Chapter 35 #2
“You won,” I said blandly, not letting on that I was at all impressed by his victory as I scrutinised him.
“Obviously,” he said with a shrug like it was nothing. Like he wasn’t battered and bruised and bleeding while speckled with his own blood alongside his opponent’s. Like there hadn’t been a single second where he’d doubted he’d be kneeling here before me at the end of the bout.
I plastered a false smile onto my face and he gave me a salacious look, running his tongue along his bottom lip in an utterly indecent way in front of the entire royal gathering who all tittered and applauded like he was some sort of hero.
Magdor released a noise of disapproval and I glanced at her, finding her giving Drake a calculating look that set my pulse racing.
I’d been at the end of those looks before, the kind she gave just before she delivered her cruel punishments to me.
There was no doubting who she wanted to win my hand in this pageant, and suddenly I was glad that at least Drake was giving her a moment of doubt over her son’s domination in this game.
Of course, I wasn’t going to be jumping aboard Team Drake just because he’d angered Magdor, but I couldn’t say I took no pleasure in seeing her usually unbreakable facade slip and her irritation at the crowd’s clear enthusiasm for this new and unknown suitor slip through.
“Get on with it then, my dear,” Magdor said encouragingly, though she said it partly through bared teeth as she pretended to smile and my amusement at her fury grew. “You may stand, Count Nazari.”
I recalled the words I was expected to say to each winner, stepping closer to Drake as I gazed at his bare chest, wondering where the hell I was supposed to pin this rosette while taking in the unusual display of ink which caressed his skin.
Drake got to his feet so suddenly that my breath caught, his proximity practically indecent as he towered over me, his powerful, half-dressed frame so close to me that all I could see was him, the masculine scent pouring from his flesh making certain that every single one of my senses was assaulted by the undeniable aura of this man.
“Don’t keep me in suspense, dear wife,” he whispered, tilting his chin down to bring it closer to my ear and keep his words between us and that anger in me rose sharply again.
I dragged my eyes back up from his gleaming torso and found him goading me with a grin which seemed all too genuine and utterly infuriating all at once.
Light shone from his eyes that spoke of a life well-lived, one where he was free and always would be.
Where he got to throw money at anyone he liked, buy anything he wanted. And I was next on his list.
Well not if I can help it.
“Count Drake Nazari, I proudly present this rosette to you in honour of winning your first round. May the luck of the lost gods stay on your side and offer you more victories in the pageant,” I drawled, not putting any heart into those words.
“I'm the luckiest man in The Twelve Kingdoms,” Drake said, his confidence clearly knowing no bounds. “So no doubt it will.”
I fought an eyeroll, closing the already too small gap between us and his scent rolled over me.
All man. Perspiration, blood and freedom.
A freedom I couldn’t even dare to try and claim simply because I was born a woman.
I wondered if he even appreciated the pure privilege he possessed simply because he’d been born noble with a cock between his thighs. How easy it must have been to be him.
“You didn't get away unscathed. If you're limping in tomorrow's fight, I doubt you'll do so well again.” I relished the small ounce of power I took back from him, watching his expression flicker for half a second before his cockiness returned with a casual shrug.
“I'm not limping, Princess,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “If I staggered over here, it is only because I am crippled in the face of your beauty. It is a wonder I am not more wounded.”
I scoffed as the crowd cooed, lapping up every drop of his bullshit, and I could see he was practically laughing with how easy it was to feed them it. But I would not be so easily fooled or won over.
I moved forward, painting on the sweetest smile I could manage and his eyebrows arched as he bought the lie I was presenting, pretending I had fallen for his sickly sweet words too.
I lifted the pin, pinching the skin beneath his collar bone and he frowned, a protest on his lips as he saw my intent, but then his lips locked tight, and his eyes dared me to do it instead.
I could see he didn’t believe I would, that we were just back to a game of daring and I’d be the first to back down.
But he was wrong about me in more ways than one. And I had no problem proving it.
I stabbed the pin of the rosette into his flesh without care and he cursed under his breath as I slid it firmly into place, a trickle blood running down onto his pec as I released it and admired my work.
The crowd couldn’t see what I’d done, but everyone around me sure as hell had and my attendants gasped between them as Drake stared at me with a snarl curving those ever-smirking lips.
“Thank you, Princess,” he gritted out.
“You’re most welcome, Count Nazari,” I said, batting my lashes at him in mock admiration before returning to my seat, brushing the alorian bloom out of it with intent, causing it to fall to the floor and roll aside.
Drake was suddenly on one knee before me, scooping up the flower and placing it in my hand, stamping his lips to the back of it.
The flower was crushed in my fist while his fingers locked even tighter around it, almost hard enough to hurt.
He looked up at me with a dark and challenging look that told me this was a war he was willing to be a solider in.
He wasn’t put off by my attack, in fact it was clear that it had only spurred him on to win me.
I wasn’t some tame animal to be collared and admired, I was a wild beast and he was going to learn that if he planned on capturing me, he was going to get bitten and mauled at every opportunity I could get.
He released my hand and the petals scattered down to the floor between us, the heat of his mouth remaining imprinted on my skin as he straightened.
“My apologies,” he said in a way that said he wasn’t sorry at all. He was destroying his gift before the crowd could see me discard it for good. “I'll get you another one, your highness.”
“You won't find any in Osaria, Count Nazari,” I said airily. “Pretty things tend to wither in this city.”
Magdor scowled at the jibe I'd made at Osaria, but I didn't care. If she wanted me to pretend that I was happy about these proceedings then she was going to be sorely disappointed.
“Well pretty things tend to bloom in my company,” Drake responded, his gaze burning with the intensity of a thousand suns.
My face dropped at the part he was playing once again. All for show. And I was so tired of being part of the performance. “Perhaps you should spend some time in the gardens this afternoon then, I’ve been dying for the fathom roses to bloom this season.”
I gave him my cheek, dismissing him as I looked towards my maids, taking the class of chilled lemonade which Zira hurriedly fetched for me.
Magdor ushered him away, seeming pleased by my dismissal of the count, though it had nothing to do with her, or her vile son for that matter.
Drake glanced back at Magdor with no trace of warmth in his eyes then descended from the stage, walking on his injured leg and nearly concealing his pain as he strode away.
Zira and Jacinda took their seats on the cushions to my left and I stole a look at my father whose face had been unchanged throughout the entire brawl.
He had clapped when appropriate, but he’d barely seemed to notice Drake or the interaction I’d had with him.
My heart tugged as I tried to catch his eye, but he didn’t look my way, always looking to Magdor instead.
“How handsome a couple you'd make. Two glowing stars joined eternally, burning forever and ever,” Jacinda said with a sigh of longing.
“Oh, do calm down, Jacinda,” I muttered, rubbing my eyes wearily and Zira smothered a laugh.
“He's not all bad,” Zira whispered, glancing up at me. “Better than Kahn,” she mouthed and I nodded, unable to deny that much.
But I didn't want this life. I didn't want a husband who'd claim my father's throne and never allow me to have a say in the kingdom’s laws.
I wanted to sit on that throne and seize the power which was rightfully mine.
I wanted to make real change in our kingdom and the empire beyond, leaving my mark on this place I loved so dearly in a way that truly improved the lives of my people.
Except it wasn't my right. Because of what I didn't have between my legs.
Fuck men. Especially men with midnight eyes and presumptuous smiles designed to steal women's hearts.
My heart is mine. And no one can have it. Especially not Count Drake Nazari.