Page 64 of Of Realms and Chaos

Though the lack of screams wasn’t promising, I still picked up my pace, turning corners based on the scent and the sound of the mortal. When the cells came into view, I halted, taking a few steps back. A single wooden door was there, a small rectangle cut out at the top. The space was too small for even a child to escape through, barely big enough to let in a modicum of light, but three metal bars still secured it. Something about it felt familiar, as if a piece of home was there.

As eager as I was to watch the mortal in action, my inquisitive nature would not let me ignore this sense of knowing. Approaching slowly, I made my way to the door, both unremarkable and intriguing. Fingers reaching for the wood, I hissed at the contact, the door ripping my magic from my veins.

Biting down on my tongue to avoid cursing from the pain, I reared back, cradling my fingers. A siphon spell, there was a siphon spell on the fucking door. What wicked little creature would use such a thing?

He would not like this, not one bit. Because there was only one female I knew of that would need to be restrained in such a way, and any pain inflicted on her would likely lead to dismemberment at the hands of a very angry male. Yes, I would need to tell him, even if I wasn’t positive that this had been a prison built for Asher. With a sigh of annoyance, I scowled at the door and hastily made my way back towards the cells.

The golden boy was crouching down in front of a cell on the left, his full lips lifted in a sneer. His elbows rested on his knees, back hunched as he whispered.

“No, I agree. But it would take you breaking free for that to happen. So it seems I will get to stay a while longer.” I risked getting closer as the boy’s greasy voice invaded the air, his sinful nature making my chest hum the closer I got.

But when I allowed myself to get within fifteen feet of the mortal, I realized it was not the sin in the dungeons that brought the euphoric feel of overwhelming magic, it was virtue.

“We will see how long you last here, among creatures you do not belong beside.” The male within had a deep voice, the accent smooth and heavy, different than that of the fae. Interesting. “Speaking of which, did you know I saw a youngling taller than you when I first arrived?”

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a cackle. The boy bristled, standing up and squaring his shoulders. His body was shaking, the fury within prominent as his skin reddened. An odd sense of tension enveloped the dungeons, my magic reaching out for the sin that poured off of the mortal like a rushing river.

Distraction was a foolish thing, always mucking up everything. And in my moment of it, I unknowingly leaned my hand on a loose section of the wall, a chunk of the ashlar breaking free and falling to the ground. The audible smack of stone on stone echoed through the hall of cells, causing the golden boy to look in my direction. I leaned into the wall, hoping I wouldn’t blow my cover so soon and miss out on whatever fun could be found here.

“You got lucky this time. But know that the next time I spill your filthy blood, I will make sure you know your place.” Hearing him repeat the same words the queen had said to him told me all I needed to know about his motives. The boy didn’t hate the prisoner. He hated himself. Being a magicless creature among those blessed by Eternity would do that.

Storming away, the boy didn’t so much as look my direction as he passed, too angry and nervous to do anything but hastily make his exit. I smiled, eager to taste more of that mortal sin. Perhaps I would make a trip to the Mortal Realm before heading to Asher in Eoforhild.

First, I simply had to meet whoever the fae royals deemed dangerous and valuable enough to lock up rather than execute. With far less carefulness, I made my way to the cell, allowing my shoes to click against the stone floors now that I knew I was free of being caught. A sharp intake of breath came from behind the bars—a sign that whoever was in there had much more fear than they allowed the mortal to see.

I put little thought into my decision to grab hold of the bars and lean in, letting the call of my magic guide me instead. He was delicious in a way I hadn’t felt yet on this world. Tilting my head to the side, I took in the male against the far wall.

His hair was thick and dark, matted with dirt and blood. The skin on display through the ripped clothing, bare feet, and slack face was ghostly pale, his eyes a dull and lifeless brown. It was as if he had been below ground for so long that all the color within him had fled, the darkness scaring away the vibrance. His jaw was strong, arms still corded in muscle despite the clear malnutrition his body was experiencing.

Beneath the dirt and grime, it was clear that the male was handsome—at least, he had been before getting thrown into a dungeon. When he copied me, leaning his head to the right, I let out a laugh. If only he knew what kind of creature had just stumbled across him. His growing smirk sent a jolt of sin into the atmosphere, but it was his virtue that still won out, the genuine kindness and love for his realm so potent that I could not stifle the moan that left my lips.

Standing, the male slowly made his way towards me, his height forcing me to raise my gaze in order to maintain eye contact. His own stare roamed over me, likely taking in the soft yellow of my dress, which ended at my mid-thigh. It was a far more appropriate piece, hiding my cleavage and shoulders, but the beauty of it was in tempting others to find out what was underneath.

My hair was left loose, the pink tint far more alluring than most other colors. In fact, the male reached out and grabbed a strand, his boldness making my heart race in enthusiasm. Yes, he would be a fun toy indeed.

“Hello, lovely. What brings you to my humble abode?” He released my hair to gesture with open arms at the cell around him, a smile on his face. That deep voice of his was rich, though it could not hide the despair and desperation he felt. The brokenness in his eyes was far too obvious to do so.

“Boredom.” Shrugging, I leaned forward, resting my head on the edge of an iron bar, openly taking him in once more. Now was the moment I would find out if he was worth my time. “Entertain me.”

A laugh came from his lips, the baffled sound matching his wide eyes. But instead of obeying, the male slowly walked backwards until he made contact with the far wall once more. He crossed his arms, smiling broadly still. A new energy filled the stale air, something igniting within him that almost made me steal him away.

“Set me free, and I will entertain you for days on end.” The sultry tone he used paired wonderfully with his words, a promise I was far too inclined to take. The only problem that came with having desire was the potential for disappointment.

“Bargaining, are we?” I asked, pacing back and forth. Letting my fingers drag across the bars, I maintained eye contact, the smile on my face never faltering. “I highly doubt you can keep up with me for more than an hour.”

If my insult offended him, he didn’t show it, undeterred in his pursuit. For freedom or me was the question.

Dark spots stained his tunic, which I imagined was once white. The black trousers he wore were riddled with holes, the entirety of his person covered in filth—though he didn’t seem injured. Not physically at least.

The male approached me once more, taking measured steps as he crossed the cell. I paused my movement, drinking him in. It was like watching prey approach a predator, and I was eager to get my fill. Basking in the way my magic ignited around him, I didn’t pay attention to his nearness. When a finger lifted my chin, the two of us staring at one another, I made the decision to go against my better judgment and waste a little more time.

“I look forward to proving you wrong, sugar.”

My core heated at the mere thought. I would need to clean him first, but I had a feeling the kind of reckless fun we could have together would be the best I had on this planet.

“There isn’t an ounce of sugar in me, unfortunately.”

He leaned in, our lips grazing ever so slightly through the bars. My chest fluttered with the swell of magic, that overwhelming sense of power consuming me the closer I got to taking what I wanted.

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