Page 40 of Shadow Kissed (Marked by Blood 1)

He looked me up and down, his expression darkening when he saw the blood and torn fabric dangling from my dress. “Who did this to you?”

I pointed at the half-open door. Sebastian’s eyes widened, revealing the white around his blue irises. His veins strained from his muscles, darkening blue under his skin.

“You!” he barked, kicking the door until it splintered, cracking down the center.

“You’re interrupting us, Sebastian” was all the man said, with a small smile. I shouldn’t have been surprised they knew each other.

“Hamza.” Warning guided his tone as he took a threatening step closer to him. “I should kill you.”

“Careful, Sebastian. You may be one of the king’s favorites, but I’m at his side every day. I can make things happen, even to you and your friends.”

Sebastian’s fist tightened, turning his knuckles white. “Is that a threat?”

Hamza arched a perfectly groomed eyebrow. “Does the king know you’re hiding a sorceress?”

“I’m not hiding anyone. It doesn’t matter anyway. She’s my business.”

“We both know Sargon wouldn’t see it that way.”

I stood a step behind Sebastian, not moving my gaze from Hamza, observing every calculated move as he rounded the table between us with precision. His focus was all on Sebastian now. I wanted to warn him of Hamza’s emotions or lack thereof, but Sebastian pushed me back as I tried to step to his side. “I could just rip out your heart.”

“I have a century on you, boy,” Hamza spat. “Besides, even if you could kill me, you would be discovered, and your life would be over. Is it worth it over a sorceress?”

He let out a low growl, his arms tensing, bulging the muscles under his rolled-up sleeves.

“Are you going to tell him?”

“How you stole my property?”

“She’s not your property!”

“Was she already yours? I thought the great Sebastian doesn’t keep mortals enslaved. That it is beneath him.”

I could feel the anger rolling off Sebastian. It was enough to set my adrenaline into overdrive.

Hamza spoke again, taunting in his voice. “Unless she’s your wife or property, then you have no hold over her. She’s mine. I paid a lot of stagma for her. So if you want to contest it, you can take it up with the court.”

Silence danced around us. Hamza enjoyed this too much, watching Sebastian walk the fine line between wanting to kill him and knowing he couldn’t. I stepped past him, my fingers gently pressing into his forearm.

“Who’s saying we’re not engaged?”

Hamza blinked twice, confusion radiating from him. “This is ridiculous.” He regarded me this time. “This a ploy, to save you. Sebastian wouldn’t marry. He’s always despised the concept.”

I clasped my hands together, trying to control the shaking in my fingers. “Why do you think Seb is so angry?” It felt wrong using his nickname, but it was a necessary evil. “We haven’t announced anything yet, but yes, he asked me to be his wife. Maybe he didn’t want to be married, but that was before he met me.”

Surprise rippled through the room, most of it coming from Sebastian.

Hamza scoffed a laugh. “Even if this is real, you didn’t ask permission from the court.” A trail of saliva trickled over his bottom lip.

My eyes widened. This was my chance to go there and find my mom. “We were coming to the castle this week to ask for it.”

Hamza scowled, and Sebastian remained unusually quiet. “Well, well.” Hamza backed away, a smirk playing on his lips. “It seems as if you found your one.” He glanced down at my stomach. “That or you want an heir. Such a rarity.” He paused, coveting me with his eyes. “You should keep a better watch of your bride.”

“Oh, I will.”

Relief flooded me. He was, at the very least, going along with it for now. Hamza moved to open the door. “I’ll talk to Achais, let him know of our misunderstanding. I won’t be paying for her, and I expect compensation for my trouble here.” He paused at my side for a second longer before disappearing.

Once the door clicked shut, we waited a solid minute, ensuring he was gone before speaking.

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