Page 119 of A Sword of Ice
He’d always been careful to keep what he loved away from the king, but it was obvious to anyone by the way Uric followed that he’d grown to mean something to the prince.
It was why he’d always tried to keep his feelings at bay with anyone he came in contact with. It was why he always seemed so cold and aloof when the reality was, he was anything but.
“A punishment is meant to hurt,” his father said as he began rolling up his own sleeves up to the elbows. “To ensure you do not disobey me again, I will make it agonizing for your friend. If only to get my point across.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Undress!” he barked at Uric. “Now.”
“No.”
But Uric was already moving without complaint, pushing past Valerio, shrugging his jacket off as he went. It dropped to the ground, followed by his shirt until he was standing there in nothing but his pants, his pale skin on display.
The latticework of blue veins that spread across his body like the rivers of a map somehow made him look more vulnerable than the sharp jut of his shoulder blades did. His silver hair fell across his back that he turned so it was facing the king.
“Father,” Valerio tried pleading once again, but he realized his mistake as soon as the word left his lips.
He was pleading, trying to appeal to the king’s compassion.
And his father had none.
“Watch what the consequences of your foolery brings, my son,” he said. Magic sparked against his fingertips, a whip of shadows forming in his hand like something ethereal yet real at the same time. His magic taking hold.
For the King of the Seelie Courts could mold shadows into solid form.
“Father,please.”
But his words fell on deaf ears as his father’s hand arched back and the whip in his hand snapped.
Uric’s dark eyes found Valerio’s own, and a wry smile twisted his face as if to say,“Do not worry, my prince.”
But the king’s arm came whipping down, and the first lash struck against Uric’s back, and his body convulsed.
And Uric’s blood flooded the halls.
50
The History of Castle Aileach
Fae wine hit her system like a jolt of raw magic, making her skin buzz. Every nerve ending felt alive and primed for something Iona couldn’t quite grasp no matter how hard she reached.
Her tankard became a bottomless pit. It seemed every time she neared the end, it was being filled all over again by Julius.
“I have a feeling you’re trying to get me drunk,” Iona said, feeling her words slur and her cheeks heat.
Julius smirked at her. “That obvious, mate?”
“Ha! You think you’re so smooth, but you’re not.” As if to prove a point, she grabbed the tankard and downed the contents within seconds, then slammed it back against the rickety table. Julius’ hand darted forward, but before he could dump more wine from the pitcher into her glass, she pushed it away and watched it go crashing to the ground. “Ha, beat you,” she teased.
“So you did…” A twinkle glossed over his bright green eyes, and a second too late she realized it for the mischief that it was.
“Julius…” Her voice held a note of warning that he didn’t heed. She stood from her chair, and it toppled to the ground. She stepped over it, her palms up as Julius followed like a prowling predator. “Think about this…”
His mouth twisted up into one of his growling, mocking smiles.
That was how she knew she was in trouble.
She didn’t bother talking anymore. Instead, she turned and ran through the foyer of the castle, crying out when he caught up to her in just a few strides. His arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her from the ground. Her feet flailed and she pounded against his forearms while laughter trickled out of her throat.
