Page 13 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

How in the gods does he know that? I can feel my cheeks flush. "None of your gods damned business," I hiss, yanking myself out of his hold.

"Pretty bird," he purrs, kneeling next to me.

I scramble back until the chain pulls taught and I can't go any further. The male crawls towards me, his hand branding my skin. It trails up my calf, over the tops of my knees, before he grips both of my thighs and pries them open. Attempting to kick away is futile.

He drops his head, pressing his nose to my center, and inhaling. Thank the gods someone thought to dress me before shackling me here. Wherever here is.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I shriek, trying to twist away.

"Yes, yes." He pulls back, kneeling before me. His eyes have taken on a glazed quality. "I think we'll keep you."

"What? No. No one iskeepingme." Though if I'm being honest, the coolness of his body has made me less miserable down here. "I demand you take me to General Risç, now."

He cocks his head. "Who now?"

"General Risç, head of the royal guard?" My brows bunch.

"I know no such General," he scoffs. "I'm the head of the royal guard."

My pulse quickens. "What happened to him?" Am I living in an alternate universe?

"Don't know who you're talking about, pet, but you can forget about him. I guarantee I'm much prettier to look at." He preens.

"You're insane," I blurt.

"Perhaps so," he murmurs, lifting my arm to inspect me. His eyes spark with mischief. "You've got to be to lead his army."

Hisarmy?

Before I can ask, he continues, "Why are you looking for a General Risç when you're in love with someone else?"

"The general is my boss, nothing more. Please have someone get him for me."

"You're boring me." He heaves a great sigh before he perks up. "You should remove your clothes."

"What is your problem?" I hiss. "If you can't help me, then get me your boss!"

He throws his head back and laughs; the sound echoing through the chamber. “He answers to no one, least of all you."

I shake my head. I've personally met both the high king and queen, and while they're not fae you want to mess with, they're generally fair and willing to listen to their people. "If you tell High Queen Lana that Morte needs to speak with her, I'm certain she can make herself available."

His attention snaps back to me. "Who did you say?"

"Well, if Lana isn't available, you could ask for High King Finian?"

He blinks. "Why would they be here? I’m the first to know about all arrivals, even those merely passing through." He curses under his breath something that sounds like,fucking feathers.

"Well, I don't expect the king and queen to be at the penitentiary, not with the escaped inmate on the loose, but you could get me an audience and we'll have this all cleared up. I'd hate for you to get in trouble for keeping me prisoner."

"Who escaped?" His wings ruffle behind him and his spine goes rigid.

"Noah Tackwater?"

"Have you gone mad? There's no prisoner by that name here."

My brows furrow, and I rack my brain. Am I getting his name wrong? Oh, wait— "Sometimes they call him No-No? He's a hydra?"

"Just where do you think you are?"

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