Page 39 of Hidden Kingdoms

There were three other people in the room with us and despite the heat, it felt anything but cozy in here. An older man with a face rounded by age and overconsumption wore a long navy cloak that draped over a matching body. His black hair was slicked back and sprinkled liberally with grey as he stoodwatching us closely, brown eyes soaking in every interaction between Marcellus and me.

Moving past him my eyes fell to the only woman in the room. She was tall and willowy with perfectly curled blonde hair that hung past her shoulders in a way I had never been able to perfect. A sickly peach dress clung to her pale figure, and while she was severely lacking in the hips department, she more than made up for it in other areas. A thick silver necklace wound round her neck and a heavy citrine gem the size of an egg sat nestled in her impressive cleavage. Her eyes glowed—actually glowed—in a colour almost the same as the jewel she wore. Right now, they were narrowed at me, and I bristled at the mean-girl energy she brought to the room.

The man standing in between them was big—not Marcellus big, but still overly large. A dark tailored shirt pressed tight against the muscles of his arms and across his chest. Considering the buttons didn’t gape from the pressure they were clearly under, I knew for sure there was magik at work there. Matching dark trousers fitted his equally muscly legs, and he was especially easy on the eyes as they travelled back up his body, landing on his face.

A halo of golden ringlets fell to his chin, shining in the flickering light of the flames. An actual golden circlet set with small rubies sat nestled in the curls—delicate but powerful. The gems called to me like so many others had before, and as I took a small step forward, Marcellus stirred behind me.

So, this was the Prince then, not Marcellus.

I took in his face; the full, high cheekbones and dark green eyes that glittered like emeralds. A flicker of recognition passed through me, but I was too busy staring to pay it any attention, and as a lazy smirk pulled his lips, I knew that he knew I was checking him out.

“You’re late,” he drawled, crossing his arms over his broad chest, and I caught sight of a golden ring set with another ruby glinting in the light. “Been busy assaulting anyone else in my palace?” The woman next to him tittered a laugh and I finally registered that ounce of recognition as his voice washed over me. Puzzle pieces snapping violently into place.

“Oh, fuck no!” I growled. A huff of amusement came from Marcellus’ direction while the short man released a sound of indignation. “You’rethe Prince!”

“Let me show her her place, my Prince.” The woman hissed, like actually hissed. Her heeled feet took a step in my direction at the same time movement shifted behind me, and as the subtle grate of metal reached my ears, her eyes flicked over my shoulder before she shrank back. I didn’t know what her problem was, but I was sure one good punch to the tit and she’d go down, especially with the height of those heels.

Good thing, too, as that was probably all I could reach, not that I’m inclined to violence in any way.

The Prince shook his head, waving a hand at her, an infuriating smirk on his face, and he sat down into the large chair behind him. Annoyed I hadn’t recognised him, I searched his eyes though to be fair he had kept a mask on for the entire duration of our previous encounter.

Big Man was the fucking Prince.

Of course he was. I had punched the literal Prince in the face and somehow hadn’t ended up in a dungeon.

Fuck... they must really need me for something.

Whatever feelings I’d felt at seeing Marcellus were quickly pushed aside for the rapidly rising frustration as I realised just how in the dark I was here.

I didn’t even know what part of the world I was in.

I swallowed it down, I wouldn’t let him see. Letthemsee. It occurred to me then that this was the room I’d seen when mymind had untethered from its rightful place—inside my head.Theywere the two men talking, the ones having a conversation about a fountain.

“Obviously I am,” he confirmed, eyes glittering with unmistakable glee.

“I didn’t recognise you without the black eye.” I was provoking him, but I didn’t care. It was all I had right now and I was quickly losing my patience. Another hiss came from the yellow-eyed woman,which I ignored.

Who walks around hissing anyway? That’s fucking weird.

There was no black eye—we both knew that—but as his eyes narrowed in anger at my defiance, it fed the energy pulsing through my veins. Marcellus’ deep rumble of laughter washed over my skin sending a pulse of heat straight to my core, but right now, I was too pissed off to focus on that.

“You can leave now, Marcellus.” Big Man,the Prince, continued to frown. His fingers tightened on the arm rests, and I turned to Marcellus, whose eyes were still on me.

“Marcellus.” His voice was sharper this time, and with a look that screamed impending violence, Marcellus nodded his head imperceptibly before heading towards the door. My gaze following as he left without looking back.

I was uncomfortably aware of the fact this was the man who had kidnapped me. Not to mention the other two people in the room who looked like they wanted nothing more than for him to shout, “off with her head,” and be done with me.

I thought princes would have had servants to do shit like that for them.

What made me so important that he came for me himself?

Maybe he got off on going out and doing things like that?

I wasn’t sure which option was worse.

Facing back to him, he had shifted in his chair to slouch to one side, legs spread wide like the dick he was and chin restingon one fist. I felt every touch of his green eyes as they slid down my body, and I wondered if it was him who had chosen this outfit—surely not.

I was already growing impatient, more unsettled with each passing minute. I’d rather be back in my prison room staring out the window than having to deal with this bastard, even if he was a prince.

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