Page 66 of Hidden Kingdoms

Leaning back comfortably in his chair, the picture of ease, he linked his fingers together on top of the table. “What are you?”

“Oh, fuck no. If that is where this is headed, I’m leaving right now, even if I get lost and end up wandering around for a week.” Kaius let out a soft laugh from beside me. “Tell me why you arranged thislovelymeal, or I’m out of here.”

“If you really think you would get far, then you’re stupider than I thought.”

I bristled at the insult, clenching my fists as tight as I clenched my teeth to focus on holding the anger inside me. I couldn’t lose control.

Nails cut into the skin of my palm, the sting helping to channel some of my frustration. Kaius covered my hand with his, fingers brushing against mine before I pulled away again. Icouldn’t risk him healing me and having to deal with what came with it. Not here.

“I can’t be that stupid if I’m the one whose help you need.” It stung to say, but I took the hit on my pride. I wasn’t fucking stupid, but I needed answers. “Maybe I’ll wait for the King to come back, maybe he will answer me.” His brow furrowed before he sat up straighter, scowling at Kaius who merely shrugged. It would seem the Prince hadn’t been updated on all the information he had spilled.

“He won’t,” Bastian growled. That had got under his skin, and I revelled in the small thrill of satisfaction that came with that knowledge.

“Then tell me why I’m here. You took me,for a reason. I’m here,for a reason.”

“You weren’t meant to be,” he muttered bitterly.

Weren’t meant to be what? What the fuck was he on about?

“Then let me go home.”

He won’t.

He needed me, but for whatever reason he wasn’t going to tell me why, which made him the stupid one in my opinion.

“No. You’re here as an added gesture of the kindness I have already granted you.”

Ugh, he was infuriating.

“You, Prince—” I spat, “—are deluded. What kindness were you showing me when you broke into my house? Why don’t you put your big boy pants on and ask for my help, or we can draw a line in this and I cango home.” Heat not originating from the fire crept into the room, and despite every instinct in me screaming not to continue, I couldn’t help myself. I watched in avid fascination as flames, literal fucking flames, began to writhe behind the green of his eyes.

Oh gods, this was weird.

“I won’t be kept in that room waiting for you to decide it’s time to give me some answers.” There was a desperation in my voice that I hadn’t meant to let escape. I’d go mad stuck in there no matter how happy I was with my own company.

“Is your room not to your liking? Are there not enough pillows? Or perhaps the water isn’t the right temperature for your delicate skin. Shall I send Yaskier over there in every night to rub your feet,Princess?” Venom laced every word he spat back at me as he nodded to the man stationed by the wall, who gave no inclination he had heard anything.

Yaskier, I assumed.

“Would you have preferred a room in the bowels of the palace, with straw as a bed and rats biting you when you sleep?” Bastian continued.

I straightened at his threat, any weakness I felt a moment ago evaporating.

Fuck no, I didn’t want that, but I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me. I let what magik I could pool into my fingertips, holding back a sigh as it tingled over my skin. I wasn’t planning on using it, but it helped me feel more in control from the anger threatening to overwhelm me.

“This is getting nowhere, Bas,” Kaius said. “We haven’t got time for this.”

“Why not?” I demanded.

“Not your concern,” Bastian said. “You just keep that little mind of yours on all the escape plans I’m sure you’re hatching.”

“That’s right, I am, because I sure as shit don’t want to be here with you.”

A laugh rumbled from him but there was no joy in the sound. “Good luck with that, Princess. You’ll never leave here unless I say you can, and that’s not happening anytime soon.”

“Because you need me.” Anger fuelled how I pushed him. I wanted to goad him, I wanted to see him erupt with me, to stoke his flames higher and higher.

“BecauseIneedyou? A tiny, weak human who has managed to get her hands on some magik. I don’t think so.”

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