Page 24 of Kiss the Filthiest King

A SATISFYING LESSON

Ryther

Idown the second drink, doing my best to ignore the voices behind the door. Of course, she's letting her stay. Of course, she's happy to dangle a weakness right in our enemies’ faces, selfish, impulsive, immature chit that she is. I want tostrangleher.

At least the human chick wasn't smart enough to demand a promise.

The human leaves the chamber in search of the restroom, and I rise, taking the pale wine with me.

Part of me tells me I shouldn't. I'm not myself. The anger coursing through my veins, fueled by the concern of the last day, and the simple fact that Darina's already made a stupid fucking choice that could cost her life, mere moments after waking, is a living thing. I just don't happen to care.

I find her still lying down on the humongous thorn, stone, vine and glass bed, nestled at the center of the blue and pink room, full of soft silk andorganza. I wouldn't have imagined the queen's chamber to be this feminine. I've never come here of course; the reception room, the adjacent drawing room, music parlor, office and library, I've seen, but this is the place where the queen would only have received her lovers. It makes me understand how little I truly knew her. To the world, she showed a mask devoid of preference. I would have imagined white and black. Simplicity.

It suits Darina, though. She's never had cause to learn to hide herself behind the crown. Not yet.

"Ryther. You cut your hair.”

It was marred with her blood and stank of iron; of course I cut it, but who gives a single fuck about my hair?

"Send her away." My voice comes out in a growl. "She'll get you killed—she'll get herself killed before the week is out. Don't youcareabout the fact that you just died? The lengths I had to go to just for you to stand there? And you're already throwing it all away for your mortal whims?"

Her eyes narrow as she sits up. "No."

I fully expected that response. I knew she'd be unreasonable, selfish,false.

Wait.

For all her flaws, and she has many, that last one isn't quite right. When has Darina ever played me false?

Again, this isn't coming entirely from me.

I still can't stop it. "Send her away or I'll snap her neck myself."

"Touch a hair on her head andI will destroy you!" she roars, leaping to her feet.

This should feel wrong, both of us at each other's throat like this. This isn't a normal fight. Darina was always prone to push me, but not like this. Nor have I ever been this uncompromising.

A part of me wants to lash out, push every single ounce of power at my disposal against her until I leave nothing but cinders. But that's not my only instinct. Beyond that, I want other things from that lying, cheating, cruel slut.

What in all the hell?

She's never lied. She couldn't if she tried. She's never cheated. We've made no commitment, no promises to each other, either by deeds or words. There may be marks on our skin saying that we belong to each other, but we get to define what that means.

And cruel? If anyone deserves that accusation, it's me, not her.

I make myself breathe out, downing the drink in my hand in one swallow. "I—I'm not in control."

"Nor am I," she snaps between clenched teeth, just as wound up.

I wonder what insults cross her mind.

What have those two done to each other, and how do we avoid paying the price for their mistakes?

I am genuinely angry she's even thinking about keeping her mortal sister here, a vulnerability she can't afford. But the gods inside us are using that to turn us against each other.

I don't know which one of us moves first, but suddenly, my mouth is on hers, and my hands pull at her slip.

This.

---