26. Chapter Twenty-Six
26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELODIE
K aius led me down the palace corridors in silence. I was too busy wondering what the prince wanted to mind.
Would I get answers soon? Probably not.
The further we walked, the thicker the red carpets became until they completely muffled all sounds of our footsteps. Walls which had started off sparse were now covered in paintings in ornate golden frames with important-looking people dressed in fancy clothes staring down at me. I started to wonder who they were, then found I didn’t really care.
Other paintings of places and creatures I had never seen were interspersed with them, and I wished that I was spending my time looking at them instead of going for lunch with a prince I had no desire to talk with.
I could already feel my apprehension at this reunion surfacing, energy swirling uncomfortably to sit with the ball of anxiety that had lodged within me. Out of habit, I reached up to my chest and ran my finger over the pendant, remembering that it was now Kaius’ gemstone tucked under my jumper, nestled between my breasts. As I did, Kaius reached for my hand and I let him take it, his own energy brushing against mine through that small connection, and I felt myself calm slightly.
We approached a wide set of double doors panelled with black wood, a guard stationed on each side, neither of whom being the one who had come to my room yesterday. As soon as we were in their line of sight they pulled open the doors, curious glances shot my way. Kaius inclined his head towards them and strode through with my hand held tight in his.
The rectangular room stretched out ahead of me, the walls lined in heavy grey cloth with sparkling thread woven through the pattern. The few portraits framed in here all bore a strong resemblance. A serious face surrounded by thick blond hair.
A long, black walnut table took up most of the centre with matching dark chairs lining either side and a delicately made grey runner down its length. Shining gold dinner sets were stacked in front of each placement, with a ridiculous selection of cutlery laid beside them. A much bigger chair with plush red velvet padding loomed at the head, with a direct view of the doors I had just stepped through.
The fireplace behind the large chair roared with flames, its mantle a solid piece of black oak studded with gleaming gems. Black sconces inset with onyx held high flames that filled the room with a bright glow despite the black curtains that were drawn and pooled on the floor, obscuring what I assumed were windows behind them.
And there, his oversized body blocking out a good chunk of the fireplace, was the Prince. The ruby circlet, which was partially hidden in the riot of ringlets that fell around his face, flickered in the light from the fire.
I hid all trace of my annoyance at being in the same room as him, biting the tip of my tongue as I squeezed Kaius’ hand and ignoring the small noise of amusement that came from him.
Bastian’s eyes flicked straight to mine, face a mask of indifference, before lazily sweeping over my body. They settled on our intertwined hands and the mask slipped. Anger flashed, his eyes darkening to the colour of the forest under the new moon before he blinked, and the arrogance only a prince could pull off was firmly back in place.
Obviously you wouldn’t want your buddy getting cosy with the person you had kidnapped, but here we were.
“Kaius.” He nodded in Kaius’ direction, completely ignoring me, before stepping to the table and taking a chair. I rolled my eyes at his pettiness knowing two can play that game.
It’s not like I’m literally here in this room because he requested it or anything.
I was fully aware this wasn’t going to be an enjoyable lunch.
Bastian hadn’t gone to the chair at the head of the table, instead sitting on the one to its right. Kaius lead me to the other side, pulling out the chair directly opposite. I shot him an exasperated look but decided not to make a fuss as his grey eyes sparkled with mischief. He pushed the chair back in as I sat and took the seat next to me.
What a perfect spot to watch Big Man scowl at me while I ate.
Fun.
The uncomfortable silence that ensued sat with us at the table like an extra guest before Bastian raised his hand, and a door I hadn’t noticed opened—servants began pouring through, hands laden with dishes. They laid everything onto the table, setting down glass goblets filled with an amber liquid, and as quickly as they had descended on us, they disappeared. Only one man remained standing off to the side, face passive as he stared straight ahead.
Both men reached for the food, and I took that as the go ahead to help myself. I filled my plate slowly, smiling a little when Kaius added a pink iced cake to it, but my eyes were never far from whatever Bastian was doing. I couldn’t help that the man put me on edge.
Like it had been waiting for the most inconvenient opportunity to push to the surface, my magik rose. I breathed steadily as I held it back, needing to at least eat lunch before I participated in a magikal fight with the asshole in front of me that I had no chance of winning.
I should wait to participate in any violence until after I’ve eaten those sausage rolls.
Silence continued as we ate, the quiet clinking of tableware the only sound, and it was almost hard to enjoy my food with this level of awkwardness. Which was a damn shame because it all tasted delicious. But I was done playing this game, done being the polite prisoner who could be summoned at their will with no explanation.
“Where’s your girlfriend today?” I asked casually, my voice cutting through the air as sharply as the polished knife at the side on my plate could cut through the tower of orange jelly that sat on the table between us, right next to the sausage rolls.
My fingers curled around the goblet closest to me as Bastian looked up—Kaius, too—small lines of confusion crinkling his face. “My girlfriend?”
“Yeah, Scary Mary. The one who likes to hiss.” Kaius snorted a laugh as Bastian’s eyes narrowed. He ignored me and returned his attention to his food, the silence pressing in again as I took a sip of the amber liquid.
“Why am I here?” I tried again, and both men halted their movements. Though neither made any move to answer, I saw the look that passed between them.
That’s it. I’m done here.
Pushing back from the table, I whipped my head to Kaius. “Take me back.”
Anger vibrated my fingers as his hand reached for mine, eyes soft as he squeezed lightly, but I pulled away.
“I will, Goldie, but not yet.” His voice was soft but carried with it the knowledge I wouldn’t be getting what I wanted.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Sit down.” Energy jarred inside me, agitated by the demand that came from across the table.
“Bas.” Kaius’ voice was hard, though his eyes remained soft while he looked at me. Gritting my teeth I sat, pushing my plate away. I wasn’t in the mood to eat no matter how good those sausage rolls were. Bastian had gone back to focusing on his meal, but I wasn’t going to let him ignore me.
“You need my help.”
I knew he did.
I’d heard him during our last little meeting, the one where we had both lost our tempers and my magik had almost consumed me. He stopped eating, finally meeting my eyes so I could see the anger blazing in his, despite how his face was carefully schooled into indifference.
Leaning back comfortably in his chair, the picture of ease, he linked his fingers together on top of the table. “What are you?”
“Oh, fuck no. If that is where this is headed, I’m leaving right now, even if I get lost and end up wandering around for a week.” Kaius let out a soft laugh from beside me. “Tell me why you arranged this lovely meal, or I’m out of here.”
“If you really think you would get far, then you’re stupider than I thought.”
I bristled at the insult, clenching my fists as tight as I clenched my teeth to focus on holding the anger inside me. I couldn’t lose control.
Nails cut into the skin of my palm, the sting helping to channel some of my frustration. Kaius covered my hand with his, fingers brushing against mine before I pulled away again. I couldn’t risk him healing me and having to deal with what came with it. Not here.
“I can’t be that stupid if I’m the one whose help you need.” It stung to say, but I took the hit on my pride. I wasn’t fucking stupid, but I needed answers. “Maybe I’ll wait for the King to come back, maybe he will answer me.” His brow furrowed before he sat up straighter, scowling at Kaius who merely shrugged. It would seem the Prince hadn’t been updated on all the information he had spilled.
“He won’t,” Bastian growled. That had got under his skin, and I revelled in the small thrill of satisfaction that came with that knowledge.
“Then tell me why I’m here. You took me, for a reason . I’m here, for a reason .”
“You weren’t meant to be,” he muttered bitterly.
Weren’t meant to be what? What the fuck was he on about?
“Then let me go home.”
He won’t.
He needed me, but for whatever reason he wasn’t going to tell me why, which made him the stupid one in my opinion.
“No. You’re here as an added gesture of the kindness I have already granted you.”
Ugh, he was infuriating.
“You, Prince—” I spat, “—are deluded. What kindness were you showing me when you broke into my house? Why don’t you put your big boy pants on and ask for my help, or we can draw a line in this and I can go home .” Heat not originating from the fire crept into the room, and despite every instinct in me screaming not to continue, I couldn’t help myself. I watched in avid fascination as flames, literal fucking flames, began to writhe behind the green of his eyes.
Oh gods, this was weird.
“I won’t be kept in that room waiting for you to decide it’s time to give me some answers.” There was a desperation in my voice that I hadn’t meant to let escape. I’d go mad stuck in there no matter how happy I was with my own company.
“Is your room not to your liking? Are there not enough pillows? Or perhaps the water isn’t the right temperature for your delicate skin. Shall I send Yaskier over there in every night to rub your feet, Princess ?” Venom laced every word he spat back at me as he nodded to the man stationed by the wall, who gave no inclination he had heard anything.
Yaskier, I assumed.
“Would you have preferred a room in the bowels of the palace, with straw as a bed and rats biting you when you sleep?” Bastian continued.
I straightened at his threat, any weakness I felt a moment ago evaporating.
Fuck no, I didn’t want that, but I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me. I let what magik I could pool into my fingertips, holding back a sigh as it tingled over my skin. I wasn’t planning on using it, but it helped me feel more in control from the anger threatening to overwhelm me.
“This is getting nowhere, Bas,” Kaius said. “We haven’t got time for this.”
“Why not?” I demanded.
“Not your concern,” Bastian said. “You just keep that little mind of yours on all the escape plans I’m sure you’re hatching.”
“That’s right, I am, because I sure as shit don’t want to be here with you.”
A laugh rumbled from him but there was no joy in the sound. “Good luck with that, Princess. You’ll never leave here unless I say you can, and that’s not happening anytime soon.”
“Because you need me.” Anger fuelled how I pushed him. I wanted to goad him, I wanted to see him erupt with me, to stoke his flames higher and higher.
“Because I need you ? A tiny, weak human who has managed to get her hands on some magik. I don’t think so.”
Weak. I was anything but weak. I could feel the force of energy flowing through me, desperate to be released, and instinctively I knew he wouldn’t find it easy to hold me back. It crashed against my barriers, raging at this man sitting before me, but somehow it was easier to contain like this. I relished in the feel of it melding with my anger, the two seemingly in sync.
“You need my help,” I taunted, almost vibrating with satisfaction at the way he clenched his jaw. The flames behind his eyes danced, and I felt the sudden change in the air as his magik pushed forward.
“That’s enough.” Kaius stood from his seat next to me, hand gripping my elbow trying to turn me from the table. Pulses of his own magik were dark on my skin as they attempted to soothe me.
I stood, keeping my focus on Bastian as he rose, hands clenched into fists by his side and blazing eyes fixed on mine.
“Tell me why I’m here,” I ground out. “Ask for my help. Or let me go.” As his temper flared through the heat surrounding us, I knew he wasn’t used to people telling him what to do.
“No.”
“Fine.” My anger drained away as I realised I would be no better off banging my head against a brick wall—he was too stubborn.
Despite my frustration at this complete waste of time, I let Kaius turn me from the table, his hand sliding to rest on my lower back. What had been the point of any of this?
It definitely wasn’t because he wanted the pleasure of my company over some sandwiches.
Without another look at Bastian, Kaius opened the door, guiding me outside with the two guards.
“Wait here, just for a moment,” he said, releasing his hand from my back and stepping back into the room, the door cutting off all sound from within.
The barrier between me and them deflated the force of power that had been growing within me, shrinking back into the place it resided.
Wait here? Like fuck.
I started off down the corridor, half expecting the guards to follow me, but neither of them left their post.
I had no idea which way to go, but I kept walking. Someone would find me eventually.