Page 769 of Hell Hath No Fury
She painted my face next, darkening my eyes with kohl and reddening my lips before allowing me to rise.
I stepped into the light slippers which matched the dress then strapped a dagger to my thigh. The thin material didn’t fully cover it, but it wasn’t intended to be hidden. I was a warrior, my worth proven in that hellish jungle where I had fought for my life and emerged victorious.
By the time I returned to my main chamber, Elena had gone with Gabriel. I forced my mind from worrying about him, knowing that she loved and doted on him almost as warmly as I did. He was in good hands, even if I wished those hands were mine.
I strode out into the castle corridors and headed through the familiar stone building towards the dining hall my parents favoured for breakfast. It wasn’t as grand as the one used for banquets but still seated twenty when the long, mahogany table was at capacity.
Guards opened the doors for me as I approached, bowing their heads in deference to my position. I was a princess after all. Though not one anywhere close to taking the throne with four older siblings, three of whom were married and had already born legitimate heirs of their own into the world. But my position was higher than most in the empire.
“Daughter,” my father greeted as he noted my arrival, and I dipped my head in respect towards him and my mother where they sat at opposing ends of the long table.
“I am honoured to receive the invitation to dine with you both,” I said, allowing a servant to usher me into a centrally located chair.
There was no one else here, but that meant little. Our parents often requested one or all of us to attend them at mealtimes—one of the few points in the days which were set and didn’t always include the politics of the court, unlike the rest of their time. One or all of my siblings might yet be summoned, only time would tell, and they certainly wouldn’t waste small talk on telling me if they were coming.
“We have some…unexpected guests at the castle today,” my father said, a hand smoothing his well-oiled beard from his chin to the golden jewel which clasped it near the base. A tell I had long since realised meant that he was worried. The movement made me sit up straighter.
“They likely mean us no harm,” my mother added, drawing my eyes to her as she gave me a soft smile. She was beautiful, her deep brown hair peppered with strands of grey and her mouth lined from countless smiles, but none of them were ever as genuine as they appeared. I supposed I loved my parents, but honestly, they loved their kingdom far more than their children and my own nannies and tutors had been more like parents to me as I grew. I didn’t resent it. I was a princess of Voldrakia and knew well that I could live a lot worse, but I had always held out hope for something…more, too.
“We wish for you to find out more about them,” my father added, and it didn’t escape my notice that I hadn’t actually been given anything to eat while their plates lay fully stacked before them.
I nodded in understanding as I rose. “Where are they staying?”
“In the east wing. The starstruck quarters.” The rooms reserved for only the most important of guests.
Dark eyes, cruel laughter, the brush of teeth against my neck, fire, screaming, war.
I sucked in a breath as the scraps of vision pressed in on me and my mother cocked her head.
“What did the stars show you?” she asked.
It was her line that had given me these gifts, though she herself only had the barest trace of The Sight, more like good instincts than actual prophesising. But her grandmother had been one of the greatest Seers in the history of our empire, credited for the rise of our family’s fortunes. She had always been able to tell when Isawsomething, no matter how briefly the visions appeared.
“Nothing clear,” I admitted, knowing my father had no patience for riddles from the stars. “But there is danger.”
“All the more reason for you to see what more you can find,” my father said with a jerk of his chin to indicate my dismissal. “Return to us this evening with what you glean from your investigations.”
I nodded my head, giving that slight bow of respect before turning and leaving the room. I knew why they wished to send me. With my gifts I oftensawfar more than the eyes or ears could interpret and being close to people sometimes gave me insight into their intentions.
I strode away, turning for the east wing before a nudge from my rumbling stomach and possibly the stars too. If I showed up as I was then I would draw more attention, have to announce myself and who I was right away before getting the chance to read much at all from the people who I was supposed to be investigating. But if I came bearing food, they would likely assume I was a servant, at least for a minute or two, keeping their guards down and their intentions easier to read. The future could change on the spin of a coin so easily and something as simple as a visit from one of the royals might shift their plans, so if I wanted the chance to figure out what their current intentions were, then I needed to give myself the time it would take to get a read on them.
No one paid me much attention as I headed from the castle, opting for the use of my own legs over a carriage as the market was so close to the outer walls.
The heat of the ever-rising sun broke over me as I walked, my skin humming with the pleasant sensation of the kiss of it even though I knew I would likely be cursing its intensity come midday.
The market was already busy, merchants calling out to tempt people to their wares beneath the shade of sweeping white canopies erected above their wooden carts and stalls.
Some sand had gathered on the cobbles as it often did, the air wielders who cleaned the streets clearly due to come soon.
I picked out fruits and pastries, paying little attention to the task beyond making certain that everything was fresh and tempting while I tried to turn The Sight towards who I might find in those rooms. But all I received for my efforts was the feeling of phantom lips on my skin, a raising of my pulse and a throbbing ache which I wished to sate beyond all measure of sanity.
I had to shift my mind from those thoughts to keep my head clear, but as I turned back towards the castle with the food I’d purchased, a voice echoed through my head, one I didn’t know but sent goosebumps racing over my flesh despite the heat of the sun.
“You think you can tame a creature such as me?”
The taunt was wicked and sinful, a challenge and a promise which made my mouth dry out and anticipation stutter through me. And that voice. It was like a rough scratch of pleasure along my skin, and a warning to run all at once.
Visions started to flash and flicker through my mind as I made it back into the castle, barely evening paying enough attention to my surroundings to lay the food I’d purchased outon a platter in the kitchens before heading towards the east wing.
