Awakening the Dark Flame (The Dark Throne #2)

18. Chapter 18

Chapter eighteen

B e strong. Be brave. Don’t let your weakness show. Bury your emotions. Be more alfar than human. I stood in front of the mirror, telling myself this over and over again in my head. I made my way to combat practice and worked off my aggravation and anger on Toreon and Varches. The twins still couldn’t figure out why my black weapon radiated green instead of blue, which hurt their egos.

I made my way to lunch with my uncle, where we discussed light court relations and political matters. It was a good distraction from the failure that was my personal life. I retreated to the library after and found a dark corner to curl up in and escape from reality into a fictional world.

Lily caught up with me before I returned to my room to prepare for dinner. She could tell something was off, but I just blamed it on court matters. In the hall, I passed by Icici and a group of males. She smiled mockingly as if she knew what had occurred the night before. The very sight of her made my stomach turn. I didn’t allow myself to think about her and Eren together. I couldn’t.

Atalee prepared my hair and makeup in silence. Snow began to fall outside on the balcony. It was peaceful as I went outside and caught the small flakes on my fingers, stretching out my tongue to welcome the frozen delight. That night, I picked a light blue dress to honor the snow. It was a lighter color than anyone in the court ever wore, but I didn’t care; I was a royal.

The dress was made entirely of lace, allowing you to see most of my skin underneath. I paired it with my silver crown and crystal earrings. I touched the small star pendant around my neck. I was free. That was all that mattered. I walked over to the door as Atalee made her way out. Eren stood outside, waiting to escort me to the throne room.

I gave him a small smile as the guards closed the doors behind me. He looked me up and down slowly, taking note of the dress. I ignored his glance, remembering his words from the night before. He extended his arm to me, and I took it as if nothing had happened. The very feeling of his touch was hard to bear.

“Are we good?” he asked coldly.

“Of course,” I said, trying to sound unfazed. “A fuck is just a fuck.”

He turned his head towards me in surprise, but I didn’t allow my mask to fall.

I maintained my cool and collected composure for the next few weeks, even though my heart remained empty and heavy. Eren acted normal, as if nothing had happened. He made jokes, which I laughed at, trying to return to our normal banter. At night when I closed my eyes, I would dream of Eren with Icici. I heard their sounds of pleasure, saw the joy in both of their faces as his hands devoured her body. I would wake, heart heavy and eyes full.

I used the projection sphere to replay the memory of our night together. I searched for signs of regret on his face, but there were none. There was desire, longing, intimacy, and passion. I swore there was feeling in his eyes, but I feared I was just seeing what I wanted to see.

One night after dinner, Eren was escorting me back to my room when Icici stopped us in the hall. She bowed politely as she looked from Eren to me. Her dark eyebrows raised as her cold eyes narrowed on me. Great, here we go again.

“Cousin, I’ve recently learned we have more in common than just our blood,” she said.

“You can read too? Oh, wow, I am so happy for you,” I said.

She snickered, raising her head higher than mine. She leaned into my ear and spoke loud enough that Eren could hear. “His tongue is my favorite part. The way he devours your sex, starting fast and then slowing right before he holds your orgasm, prolonging the pleasure, causing you to completely loose control. Oh, and let’s not forget how wonderful that dark head of hair looks in between our legs,” she said.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be, Icici?” asked Eren.

My throat closed and my heart managed to crumble a little more as she described the same experience I had with him .

“Is that an invitation, ambassador?” she asked. She looked back at me and smiled. “Though, I was surprised when my eyes and ears informed me that the whole process only took about ten minutes before he ran out of your chambers. He usually takes me at least six times before the sun even rises. Each session lasting, what Eren, an hour at the least? Though, by the look of you,” she said, pausing to look me up and down. “I can understand why he left without seconds. I can’t blame him. He obviously prefers me over you.” She smirked before moving on.

I clenched my fists together to avoid ripping her head off with my bare hands. I didn’t even look at Eren. I couldn’t. I straightened my posture and made my way back to my room without a word.

That night, I told the guards I would receive no visitors. I got ready for bed and tried to push Icici from my mind. As I brushed my hair my stomach began to turn. I barely made it to the bathroom before I vomited up my entire dinner. I didn’t feel unwell. I blamed it on my bitch of a cousin.

The next day I buried myself in politics. My father had chosen three humans that would be sacrificed to Azeer. I read over their profiles carefully. An 83-year-old man with bad lungs. A 38-year-old woman who had lost her whole family to sickness and wished to join them. And a 53-year-old man who was a killer and rapist. What a batch.

Eren entered the meeting room I was currently occupying. I smiled at him, turning my attention back to my papers. He walked over casually, peeking over my shoulder. “Human sacrifices have been chosen?” he asked.

“Yup. A sick old man, a lonely widow, and a rapist. Azeer will be pleased,” I said.

He chuckled to himself. “He hasn’t complained yet, so I would trust your father’s judgment.”

I nodded, pushing the papers back into the black folder as I sat back in my chair. Eren perched on the table corner near me. “Listen, about Icici—”

“Eren, please, there’s nothing to talk about,” I said, pulling a book in front of me.

He was silent for a few moments. “I don’t prefer her over you, and our encounter didn’t last as long because of how enjoyable it was,” he said quickly, as if he had to get it out.

I rubbed my temples, not in the mood for this conversation. “My cousin has a unique personality,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

“She’s just doing this to rattle you. She thinks if your mind is distracted, you will be an easy target for her to taunt and terrorize.”

“But why? What have I ever done to her?”

“Icici sees everyone as competition. It’s her defect. She is used to being the most beautiful and charming female in the room.” He paused, placing his hands in his pockets and shifting his eyes to the floor. “Ever since you were introduced, that is no longer the case.”

I pushed the small flutter of his flattering comment down into the base of my stomach, trying not to read too much into it. “I don’t need any more distractions, especially where the two of you are concerned, believe me.”

“What do you mean?”

I exhaled in frustration. “Ever since you and I were … together, I’ve dreamt of you and Icici in that way. For whatever reason, my mind likes to torture me with too many details I don’t wish to speak of.”

He exhaled in annoyance as he stood to his feet.

“What?”

“Come on, Gen, think. Why would you have the same dream every night? If it’s not a vision, then where is it coming from?” he asked, leaning in towards me.

Shit . Icici’s gift was power over nightmares. “She’s been toying with my mind for weeks,” I said in astonishment.

“Yes, and it isn’t the first time. She was the one who constructed all those rape dreams when you were dealing with the aftermath of Lysanthier.”

“That bitch! Why are you just now telling me?”

“I informed your father and he put a stop to it. He didn’t want you to know, just in case there was a chance of you two mending your relationship.”

“I am going to cut off every one of her limbs and feed her to the fairies,” I said with a sneer.

“Oh, that reminds me. We are receiving the fairy court tonight at dinner,” he said.

“You are just full of information, aren’t you,” I snapped, standing to my feet. “What will my father do to Icici?”

“I don’t know, but I am sure it isn’t anything pleasant.”

“When you tell him, please leave the details of the dream out. I don’t want him knowing we—”

“Of course, neither do I,” he said, smiling at me. “Oh, and cover up tonight. As little skin exposed as possible. It makes them hungry. So that means the blue dress and diamond dress are off-limits.”

“You’re memorizing my wardrobe now?”

“Only the ones worth remembering,” he said, winking at me.

“Tell me about them. The fairy king and queen,” I said, changing the subject.

“The rulers are a brother and sister. Twins. Who are also married.”

“Why does their race still exist?” I said, disgusted even more by them.

“Strong, fast, they fly, they’re reckless and unfeeling. Brutal, underground hives. Would you like me to continue?”

“Smartass,” I said, feeling my stomach begin to turn. Before I could say another word, I rushed over to the wastebasket and threw up, feeling dizzy and clammy. I pulled my head from the bucket as Eren offered me his handkerchief.

“Everything alright?” he asked concernedly.

“Yeah, I must have eaten something that didn’t settle right. I don’t feel ill,” I said, thinking back to last night’s vomit session.

“Anyways, their names are Pyra and Phasis. Ten other fairies will be attending. They will only be staying a night. They are coming to discuss a dispute between the nymphs and their hive.”

“Always fun at the dark court,” I said, walking towards the door. The sigil in my left wrist began to burn as the arrow spun, leading me towards Otar’s dead body. I gasped in pain. “Dammit, Otar. You pick the most inconvenient times to get yourself killed,” I yelled, holding my wrist.

Eren laughed. “Come on. We should have time to find the little fucker before dinner.”

We found Otar’s body on the bank of a lake that was fed by a large waterfall. We brought him back to the castle and Eren waited outside until I resurrected him. Once he came to, Eren re-entered, curious what had killed him this time.

“Very grateful, yes very grateful as always, wicked one,” Otar said, shaking the ash off.

“What got you this week?” asked Eren.

Otar sneered at him. “I am not talking to you, ungrateful alfar bastard,” he said, turning his back to him.

“What did I do now?” asked Eren.

Otar appeared in front of him, teeth bared. “Do not play stupid. Stupid is the last thing you are. You know exactly what you did you selfish, narcissistic pansy. Someday, I swear to you that I will cut off your precious dick and I will shove it down that smart mouth of yours. Then, I will take your puny testicles and replace your eyeballs with them,” spat Otar. He must have sensed my pain after Eren’s and my relations.

“Otar, please tell us what killed you,” I said, trying to get his attention.

He calmed at the sound of my voice, backing away from Eren to where I was sitting in a chair. He sat on the floor and laid his head on my lap, placing my hand on his head. “As you wish, wicked one. It was a harpy this time. I tried to make sex with it and she attacked me. I defended myself, but I was still turned on and distracted. I leaned in to take a bite, and she shoved her sword through my heart and threw me over the waterfall, where I drowned.”

I snickered, covering my mouth with my hand. “You tried to have sex with a harpy?” I asked. “I didn’t even know you had sex, Otar.”

“I’ve learned a thing or two at your delicious court, wicked one. Some of your subjects even enjoy me,” he said, lifting his head to smile at me. Suddenly, Otar grabbed his head in pain as a loud and unsettling scream erupted from deep inside of him. I looked to Eren to see if he was hurting him, but he looked as confused as I was. I reached out to comfort Otar, but a third arm came flying out of his side, slashing into my arm.

Eren appeared, pulling me away from him. He turned to attack Otar, but I stopped him.

“No, wait,” I said, concerningly. “He’s in pain. He didn’t mean to. It was just a reaction,”

“You forget what he is, Genevieve,” Eren huffed. “You are too trusting with it.”

Otar finally relaxed, looking down at my blood that dripped from his talons. He looked at my arm as Eren wrapped it in a clean cloth. Otar made his way over to me hesitantly.

Eren held out his hand to stop him. “That’s close enough, you reckless fuck.”

“I … I never want to hurt the wicked one. I never would,” he said, looking sad for the first time.

“It’s just a scratch, I’ll be fine. Are you okay?” I asked.

“I … I remembered,” he said with excitement.

“Remember what?” I asked.

“Narella. She works for a male. An alfar who has great power. He is from this world, but not. His name is Alaric. He takes and takes and then controls,” said Otar as he began to pace from side to side. Eren and I both perked up, eager for the information.

“What else, Otar?” I asked.

“He wants more power, more gifts. That is why he has come here. He is after the—” Otar stopped, scratching at his head. “He’s after … Ah, fuck, it is gone!” he yelled, kicking my bedpost repeatedly.

“Otar, it is okay. You’ve given us a lot. You will remember in time. You did good,” I said.

He smiled, making his way over to me. He glared at Eren who was standing on the other side of my chair. Otar leaned into my face, secretively. He pointed his finger at me as his expression turned serious.

“He does not deserve the gift. Do not tell him of the gift. It is your gift and my gift, you hear me? You hear me, wicked one?” he snapped.

I looked at him, confused. His eyes flickered to Eren and then back to me. I nodded, still unsure of what he was talking about. He smiled and then disappeared from in front of me.

“What secret are you two keeping? Now that I know the thing can have sex, my mind is spiraling with possibilities,” said Eren.

“Seriously? What is wrong with you?” I asked in annoyance.

“Your gift, his gift. It must be some gift,” he said, winking at me.

Atalee entered the room to prepare me for dinner. “Atalee, sweetheart,” Eren said, “cover the princess as much as possible. No skin showing beside her face.” He turned back to me. “I will not be here to escort you. Therosi will have that honor. You can thank your uncle for that. I will be preparing for the fairy court, so I will see you at dinner.” He bowed, leaving the room.

I moved to the vanity as Atalee pulled thick dresses from the armoire.

“Atalee, change of plans for tonight’s look,” I said, smiling at myself in the mirror.