Page 149 of Hidden Kingdoms

I knew he was here, could feel the presence of his magik. It coiled through the room until the very air I breathed screamedbig fiery asshole Prince. As much as I didn’t want to be alone with him, at least his minions weren’t here; I didn’t have the patience to be hissed at.

As usual, more flames flickered in the sconces along the walls, casting eerie shadows on the thick tapestries that covered them. I knew the only other exit from this room was the singledoor just behind the chair I had been expecting Bastian to be sat on. I concentrated on discreet, steadying breaths in preparation for what I knew was going to be an uncomfortable experience.

“There’s no need to be so nervous, Princess,” his voice drawled from a corner, and I turned as the flames blazed higher, illuminating Bastian sprawled in a dark armchair surrounded by others just like it.

“How dramatic.” I arched a brow at him, noting he was missing his ruby circlet, though the mess of golden ringlets were his own sort of crown. It was a shame his personality detracted so much from his looks, because he really was devastatingly handsome in the way only an arrogant prince could be. If I had never heard a word from his mouth, I would have been all over him. Unfortunately, I’d heard more than my share of ugliness fall from his pouty lips.

Striding across the room, I sank into the chair opposite before allowing him the satisfaction of summoning me to him. Crossing my legs, it was my turn to watch as he arched his brow at me.

“Come, sit, by all means.” He gestured lazily towards me as I placed my hands over the arms of the chair, mirroring his pose and feeling a prickle of magik in my fingertips in retaliation to his closeness.

“Are we waiting for anyone else, or am I the lucky sole recipient of your delightful company?” Bastian’s eyes hardened before that charming mask was put back into place. A sliver of satisfaction rippled through me.

“For now.” His fingers traced patterns lightly over the fabric of the chairs, and I turned away; the memory of our hands clasped together as magik flooded between us an unwelcome one.

“Cosy.” I let my attention trail to the tapestries. Each one intricate and detailed, countless hours of work. Picturesquescenes of people with creatures I had never seen weaved tales all around me. I didn’t recognise the story they told, but there was that instinctual understanding of the that flowed through me. Had I been in the company of anyone else, I would have allowed myself to indulge in their story.

But I wasn’t with anyone else. I was with the prince of this kingdom. The one who needed me for something and hated me for it.

“Why am I here, Bastian?” I kept my eyes on the wall to the left of him, my gaze following the imposing figure of a scarlet dragon that stretched from floor to ceiling, scales shining in the flame light.

“Isn’t this what you wanted, Princess? Answers?”

“Will I get them?” I met his green gaze that seared into my skin.

“Some. ButIwant answers, too.”

“About?”

“About you. About who you are, about whatever it is you’ve been doing with Arden.”

“Arden hasn’t told you?” I asked, tilting my head to study him, knowing I already knew the answer thanks to my littleout of bodyexperience this morning.

“Arden has been... tight lipped, shall we say, when it comes to you.” Though his face remained relaxed, his eyes hardened into two chips of emerald as shadows danced over him.

“That must be very frustrating for such an important man like you,” I replied, unable to hide the smile that played on my lips. Bastian didn’t know what I discovered in that room. Kaius hadn’t shared with him anything, either—though I wasn’t sure what to make of that.

Now I had to decide how much I was willing to tell him without jeopardising my own chance at information. “And justhow will we decide who gets their answers first? Rock, paper, scissors?”

“I will ask, and you will answer. If I am happy with what you tell me, you may ask your own question,” Bastian ground out, fist curling into a ball, ruby rings glinting before he relaxed them.

“Yeah, that’s not how this is going to go, Big Man.”

“Remember who is in charge here, because it’s not you.”

I scoffed as entitledness oozed from his every pore. “If you need to shout about who is in charge, it kind of gives me the feeling that it’s not really you.”

Bastian’s eyes blazed with the fire that I could so easily stoke; I couldn’t deny the small stupid thrill that rushed over me. “You should be careful how you talk to me, human,” he spoke, voice dripping with distaste.

Despite the ominous edge to his words, I let a laugh escape me. Apparently, everything I learned yesterday truly had been kept from him. The knowledge that I had answers he was desperate for made me a little giddy, even in the face of what was clearly a fraught situation.

Bastian stood slowly, a snarl on his face. His towering frame cast in shadows as he blocked out the light, eyes glowing slightly as he ate up the space between us. My delight faded quickly, replaced by the acute awareness of the heat that had just enveloped the room. Of the danger this prince posed to me.

While it was fun to poke at his temper, it wasn’t smart. The magik that was twisting itself through my body was enough to tell me that.

“How do you have magik?” he demanded, all attempts at niceties between us long gone.

“I’m not telling you shit,” I managed to grind out as Bastian leaned down, hands closing tightly on the arms of the chair,and forcing me back into the seat as I tried to put some space between us.

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