Page 32 of Princess of Death

“Hawk is an adult now. He’d be a great king.”

But you would be an exceptional queen?—

“Zehemoth.”

He stiffened at my change in tone.

“Did my father put you up to this?”

He raised his head slightly.No.

“Then why are you pushing this so hard?”

Because I’m your best friend. And as your best friend, it’s my job to say the things you don’t want to hear. I meant what I said—that you would be a great queen. And I would be honored to serve as your companion as you defend the Southern Isles and protect my kin as your own people.

My eyes drifted to the blades on the ground, and I plucked one out of the earth then wrapped it around my finger. Another subtle breeze moved through the meadow, catching a few of my strands of hair. “I appreciate your words, Zehemoth. But I’m finished with this conversation.”

I left the dishes in the sink because I didn’t feel like washing them tonight. The bottle of Barsetti wine on the counter was almost empty, so I poured the rest into my glass and took a drink as I walked toward the fire in the living room.

He appeared before me, in nothing but comfortable trousers that hung low on his hips. His bare feet were on my rug, and his bare chest was cast in the glow of the firelight.

“Fuck.” I gave a jolt and splashed the wine across the floor. Almost dropped the glass too.

He didn’t react, as if he expected to startle me. He was bigger than his uniform and armor suggested, a powerful chest that was thick like the walls that protected this kingdom. All the individual muscles of his shoulders and arms were visible in the shadows between the cuts of his physique. And he had thick veins everywhere, rivers all over his earth. His abdomen was tight with the same grooves of muscles, and more veins disappeared beneath the waistband of his trousers.

Still and silent like a statue that stood in the town square, he watched me with his potent stare.

I didn’t rush to clean up the wine, far more focused on the behemoth before me. “You scared the life out of me.” Frazzled, I ran my fingers through my hair then returned the wineglass to the counter. “Why are you here?”

One eyebrow cocked just a touch.

“Shit, I forgot.”

He tilted his head slightly, his stare still intense.

“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind right now.” I shouldn’t apologize to a man who demanded me to sleep with him, but I had made a deal. And he was by far the most ripped, muscular, strong man I’d ever laid eyes on. Viper was one hell of a man, but Wrath… No words. “Come back tomorrow.”

He didn’t say anything, but his eyes looked furious. “I was already patient once. I won’t be again.”

“Well, that’s too fucking bad.” I turned away from him and opened the cabinet that housed the wine bottles. I grabbed a Bordeaux before I carried it to the counter and tried to pull out the cork, but it was a stubborn son of a bitch that wouldn’t come free.

Wrath joined me at the counter and took over, removing the cork effortlessly like he’d done it a hundred times. He left the bottle on the counter then turned his full attention on me once more, a tree that loomed over me.

I didn’t look directly at him. I was in my loose t-shirt and my knee-high socks again, but this time, I didn’t care that I was on display. I pulled my wineglass close and tipped the bottle to pour the aromatic contents, the hint of stone fruit and olive.

He continued his angry stare.

I took a drink then licked my lips, feeling his eyes hot on my cheek.

“What troubles you?” The anger wasn’t audible in his voice, not obvious like it’d been in his gaze.

“I thought you knew everything.”

“I had other matters that required my attention today. To you, it’s been a day, but for me, it’s been a week since I last saw you.”

“How does that work?” I took another drink of the wine.

He pulled the wineglass from my hand and set it aside. “Tell me what makes your eyes grow callous.”

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