Page 33 of A Kingdom of Death & Darkness
“Wow,” I say, crossing my arms. “Don’t hurt yourself there,Your Majesty.”
Carver chuckles warmly, and the sound of it soothes across the building tension in my chest ever so lightly.
“What a bunch of idiots,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ll bow before you, lover. I’ll drop to my knees right now. Let me, and I’ll beg for you.”
Christian narrows his eyes on Carver. “And who the fuck are you?”
My eyes flick to Rorrick where he stands tense. Apparently, he didn’t pass on that part of the message. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath as Carver strolls forward as casually as if this is a picnic. He grins, and I know we’re in trouble.
He flicks Christian on the tip of the nose, his wings pulling in tight to his back as if he’s prepared for a fight. Christian snarls at him, but it doesn’t stop Carver from winking at me before saying, “Have some respect, little prince. I’m her mate.Obviously.”
The tension in the room explodes before my eyes can follow the movements. One minute, Carver is goading Christian. The next, they’re rolling in a heap of claws and wings on the floor, Christian trying his damnedest to gut Carver, and Carver laughing at him. That pisses off Christian more.
“Enough!” Thorn snarls, reaching down to drag Carver away from Christian. With a bloody smile, he backs away from the Vampire Prince. “If this is what you came for, you can leave.”
Christian straightens his shirt and curls up his lip at Carver, but he does back off. Surprisingly. His eyes narrow on me. “I’d like a word with you.” He glares at the fae men who surround him one by one. “Alone.”
“Absolutely not—” Thorn starts to say, but I cut him off.
“It’s okay,” I say to Thorn, taking his big hand in mine. “He won’t hurt me.”
Kind eyes search my features, and he turns to me like we can shut out the entire kingdom, and it would be just us two.
“I’m not worried about him hurting you,” Thorn grumbles and then his voice drops with clearly too much raw honestyweighing him down. “Not physically.” A heavy exhale parts his lips as he whispers, “I’m worried about him stealing you away.”
From the corner of my eye, Christian tenses.
“I’m not a fool,” he says with as much calmness as I’ve ever heard from him, his expression tight. “Even I can see she’s healthier here.” His shoulders tense further. “Safer.”
Thorn considers him from over his shoulder for a moment before gesturing toward the kitchens. “If I hear even a bit of annoyance from her lips through that door, I’ll come in there and gut you myself.”
Christian’s lips quirk up. “I’d like to see you try.”
“Stop it,” I growl. My instinct is to reach out to Christian and drag him into the kitchen. I don’t though. I don’t feel like I can touch him. And more importantly, I don’t think I can handle it.
It’s too much, too fast, and though I’d like nothing more than to wrap my arms around him, he’s as cold as I remember.
“Lead the way, pretty pet,” Christian purrs to me from behind, and the urge to wrap my arms around him is replaced with the urge to strangle him.
Fucking bastard.
TWENTY-ONE
Crymson
There’sa possessiveness in the way that he looks at me once we’re alone in the kitchen. The Prince lingers by the door, the span of the enormous room lying between us. I lower my hands to the smooth wooden countertop to keep my nerves at bay. An enormous bouquet of roses is at the center with the thorns still sharply intact.
An extended pause crawls in as we study one another. So much time has passed. It feels like a dream to see him again.
Or a nightmare.
“Why won’t you come near me?” he finally taunts.
“I’m here with you right now. I don’t know what you mean.”
His slow prowling steps circle the counter ever so slowly, drawing out every slamming beat of my heart. Until he stops when he’s just behind me. The hairs on the back of my arms lift one by one as I wait for him to make whatever move it is he’s plotting. I feel like a submissive pet waiting to be scorned.
And I’m not that girl anymore.
