Page 36 of Song of the Heart Scale
“Sure.” I gave another nonchalant shrug and turned to him, unflinchingly meeting his eyes without breaking contact. “But if you do, I won’t rest until I prove it wasyouwho ordered a hit on his own brother. And from my understanding, you sort of need me alive, so you can’t really kill me to shut me up. So what are you gonna do?”
He smirked as he folded his arms over his chest. “You’re quite sinister.”
I grinned. “I’ve been called worse. Call me what you want, but no one will hurt what I consider mine, and Damien ismine. So tread carefully… Your Highness.”
Thorne snorted as he looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with me. “You’re but a mere human. What could youpossiblydo to me?”
I chuckled, covering my mouth like a delicate lady. “Oh please, Your Highness, don’t underestimatethishuman. You have no idea what I’m capable of and what I’ve already done in my short lifetime.” I stepped toward him, crowding his personal space as I whispered, “I’ve done things that would give men twice your size nightmares, so trust me when I tell you I’m not one to cross.”
Of course I was bluffing. I might have been an Army veteran who did a couple tours overseas, but I was no war-hardened mercenary.
But one thing I wouldn’t allow this pompous asshole to do was threaten my man.
I had no problem busting out my acting chops against anyone, including the man before me who was soon to be the emperor and could call for my head at any moment.
Thorne’s left eyelid twitched as he watched me, almost as if balancing whether I was telling the truth or not. I had an excellent poker face. And I must have convinced him, because he swallowed and his posture softened.
“There’s no need for that, Lady Arya.” He offered a charming smile, but he wasn’t convincing. I knew a snake when I saw one. And he was a venomous one, at that. “I wouldn’t dare hurt my brother. I care for him deeply.”
I snorted. “Let’s hope so.”
“Well, enough of that dreadful conversation. I came to talk about other things.” He strode toward a fragrant rose bush and plucked a red bloom, thorns and all, then tucked it into the bun at the nape of my neck. “There, a beautiful rose for a beautiful lady.”
I held back an eye roll. This dude had no creativity whatsoever.
He tenderly held my jaw and brushed the hair back from my face. “I’ve heard that the people are no longer singing theSong of the Dragon Rider… not even in secret. I wonder…”
“It wasn’t a very popular song,” I interrupted. “Especially after the emperor killed that songstress at the banquet for singing it.”
“Right.” I wanted to barf as he continued to caress my face. “Yet it makes me wonder why there’s no more talk of the twin flames?”
I shrugged and pulled away from him. “No one really cares about those fairy tales. I mean, twin flames?” I laughed. “It’s rather silly, is it not?”
Thorne’s face darkened a split second before he reached out and grabbed the back of my head, pulling me toward him roughly. “Silly?” he growled. “I think not. That twin flame mark on your arm will determine who the next true emperor is!” he snapped.
Caught off guard, I stood still before him, my hands flexing into tight fists, ready to punch his face. “Let me go,” I gritted between my teeth.
He laughed dryly. “What’s wrong, Lady Arya? Not so tough now?” he murmured, leaning his face so close to mine, I could smell his minty breath.
“Just remember I warned you,” I whispered, my voice deadly calm.
In one fluid motion, I drove my knee into his groin while simultaneously bringing my elbow up hard against his jaw. The satisfying crack and his pained grunt sent a thrill through me. I followed with a swift palm heel strike to his nose that sent him staggering backward.
Blood trickled from one nostril and his eyes widened in shock. “What the—” he sputtered, touching his face in disbelief.
I dropped into a fighting stance, balancing my weight on the balls of my feet. “Told you not to underestimate me, Your Highness.”
Rage transformed his handsome features. His eyes flashed—literally flashed—with an inner fire that made my stomach drop.
Right. Not human.
“You dare strike me?” His voice deepened to something inhuman, resonating with barely restrained power that made the ground tremble. The air around him rippled with heat that singed my skin.
“First lesson in combat,” I said, circling him. “Never underestimate your opponent.”
He lunged faster than any human could move. I barely managed to dodge his strike, feeling the whoosh of air as his fist passed millimeters from my face. The stone bench behind me shattered when he connected with it instead.
I used his momentum against him by grabbing his extended arm and twisting it behind his back. My combat training kickedin like muscle memory. Two tours in Afghanistan weren’t all for nothing.
