Page 16 of Daughter of the Ninth Line: Part Two

I sipped my drink, enjoying the burn, with Braxus sitting in front of my legs giving enough of afuck-offvibe that I didn’t have to worry about dealing with pandering or political manuevering.

At least, I didn’t, until Vylan appeared in my personal bubble. “Taeme.”

“Vylan.”

“I would like to talk.” He always sounded like he had a stick up his ass. Like he hadn’t felt a single moment of passion in his short, obnoxious life.

“Perhaps you should try one of the healers. They’ll give a shit about your problems.”

Rolling his eyes at me, he didn’t leave, nor rise to the bait. He must be serious. “It’s about the girl.”

I stiffened. There was only one girl who’d piqued our collective interest, and I had no urge to share what I knew with this pompous douchebag. “Which girl?” I said lazily, sipping my drink like we weren’t seconds from throwing down.

He gave me his normal bored, impassive expression, but I saw the subtle tightening of his jaw. “Avalon Halhed, the one from the Ninth Line.”

I shrugged. “What about her?”

Vox stepped into my space, making Braxus bare his teeth. I sent him a reassurance through our bond that I had this, and to stand down, but he didn’t like it.

“Stay away from her. If you have an interest in her, I suggest you forget it. She’s mine.”

Well, fuck me.I hadn’t seen that coming. Was Avalon thawing the ice prince? I’d believe it when I saw it. It was more likely that he just didn’t want me playing with his toys.

“Says who? I think that’s for Avalon to decide, don’t you?” I buried my fingers in Braxus’s fur. “A little healthy competition might be just what the healer ordered. May the best man win, Vylan.” I laughed at the sour expression on his face. “And no one would ever consider you the best man.”

He straightened, his eyes turning frigid. “At least I’m a man and not a beast. Stay away from her, Taeme. I won’t warn you again.”

He may as well have put a giant X on her head, because now she was a treasure at the end of a hunt, and I was going to have her for myself.

Eleven

Avalon

Something had changed, and it felt big. I didn’t notice for a week or two, just going about my days in blissful ignorance until Shay from the First Line appeared in front of me on a random Wednesday. I was finally out of my sling and back on the training field, swinging a slightly lighter sword.

“I’m Shay.” That was all she said, like it should explain everything. And in her defense, it kind of did. She was the second-in-command of the First Line here at Boellium War College. Everyone knew that.

“Uh, I’m Avalon.” I wasn’t sure why we were doing introductions, but I was polite, if nothing else.

She looked at me as if I were a bug under a looking glass. She eyed me a little longer, then turned on her heel and left. That was it.

I looked over at Viana and Acacia. “What the fuck wasthat?”

Viana snorted a laugh. “That was Vox Vylan’s cousin trying to work out why her Heir is panting after some nobody from the Ninth Line. No offense.”

I rolled my eyes. “None taken.” I truly meant it, because it had been really weird. An anomaly. “And Vox isnotpanting after me.”

Acacia and Viana did that annoying silent conversation thing that came from knowing someone inside and out for a long period of time. Finally, Acacia shook her head. “She must know.”

Viana raised an eyebrow. “How could she? You know what she’s like.” They both turned toward me, so there was no doubt I was the “she” to which they were referring.

“Youknow,right?” Acacia asked.

Quite frankly, they were talking in riddles and giving me a headache. “Know what?” I shouted a little louder than necessary.

Viana looked triumphant. “I told you she had no idea.” She gripped my hands. “Vox Vylan wants to fuck the brains right out of your head. He wants to use his dick to reshape your insides until they’re cock-embossed. He wants you to ride him like a magic carpet.”

Magic carpets didn’t exist anymore, since the First Line had evolved beyond using them as transportation. That wasn’t important, though.

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