“Nothing has changed.” I fold my wings against my back and circle Reehan, while he adjusts his footing and raises his guard. “Today and tomorrow we will ride hard for Ru Gallamet, and when we reach it, I will bind the girl to my Spindle and bleed her. I will work the spell I’ve been crafting for years, and our realm will be saved. You have my word—I will not fail in this.” I let my gaze roam over the others.
Reehan takes advantage of my apparent distraction, as I knew he would. When he leaps in, I block his incoming blow easily and smash a heavy punch to his jaw.
“But with that said,” I continue coolly, grabbing him by the nape of the neck. “No one touches the Princess in the meantime. She is mine.”
