Page 3 of Reigning
“You’ve been trained by a powerful demon, powerful shifters even.” An affectionate nod is passed toward the good boy seated across from me. “And now you’ll be trained by the most powerful mage in the world.”
Insert my excitement here.
“Great,” I beam, dazzling smile in full force.
“I’m surprised by your change in attitude.” She arches her brow at me, and I have to be at her level of evil genius if I’m going to save myself as well as the asshole shifter who nearly murdered me just moments ago.
I straighten my back and shift my gaze away from her, looking up at Rime for the briefest moment.
“Rime and I were both outcasts growing up. He’s himself here. I didn’t realize that until this morning, but he’s more himself than I’ve ever seen.” That’s not entirely untrue. He’s one hundred percent dragon. The voice of the man who used to tame this beast isn’t in there anymore. He’s himself, if himself ever existed in his beast. I grind my teeth together before I take a breath and carry on with the speech I’d rehearsed all night in my little cell. “I want to be me, too. I want to be the mage I should have been.”
That’s not untrue either. I’m being so honest this morning I’m surprised I haven’t been awarded a good citizen’s merit yet.
I really did want to learn from her, too. Before I met the Solstice Queen, I wanted to learn from her, I wanted to be her.
And now all my naive dreams are coming true.
It feels like shit to have these dreams come true.
“I’m so happy to hear that, Arlow.” Her voice is cold but calm. Her head tilts as she studies me.
I feel watched on the deepest level possible, and it’s hard for me not to squirm under her gaze. Her lips part as if she’s made up her mind about me, but before she speaks, the doors swing open once again.
And in walks…another demon.
Gray smoke wafts around his steps as he rushes toward the queen in his flat black armor. His crimson eyes remind me of my own demon, but the hard look of his gaze is different, as if he’s forged from a merciless place in Hell.
A place Sinister has never known.
The demon bends at the waist and whispers a stream of rasping words that I can’t hear into Ellise’s ear. Her lips thin, but the annoyance turns into a pleased smile. She nods and waves the demon off.
His gaze slides to me for a short moment, and I smother my cringe at the way his attention rakes over my body.
Demons like him give his hellacious kind a bad name.
“I know it’ll take time for you to trust me. Because it’ll take time for me to trust you, I’m afraid.” She glances my way before flicking her attention to Rime. “We have visitors trekking through the mountains from the south.”
My men?
“It seems King Barron is prepared to make the journey to my kingdom to retrieve a mage on the run.”
It’s then that she does focus fully on me, and I have to keep my breath even as my heartbeat pounds in my ears.
“Of course, it’ll be surprising if the old man can make it the final mile up to the top of our mountain on foot, but we will see.” Her smirk is serene and mocking all at the same time. “Do you want me to show you some real protection spells, my dear?”
I hate how much I truly want that. A stupid part of me really does want that. But a smarter part of me tells me it’d be good to learn everything I can before showing all my cards.
“I’d love that,” I say on a quiet breath.
The way her eyes shine is the kindest look I think I’ve ever seen from her.
“Then we better get started before our guests arrive.”
Step one: Form an unbreakable bond between two isolated women.
And then be ready to break it.
Two
