Page 47 of Vicious Princess
I scoff. “I know how to handle myself.”
The only answer I get is a smirk. Roman’s off, and I’m alone.
Alright. Let’s see who’s fighting inside that pit.
I recognize his back instantly. Daegel stands with his back facing me, his Ezkai tattoos sprawling the expanse of his shredded back. With every movement, the muscles ripple under his tan skin.
Roman was right. The sight alone is so worth getting out of bed.
I inch closer to the ring to get a better view.
Daegel moves like he owns the pit. Each step of his quick feet is measured, careful despite the thick light-orange liquid covering the floor. It reaches up to his bare ankles and sticks to his feet.
It hits me then. The familiar sweet and spicy scent that burns my eyes…Flaming honey.
The crowd roars as Daegel lands a brutal punch on his opponent’s jaw. It sends his head violently to the side. If he were a human or a dwarf, his jaw would have cracked.
“Damn, that must have hurt,” Roman says from behind me, startling me. “But I would let Ezkai Daegel punch me whenever he wants.”
I snort. “Seriously? You’re so quick to lose all of your self-respect?”
Roman’s smile is sharp. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t let him do ungodly things to you, princess.”
Before I can answer, Daegel’s opponent charges at him with a roar.
Roman and I stand shoulder to shoulder as we watch Daegel step out of the way just in time, despite the flaming honey making it hard for him to move. Daegel twists at the waist and smacks his elbow down onto his opponent’s back, right between the shoulder blades.
The fae soldier falls face down into the flaming honey.
Roman and I both sigh at the same time.
Yeah. The things I would let him do to me are ungodly.
I don’t say that to Roman of course. Instead, I scoff. “He’s so full of himself. Arrogant fae soldier. Big deal.”
“Uh-huh. Whatever makes you feel better, princess.”
“Shut up.” I elbow him in the side. “Better yet, tell me why the ring is full of flaming honey.”
Roman’s surprised. “How do you know about the flaming honey? You have fire bees in Wetra, too?”
“The furious, human-sized bees that shoot fire out of their stingers? Yeah, no,” I say. “They made us train in flaming honey back in Wetra, though. You didn’t pass unless you could fight through the burn.”
“Damn, that’s rough. I can barely stand the sting in my eyes from being close to it. I can’t imagine having to fight in it.”
I turn back to watch Daegel. “Yeah. Not fun.”
That barely describes what it truly feels to stand in flaming honey for hours on end. Not only is it gooey as fuck and sticks to everything it touches, but it burns as if hot tongues of flame are licking at your skin.
I would know.
Daegel’s opponent doesn’t get back up to fight. The major stands over the fallen fae, tall and powerful. A shiver goes down my spine when he looks up from his opponent and our eyes meet.
His face is ice. But his gaze is fire. And it burns through me, making my heart race.
I can’t stand it.
I look away first.
