Page 21 of The Stolen Throne

He grins. “Then I'm hoping you’ll spontaneously combust, Princess.”

My gaze turns to Dax as I point at Kas. “Do something!”

Dax pinches the bridge of his nose as if he’s frustrated with us both. “Kas, stop glaring at her! We all know you would rather be fucking her, so put up or shut up!” Dax takes a deep breath before continuing. “Now, can we get back to the reason I called this meeting, or should we all fuck Eira to get it out of our system so we can focus?”

They had not taken Dax up on his offer to fuck me, but I could tell there was heavy consideration for it. After hours of searching the castle, I finally found him in the combat zone. It’s where all the recruits, and even soldiers, use to blow off steam by sparring. I march my way down the hill and yell once I’m closer to the circle of recruits he’s buried in.

“Kasim!”

He turns to look at me, his eyes solid black. I’ve gotten used to their eyes changing; it doesn’t make it any less off-putting, though. “What?” he grits out as rivulets of blood streak down his face.

It takes me a moment to reply because he doesn’t have a shirt on, so I’m finally able to admire the skin he’s kept hidden. His whole body is covered in ink. Swirls and images play across his chest and abdomen, and he has a handprint that matches the prince’s. Intricate designs that I wish I had time to admire cover his arms. Shaking myself from the distraction, I put my hands on my hips and huff out, “You’re supposed to be guarding me.”

“Have one of the others do it. I’m busy,” he sneers.

Rolling my eyes, I walk through the soldiers. They part easily, not wanting to be seen touching me, even by accident. When I’m right in front of him, I narrow my eyes. “Get your ass back to the castle now,” I demand.

“Or what, Princess?”

Well shit… I didn’t think that far ahead. “Or… I’ll… step in front of every punch you’re about to deliver to these men.”

He arches a brow as if he doesn’t believe me. I have no idea why I’m doing this. Why it’s so important that I spend time with him. In all honesty, I miss our heated banter. I just want everything to go back to the way it was. He steps closer, eyes narrowed on me as he grunts. “Why would you do that? Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

His eyes briefly flicker back to their normal hazel before shifting back to black again. “Treating me like someone you want to spend time with instead of the villain that I am.”

“I-I don’t understand. I don’t treat you any differently.”

“When we first met, you would have left me here to fight, not caring if I were guarding you or not.”

My anger grows, and I can’t stop myself from screaming, “I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you!”

“And I’m trying to subtly avoid it.”

My fingers curl into fists as I huff out, “You are not being subtle at all.”

He shrugs. “Don’t care. Move.”

Stomping my feet, I cross my arms across my chest. “No! I’m not leaving you here to fight. I’m having this conversation with you whether you like it or not. You’re acting different too! Ever since Dax announced I was all of yours, you have been acting differently. You’re constantly avoiding me!”

“That’s not?—”

I interrupt the lie he is trying to sell. “It is! You can’t even look at me when we pass each other in the hall. You have refused to guard me completely!” I duck my head when the burn in my chest becomes too much. I’m not sure if it’s anger from him avoiding me, or if I’m hurt because it feels like he resents me.

“Princess?”

I shake my head, and my vision blurs. My chest aches even more when I realize I’m hurt… it feels like he’s rejecting me. At least when he used to spit his anger at me, I felt like I was seen, but now, I’m invisible. Not worth his time. “As much as I hate you, I miss you too. So can we please go back to the way things were? I don’t care if you hate me, but please don’t ignore me. Don’t act as if I’m invisible.” I take a shuddering breath before I whisper, “As if I’m nothing.”

His finger tucks under my chin, and he lifts my face to meet his. A few stray tears manage to break through as I stare into his dark orbs. I watch his eyes shift, unsure where he's looking before they change into their natural dark hazel.

His eyes track the trail of my tears before meeting my gaze.

Eventually, he huffs out a sigh of defeat and nods. “Okay, princess.”

“Really?” I ask with a hiccup.

His eyes flick away as he nods. With his jaw tight, he says, “Yeah. I’ll pander to the spoiled princess.”

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