Page 44 of To Wake a Kingdom

My vision went dark and shrank to a point, remembering that day when King Goldraven had pinned me against a stone wall and snarled those words in my face. I felt the grip of his hand on my throat like it was still there, choking me and stealing my air.

Em was on her feet now, but something held her back.Magic, I realized.

Coming back to myself, I focused on Kianna and the blood Fae. “Get away from her!” I attempted to fuse steel into my voice, but it came out like shredded cotton. Four pairs of eyes swung to me.

The Fae were nearly painful to look at this closely. The way they moved, as if made from molten silver. The vivid intensity in their eyes. The glow of their skin was so bright, it was as if the very sun burned in their hearts. How could creatures so cruel be so beautiful?

I was absurd in my puffy dress, my hair disheveled and my face tight. Blinking to clear my sleep-addled brain, I pointed my dagger and hoped I was a more menacing sight than I imagined. Maida’s glittering black eyes burned even hotter when his gaze swept over me.

“The sleeping princess.” His voice was silky and mocking. “I wondered when we’d see you again.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, but you do.” He prowled slowly toward me. “All alone, asleep inside your castle. The cursed princess and her faithful Fae companion.”

“How do you know that?” I cursed as soon as the words slipped out, knowing I’d just confirmed his statement, but surprise had taken hold of my tongue.

He tipped his head to the side and gave me a bland smile.“It is my job to know, Princess.”

“What should we do with her, Maida?” Alban had closed in on Kianna. As he ran the tip of his nose along the column of her throat, she whimpered.

“Leave her alone!” I shouted, teetering on the verge of tears.

Maida laughed again, and I glared at him. “When we’re done with her, maybe you can have a turn. If you’re lucky.” With a movement so quick I missed it, he stood directly in front of me.

It threw me off balance and I took a step back, almost stumbling to the ground. Body inches from mine, his expression was a mixture of smug condescension and heat. A full head taller, his honed form rippled with muscle covered in silver dyed leather, no doubt meant to make his shining head of hair even more glorious. The effect was flawless. Terrible and beautiful. Horrible and stunning.

Maida sniffed, lowering his head toward me, a finger stroking my collarbone as I held completely still. I wouldn’t let him see me cower. “Youdosmell delicious for a human. I wonder why that is?”

A scowl pinched my face.

“Don’t look at me like that, Princess. Not only would you enjoy it, but I’d have you begging for it by the end.” He dragged his finger across my skin, curving it over my shoulder and down my arm. “Have you burning with need as you crawled on your hands and knees, pleading for release over and over again. Until you’re a hollow, thoroughly fucked husk of the woman you were, my name fused to your lips.”

His words swept through me on currents of spiced air. Burning and sinuous, they were edged in a forbidden darkness that had me aching to sink into them and swallow up every last drop. For a shameless moment, Iwantedto give into him. Was this some trick of his kind? There was a pull from the center of my chest, and I almost leaned closer until the tether snapped, and I took a step back, hurling an angry snarl. He smiled as though he knew exactly what had gone through my mind.

“That will never happen. I’d rather die than let you touch me. Or her.”

To my astonishment, he backed away, his eyes pinned to me.“We’ll see about that. Though I do prefer a willing plaything. We will meet again. Let’s go, Alban. This has become…tedious.” He gestured to his companion, who peeled away from Kianna.

She sagged against the wall, her shaking legs no longer keeping her upright.

“Get away from them!” A voice floated from the end of the alley. Ronan careened around the corner, sword in hand. Hair mussed and loose, his clothes were askew and unfastened as if he’d just tossed them on.

Maida turned to face him. “Well, well, it seems everyone is at the party tonight. What are you doing here, Ronan?”

“That’sCommander Goldravento you,” Ronan replied through gritted teeth. “Step away from them, Maida. I knew it was a mistake to let you two out of Estria.”

Maida let out a low, guttural sound. “We are not under your command,Ronan.” He paused, his expression feral, while he scanned Ronan from head to toe. His full lips stretched into a languorous smile. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten whatyoutaste like.”Challenge entered both men’s eyes as they stared at each other, and I pondered what history they shared. “But we were already leaving. Such a daring rescue, several moments too late.”

Amusement had returned to Maida’s face. He studied me with a long and questioning look before gesturing to Alban. They stalked off down the alley, disappearing from view.

I rushed to Kianna, who was now sobbing on the ground.

“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“I’m fine, Your Highness. Just shaken.”

Em shuffled nervously in front of us. Whatever magic had been holding her back was gone.

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