1. Kaiya
The last rays of sunlight streamed in through the front windows of the rehabilitation room as I deepened my stretch, trying to ignore the twinge of pain in my stiff hip and side.
The physical therapist told me to go home hours ago. I could practically hear her muttering ”healing requires rest” in that calm voice of hers.
Ha! I”d already had six damn months of rest. I needed to work.
Unfortunately, the only thing standing between me and my mission was her signature on my clean bill of health.
Letting out a slow breath, I pushed deeper into the stretch, relishing the ache.
This wasn”t my first injury, and she wasn”t my first stubborn doctor. I”d find a way to convince her.
”Ewwww.”
The disgusted screech made me jump, and I looked over my shoulder. Three silhouettes stood outside the frosted windows of the sliding door.
Gods.I hated tours.
The person in back held a hand to their face. ”This place smells like sick people! I can”t have that stench soaking into my skin.”
Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to my stretches.
Whoever had told the wealthy aristocrats that visiting recovering agents was some sort of ”charity” deserved to be flogged. They always insulted far more people than they helped.
Hopefully they moved on quickly.
”Especially before the ball,” a lower voice interjected. ”Why are we even here, Jaiel?”
My stomach flipped.
Did he just say Jaiel? Not that ass —
The door slid open with a bang, and I winced, forcing myself not to react further as I finished my stretch. I”d need all the patience I could muster to deal with the asshole Fae prince.
”Wow, she would be pretty if not for all of those hideous scars,” the lower voice from before whispered loudly. ”I wonder if they extend to her —”
”Shut up, Deyrin,” Jaiel snapped. ”No one gives a fuck what you wonder.”
I exhaled on an eight count, then stood to face them, hands on my hips.
”What can I do for you, Prince Kierstall?”
The Fae Prince of Shadows leaned casually against the door frame, dark hair painstakingly braided to show off his pierced pointed ears.
He’d chosen to wear a uniform, at least, instead of his normal sheer pants and vest. It did nothing to disguise the lean muscles cording his shoulders, arms, and chest, though.
His bored blue gaze met mine, brow lifting as he took in my white chemise and breeches.
I forced my hands to stay on my hips.
There was nothing wrong with me or these clothes. They were completely acceptable garb for patients doing rehabilitation. If he had a problem with it, he should have stayed away.
The male companion cleared his throat, and I looked over. He and the woman standing at Jaiel”s side had long golden hair, deep brown eyes, and wore lavish clothing suited for only the most formal of occasions.
Why in the seven hells had Jaiel brought them here?
”You know, Princess, if I”d known this was what I”d see at physical therapy, I may have been a bit less careful on mymissions,” Jaiel drawled.
”And what missions were those, Prince Kierstall?” I asked, cocking my brow. ”An injury like this,” I gestured to my hip and side, ”would require you to actually leave the Palace grounds and do something of value.” I scrunched my nose and let my eyes rake over him. ”And we both know you don”t do that kind of work.”
Those blue eyes darkened.
”You wound me, my lady!” he said, hand to his chest. ”Are you claiming my work has no value?”
Shrugging, I wrapped the towel around my body and let my gaze linger on his companions before returning to him. ”I”m just saying it”s … a very different kind of work — with, perhaps, less impact than we agents have.”
”I don”t know,” the woman said, voice husky as she trailed her fingers down the gold buttons decorating Jaiel”s broad chest. ”He can certainly do some amazing, impactful things with that pierced cock of his.”
My breath caught and my cheeks heated. I”d heard many rumors about Prince Jaiel, but never that …
What kind of piercings did he have?
No. I shook off the thought.
I didn’t care if he had a gods forsaken Jacob’s ladder — his cock was not my problem.
”Why are you here, Jaiel?”
”Same Princess as always, I see,” he stepped away from the door. ”All work and no fun.”
I just rolled my eyes.
He turned to his companions. ”Why don”t you two wait for me outside while I talk to killjoy here?”
The woman pouted, shooting me a venomous glare, as the man pressed a quick kiss to Jaiel”s pointed ear before they both stepped out and closed the door.
Jaiel turned back to me, a bored look plastered on his face. ”Look, before you say something snide, I don”t want to be here either. Your lovely boss sent me, and you know how she is.”
I did. But I was due to have a meeting with Lady Frexin tomorrow.
Why would she —
”She was less than pleased with you skipping out on the awards ceremony this afternoon.” He shook his head. ”I”ll never understand why you risk her ire like that.”
”She”ll understand once I explain.”
”Exactly. And isn”t that the problem?” He stepped towards me, lips twisted into a bitter smirk. ”She”d forgive anything of her prized Savior of Karemi.”
I gritted my teeth. Gods, I hated that title.
As much as it pained me to admit it, though, he was right. Lady Frexin gave me more leeway than other agents.
But it wasn”t because of any sort of fondness for me. She just knew my secret — the one thatmade me her best option to find and destroy those forsaken relic creatures.
We”d both seen the destruction they could cause, and were united in our goal to rid the world of them.
”Unfortunately for you —” He paused and stepped closer. ”This time, it seems she has other priorities.”
”What do you mean, other priorities?” Frexin had no other priorities. It was the relics, and that was it.
Just like me.
His jaw tightened. ”She demanded I inform youthat if you wish to be cleared for duty, you WILL attend the ball tonight. The ball that begins in —” He glanced at his pocket watch. ”— three hours.”
”Wait, what!?” I spluttered as I looked down at my sweaty clothes and body. ”I wasn”t planning on —”
”No need to have a fit.” He chuckled. ”The ever-forward-thinking Lady Frexin sent a team to your room to help you prepare.”
Of course she had. Which meant she probably also sent a damn corset and heels.
Wait, had he said she was clearing me for duty?
I”d almost missed it in the horror of his other words!
”She actually said if I go to the ball, I”ll be cleared for duty?” I asked, excitement bubbling in my chest.
”It would seem that way,” he sneered. ”Though, now that I see you.” His gaze slid slowly down my body. ”I can”t help but wonder if that”s a good idea.”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest.
”Not a good idea?” I spat. ”Are you insane? I”ve been working the past SIX months so I can return to the field. Why in the seven hells would I stop now?”
He gestured towards me, ringed fingers glinting in the setting sun ”You look healed, but … tired.” He dropped his hand. ”Are you sure you”re fully recovered?”
”I just haven”t slept well lately. Plus, my work is too important to wait. I need to get back out there.”
”Saints, Princess.” He rubbed at the rings in his left ear. ”Have these injuries taught you nothing? Fuck. The world won”t come crashing down if you take a break from your work. There are other relic hunters — ones you could even team up with if you weren”t so saints forsaken stubborn. But no, the great Kaiya Maderoth must go it alone … no matter the cost.”
My memory slipped back to Gleyma — a time I hadn”t gone it alone.
Lifeless green eyes stared sightlessly up at me. My fault.
Aunt Grace lay unconscious a few yards away, unaware she would never walk again. My fault.
Warped and bloody bodies scattered across the room — people I”d grown up with — corrupted by a magic that should never have been touched. My fault.
All because of that accursed cult, and Lynk … and my gods damned childish mistakes.
No. It may be convenient to have a team, but I’d never risk another person like that again.
”You know what? Forget I said anything …” He shook his head and stepped back. ”Like my sister used to say, ”Keep your head down, and mind your own mushroom patch.” So do whatever you like, Princess. I don”t care. Just remember our deal.”
I rolled my eyes.
”Of course. But I don”t see how drinking all the Empire”s liquor and fucking their citizens plays into the rebellion.” I raised my eyebrows. ”How isbeing a Rogue going for you these days, Your Highness?”
His eyes widened, and he slammed his hand against my mouth, gesturing wildly toward the people outside the room.
Seriously?His hand was disgusting, and I didn”t want it anywhere near my mouth. Who knew where it had been?
I bit down as hard as I could.
”Ow!” Jaiel leaped back, blue eyes wide as he clutched the injured hand to his chest.
”They weren”t even listening, asshole.” I hissed, wiping my mouth. ”I”ll keep your damn secret, so long as you keep mine. Now, if you”ll excuse me,” I stepped back. ”I have a gods-forsaken ball to prepare for.”
”Hells! I can”t believe you actually bit me. And hard,” he mumbled. ”I was just trying to help, for saints sake.”
”Careful now, Prince Kierstall. That almost sounds like you care.”
His blue gaze darkened, then his lips quirked. ”Of course I care, Princess.” He lifted a hand to his chest in feigned affront. ”I mean … I wouldn”t want such lovely assets going to waste. Alone. Out in the wilderness, in forgotten tombs. In fact …” he purred, stepping closer — close enough that the scents of silk and warm tea flooded over me. ”I”m sure I could convince my companions to let you join us for one last fling.” His nose flared and his eyes narrowed. ”After you clean yourself up, of course.”
My fist flew toward his jaw before I could even think.
He intercepted the blow, warm fingers curling tightly around my own — firm but not cruel.
”You”re such an asshole,” I bit out. ”What in the seven hells does everyone see in you?”
”No strings and a man who lives every day like it”s his last. The pierced cock doesn’t hurt either.” He winked.
Letting out a frustrated groan, I yanked myself free and stalked off, purposefully ignoring the low laughter behind me.
”See you at the ball, Princess.”
”I”d prefer not!” I yelled back. ”And stop calling me Princess. It confuses everyone.”
”As you wish, my Queen!”
Gods,I clenched my fists. He was truly the most irritating asshole in the Empire.
I wouldn’t let him ruin my day, though. I forced slow breaths in my nose and out my mouth. He wasn’t worth the pain.
The only thing that mattered was that after six long months of recovery, I”d finally be returning to the only thing that mattered.
And the only thing standing in my way was that gods-forsaken ball.