Page 12 of The Stolen Throne

I stand stiffly as I stare at the door standing between us and the outside world. Leading directly to where I want to escape. Or was… was wanting to escape. These men are right… I am a naive princess. I didn’t ask enough questions, and I certainly did not look into the surrounding kingdoms as much as I should have when the king started taking over. My chest aches when I think over his last words. Who will mourn the hero princess of nothing? No one… that’s the truth; no one will mourn me because I have no one left. No one who cares for me. No one I love. And no one who loves me…

I’m jerked from my depressing thoughts when Asher pops up in front of me. He levels me with a look and says, “Eira? Eira, pay him no mind. He’s taking out his anger over losing soldiers on you.”

“He’s not wrong, though,” I whisper.

Asher shakes his head. “No, he’s just angry. It’s not your fault that you weren’t informed.”

“It is, though. I should have asked more questions when I had the chance to get answers, but I didn’t. I thought my status as princess would automatically give me those answers.”

When he reaches up, I can’t help but flinch. His hand stops a few inches from my face before curling into a fist. He looks away from me as he quietly says, “Please don’t cry.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until I reached up to touch my face. My vision blurs as the tears start to fall faster. I let out a hiccupped laugh. “I’m so pathetic. A princess of nothing, just like Kasim said.”

Asher straightens and steps closer, wrapping his arms around me. He pulls me into his chest, just holding me close. His hold isn’t tight, which allows me the ability to break away if needed. “Just because we are villains does not mean we are without a heart. Kasim is angry, and he feels the loss of the men he trained for years. He said many things out of anger, whether true or not.”

“He does not like me,” I mutter.

“He doesn’t like most people, to be honest.” He sighs. “I like you more when you are feisty and angry.”

I let out a watery laugh and say, “You mean to say you like Snow Bunny me.”

He laughs softly. “She is my favorite.” He gives me a soft squeeze before pulling away. “Let’s head back to the castle. I’m sure we can find some way to entertain you,” he teases.

I wipe my face as I peer up at him. “I did not realize it was your job to entertain me.”

He shrugs and offers me his elbow again. “I’m your guard for the day. My job is to take care of you.”

I can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips as I slip my hand through to hold his forearm. I may have hated his happy attitude before, but right now, it’s the only thing drawing me out of my depressive mood. I need to be more open-minded while here. It’s time to learn everything I possibly can because I won’t stop until I get my kingdom back.

I need to do whatever is necessary. Which means I need to learn from the villains. It will take a villain to defeat another. I’m beginning to realize the heroes I grew up with bowed to villains instead of fighting them.

8

DAX

From the first moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she was mine. An ache I had never felt before grew in my chest as her bright sapphire eyes looked up at me. I saw the strength behind those eyes. The satisfaction I felt when I realized my father had not broken her made me force a frown on my face. Because the smile that tried to crawl across my lips would not do in front of my father. He would see me beaten for such a cheerful smile.

I know Eira hates my guts as much as she hates my father, but that doesn’t lessen the need I feel for her to be mine. A little raven trapped within a gilded cage of my own making. I can’t think of a better analogy than that. Better to be trapped in a gilded cage than the cold, dank place I’m sure my father held her in.

When Ash had called her a snow bunny, I had to bite my lip to avoid laughing. She looked as if she wished to punch him in the face for uttering a name such as that. To be honest, I would have happily taken a beating from my father to watch that happen. I’m sure Ash would have let her get a hit in too. The man loves bloodshed, whether it be his or a prisoner’s. It’s why he is so good at interrogation; he doesn’t mind the blood spatter.

I smirk as I think over the last week and how her face contorted every time he was assigned as her guard. Her eyes seem to glow with anger each time he calls her a snow bunny. It’s amusing if I’m honest. It makes the long days bearable and this cold castle feel a bit warmer.

I had started to wonder when she would finally confront me about leaving the castle, but I was not expecting her to be bold enough to fling open my doors the way she did. To be honest, it took me off guard at first. To see her fury and meet my gaze unflinchingly. It takes courage to confront someone you believe to be a villain. Even more so when the villain is the son of an even greater villain.

Thinking about my father has me huffing out a heavy sigh and rubbing at the handprint branded across my chest. I did not expect her words to burn as deeply as my father’s hand. Though a woman filled with that much fire is sure to burn any man who dares to cross her path. Even a cold-hearted man like me.

“She did not mean her words, Dax.”

Jolted out of my thoughts, I peer over my shoulder to find Reverie hiding in the corner. Always wrapped in shadows. His dark skin allows such grace, but I believe Rev is more comfortable watching from the shadows and dark spaces of the castle. I’m sure my other men could hide within the shadows as well, but the man in front of me appears to be darkness incarnate. Turning away from him and back toward the window, I stare out at the wasteland that is my kingdom. “She meant them, Rev. She doesn’t seem like a woman who says things she does not mean.”

He steps out of the corner and away from the darkness. I can hear his footsteps, which means he wishes for me to hear him as he comes to stand beside me. My silent killer. A true assassin within my ranks. “She is a child. Her words are those of a naive princess who does not know any better.”

I huff out a laugh. “She is anything but a child. Naive? Yes, but that is her parents’ fault for not providing her with the proper education for a queen-to-be. My father certainly would not have educated her while she was his prisoner. She was his toy to play with and break, nothing more.”

Groaning, I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to stave off the headache I can feel behind my eyes. Rev stands closer, bumping his shoulder into mine. “She seems to stave off your headaches, and your darkness seems to calm when she is around.”

Sighing, I take a seat on my chair. Lounging back, I close my eyes. “Yes, it does seem like she soothes the turbulence within my mind. Not that her opinion of me would change with that knowledge. I believe she would purposefully stay away if she were aware.”

---