Page 28 of Courting Envy
"Who is it?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter," I said. "I'm not going to tell you."
"Tell me," he said, his voice more forceful this time. I could feel the gem in my chest glow brighter, a slight heat coming from it.
"No!" I slammed him back, my magic coming up to protect me. It wasn’t the worst crime he could have committed, but I was done with having my choices removed. "If you ever try to force me again, then we are done. You don't own me, and I don't owe you anything."
Lucien looked down at his hands, as if they had done something of their own volition, as if he hadn't consciously tried to pry the answer from me using the gem. Emotions warred on his face; frustration, irritation, fear, surprise. "I..."
"I need some space," I said. "Please."
Lucien let out a long sigh and nodded, his hands dropping to his side. "I'm sorry," he said, and I could tell that he meant it. He was trying to go against his nature to please me, but it was going to take time to learn new ways.
Did I want to take the time to teach him?
Did I have a fucking choice?
I watched as he walked to the door and once it was closed, I sank back onto the couch, shudders wracking my body as grief and sorrow and confusion dragged me in.
Chapter sixteen
Lucien
Ishovedthroughthedoor and almost barreled into Reon, who was standing guard outside. Or hovering, more likely, waiting to see whether I was going to lay down any punishment on him.
"Walk with me," I demanded, striding down the corridor. I wasn't mad at him, as such, even if I was deeply frustrated that Rava had chosen to take comfort in his arms rather than mine. Jealousy was a bitter pill to swallow, and even the Prince of Envy couldn't escape it.
"Are you removing me as her personal guard?" he asked. A bold move, considering where he was just minutes ago. His scales on her skin-
I had to push that image from my mind. Even if she cared for him, she wasn’t having sex with him.
"No. She cares for you. I can tell. And as much as I hate that, the fact that you don't want to fuck her means I can find a way to be okay about it."
Reon slowed, and I ignored the strange look on his face. I hated that I’d put it there because I was being an ass. I knew full well that there were more intimate things than sex and dammit but I wanted those from her too.
With her.
Like he had.
"Just go and take care of her! Give her whatever she wants." I threw these last words over my shoulder, needing to put more distance between Rava and myself. And him, for that matter, before I made things even worse.
I couldn't believe I'd been stupid enough to try and force her, but it was habit. My magic had reached out without conscious thought, itching for the knowledge I craved. I was the prince. Used to getting what I wanted, with no qualms about forcing people to their knees to get that achieved.
Rava was human though, at the core of her, and I couldn't do things the same way anymore. Clearly, those weren't working anyway, not with Envy in the state it was right now. Not with the curse still intact and Rava unwilling to let me in.
Still. I needed to know. The fact that there was someone else – and I could see in her eyes that there was – burned my stomach and made it feel like there were bugs crawling between the layers of my skin. Torture was for the wicked, not for the prince.
Who had stolen her heart from me? Who would dare?
Fucking Ragnar. It had to be. I'd sent Kyveli to spy on him after dinner last night, and I could only hope that she'd return with a report for me shortly. I shoved through the door to my office and slammed it behind me, still feeling the crackle of envy across my chest, clouding my vision.
I wanted her all to myself. Was that too much to ask for? I needed her, more than anything right now. A queen to rule by my side, a queen to heal and bring abundance back to the circle I’d been given to for so long.
If only I could find out who this other demon was... I could take care of them, banish them to the depths of Hell, remove them from my circle.
From existence.
But then she'd be sad. And I didn't want her to be sad. More than that, I didn’t want her to be angry. If I went around destroying those who looked upon her with yearning then there would be no one living here.
