Chapter 10 #2
The material hugged him down his front and around his waist, the design just as extraordinary and interesting.
His sleeves were loose fabric that flowed under bracers fashioned after the shoulder plates.
The same material covered his shins, the rest of his leg in something like leggings.
The ensemble called for the velvet shoes Mr. Scrolls wore, but instead, Tarian sported leather boots polished to a high gloss.
His loose curls hung around his face, and it was the only part of him that wasn’t pristinely tailored.
On anyone else, it wouldn’t have fit. It would’ve distracted from the overall look, but for him, it seemed purposeful, like a rebellion against authority.
It made him that much hotter. Her heart sped up.
“Keep going,” the fae in front murmured furiously, a nervous waver in his voice.
The fae who held her stutter-stepped, jerking her to a stop one moment and lurching forward the next. His hand tightened in an unconscious reaction. Nerves, probably. Whoever had sent them to fetch her didn’t stop them from worrying what would happen when Tarian found out.
A strange excitement simmered in her middle, as though she were headed toward battle.
Tarian turned toward them slowly, purposefully, his eyes feral.
Darkness saturated the space around him, boosting his dangerous energy.
It was impossible to know which side he inhabited, good or evil.
Angel or devil. He probably didn’t even know himself.
Right now, it was both. Her savior, and her captors’ damnation.
His gaze fell over her, making her body tingle all over. He started forward. Toward her.
The fae that held her slowed dramatically, as though fighting to keep walking through a windstorm. The other wasn’t much better, both of his fists clenched at his sides as he trudged farther.
“What are you doing with that slave?” Tarian asked as he neared, his voice like dark satin, his approach terrifyingly beautiful.
The two fae stopped. The leader lifted his chin in defiance, but he couldn’t hide his full-body tremors.
“The king has requested the human female for his amusement,” the leader said, and cold washed down Daisy’s spine.
“Don’t be absurd.” Tarian now only had eyes for the leader.
His magic billowed around him, stuffing the hall with bone-crushing pressure.
“He detests taking another’s seconds. She has been spoiled.
By me. He’ll have to be amused by his queen for the evening.
Or perhaps one of his many mistresses. The human is mine. ”
“But sire—”
Suddenly, Tarian was right in front of the leader, vicious brawn and robust strength. His height topped the other male by a foot, and he made it a point to lean down into the servant as he spoke.
“Did you not see the warning I left in the prison? The last of the king’s insufferable minions to touch what is mine met his demise. I made him suffer greatly. I can bless you with the same treatment, like I will bless your friend.”
The fae holding Daisy started to scream, ripping his hand away from her and throwing himself back.
He stumbled as blackness sliced across his body.
Blood soaked into his clothes in the groin and stomach.
It gurgled up through his throat until he was choking on it, thrashing and then crashing into the wall.
The light in the hall flickered, dimming and flaring, casting manic shadows across Tarian’s unflinching face.
He hadn’t looked away from the leader, his gaze promising vengeance while otherwise handsomely unimpressed about the carnage he was creating.
The fae who had touched her fell. He slumped, quieting. Blood pooled around him. He wouldn’t be getting up again.
She stood breathless, eyes wide, as she watched Tarian’s ruthless side in all its menacing glory, making a show of protecting her.
His strength and power and ferocity fascinated her, but also unnerved her—intimidated her now that she knew what would happen if his callous side drowned out the Tarian she’d grown to know, turning him into something dark and disturbingly wicked.
“Is that what you would like?” Tarian asked the guard teasingly.
The leader visibly swallowed, edging away from him. “No, sire. It must’ve been a misunderstanding.”
“Yes, I should think so. You can tell your king that I will be entering the court games for the first time this year. I found a delightful creature in the human realm whom I mean to put forward as my great champion. I know how much he likes my jests. I also know that, as a courtesy, he does not dabble with our champions until after the games have terminated. You can see why I had to stop you. Had he handled my toy, the other court members would have become concerned about him breaking long-standing promises. More concerned, I should say. They are already chattering about other…infractions. The situation would result in trust grievances and overall court instability.” He tsked, cocking his head.
“Given the current turmoil, I cannot imagine the king would welcome such fractures.”
He gestured to Daisy like he was summoning an obedient dog. She bent, as though cowed, before going to his side.
His tone lightened as he continued to look at the fae. “I consider this matter closed. Since you did not actually touch her, you may keep your hands.” He waved the male away before glancing down the hall in the direction he’d come. “Scamper along. Your presence is tiring.”
“Yes, sire,” the fae said, bowing deeply. “As you wish, sire.” He turned and half ran down the hall.
Tarian held up his hand like he was holding something.
A dark black line ran from his fist downward, and then into an arc and back up before looping around Daisy’s neck.
There it cinched, flattening her hair to the back of her neck and leaving no room to get her fingers in between her skin and the magical material.
“Well?” Tarian didn’t look at her. “Walk. I do not like to be kept waiting.”
The rest of the hall was entirely empty, the servants having found somewhere else to be. That, or scared they’d end up like the fae on the ground.
Except for one.
“Master Tarian, sire,” someone called, the voice old and scratchy.
She took a few hesitant steps but stalled when Tarian looked back.
“Might I have a word?”
Tarian’s gaze flicked to her for the briefest moment before he turned to Mr. Scrolls. Daisy didn’t mistake the fear in his eyes.