Page 28 of Wicked Prince of Shadows
He shrugged and hopped up to sit on the planter nearest me. “Because I ate it.”
A smile broke over my face. Of all the things I had expected, this wasn’t it. “I’m glad it didn’t go to waste. Was it good?”
He shrugged. “It didn’t try to bite me back.”
I frowned slightly at this, then set my hands on my waist. “Is that…a typical thing here?”
He sighed as he looked at me, his lips pressing in a tight line. “Sabine. Everything can hurt you here.”
I almost choked at the matter-of-fact way he said it. “Oh? Even you?”
His face lit up again, and he shrugged. “Maybe.”
As I walked to the next one, he followed me. “It’s been a long time since anyone new has come. Do you like it here? I like you being here now.”
He didn’t even stop to let me answer as he followed me. The kid was cute. I’d give him that. Cute in a creepy sort of way. He didn’t have wings though, but he did have small half-hiddenprotrusions on his head that might be horns. His features were a little narrower than the others I had seen here as well.
“Did you see the deathbeaks? They attack almost every day. When I’m done growing, I want to tame one. Would you like to tame one? Do you know how?"
"You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?" I couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. It was a welcome change.
"I like asking questions. It's how I learn things." Osric hopped down and skipped ahead of me, turning to walk backward so he could keep his eyes on me. "No one tells me anything, so I have to ask. Or spy. I'm good at spying."
"I bet you are." I knelt to examine another planter, this one with twisted vines. We were now on the level above the planter with the bulbous buds. It seemed like all of the planters that had received blood were now growing far faster, but bleeding into every single one of the planters didn’t seem to be a good option.
“Did you see how much bigger this one is getting?” He sat on the edge of the marble tier and let his legs dangle. His heels kicked back against the marble wall in a steady rhythm. “It’s grown since I got here. Do you know what kind of plant it is?”
“What are you doing out here?” The Hollow King’s voice echoed off the marble.
My attention snapped up in time to see him on the staircase, hands braced against his broad belt.
Osric twisted to glance back at him, then shrugged dramatically. “I’m not doing anything. She’s doing the work. I’m helping. You can sit with us if you want. She’s really good at listening.”
The Hollow King’s gaze flicked from me to Osric, sharp as a blade. “She has things to do. Do not bother her.”
“She didn’t say I’m a bother. Am I a bother?” Osric looked at me, his brow furrowing.
I shook my head and walked over to him. Lifting my chin, I smoothed my skirt down and sat on the edge. My feet dangled just above the bulbous buds. “No, Osric, you aren’t a bother.” The marble warmed the backs of my thighs and eased some of the ache. "You might as well ask your question now, before His Royal Highness here drags me back to toil.”
Osric grinned. “Do you know how many eggs a deathbeak lays?”
I started to laugh when white-hot pain lanced through my right thigh.
CHAPTER NINE
Asharp scream tore out of my mouth before I even realized what was happening. Horrifying pain ripped through my thigh as sparks flew across my vision. My hands shot out, scrabbling at the marble edge. What in the hells was that?!
The large bud from the plant below was biting into my thigh, its long grey-black stem straining to reach me. The plant! It tugged me forward and bit down harder.
Osric grabbed my arm, tugging on me. “Sabine!”
My stomach lurched. I kicked out with my free leg, heel scraping against stone. Hot blood poured down the inside of my leg and onto the floor and the back wall, dark against the ashen marble. Vaguely I knew I couldn’t twist or else the teeth would tear more, but I couldn’t hold still. I had to get it off. I punched at the bud as the pain seared up and down my consciousness.
A dark line lashed out in front of me and against the grey stem. The bud’s head loosened, the teeth still embedded in my flesh but no longer gripping as tight. Black ichor splattered the stone, hissing faintly, and a foul rotting scent filled the air.
My vision tunneled at the edges, tears rolling hot and unwanted down my cheeks as my nostrils burned at the scent.
A large hand grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. I vaguely realized I was against the Hollow King’s chest as he held me fast, then leaned forward. “Steady,” he said against my ear. “Breathe deeply. Don’t move.” He then reached down in front of me. “This will hurt, I’m afraid.”
