Chapter 22
Barbie
Killian had been summoned to the court of the Kingdom of Chaos. He’d have to face his king father, his queen stepmother, and the Council for questions on my duel with Princess Medea that ended up with her being burned to nothingness.
He wouldn’t have to deal with this shit if he hadn’t shielded me. He could still wash his hands of me by offering me up and letting me be hanged.
Everyone had seen the livestream of the duel before it had been banned and taken down from Spinchat, the supernaturals’ main social media site.
Killian left his entire team to guard me, except for Cassius, the Silent Blade. I’d met him once. Cassius had been Killian’s personal bodyguard since his childhood. He went where Killian went, like his shadow.
Cami had offered to go with her cousin, but Killian needed her to stay as the mistress of the House of Chaos while he was away.
“Anyone comes to take Barbie from our house by force, kill them,” Killian had told Cami and Rock before his departure. “You have my killing order. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I’d bitten my lip, vowing that it wouldn’t come to that. I wouldn’t let the House of Chaos go to war with the entire realm for my sake. I would flee before the conflict could escalate out of control.
Out of sight, out of mind.
If I took myself out of the equation, no one else would get hurt.
An hour after Killian left, Cami came to knock on my door. When I opened it, she slid in and shut the door behind her. Then she opened a fist, revealing a small pink diamond on her palm.
“Prince Rowan wanted to give you this in person,” she said. “But Killian said clearly that no outsiders are allowed before he returns. Prince Rowan said this would be payment for ten messages and asked you to check his urgent messages in your Spinchat inbox.”
My face stretched into a big smile as I snatched the diamond from her palm. “Tell him it’ll be payment for six text messages.”
Rowan was loaded. Who didn’t like to take advantage of the rich and privileged?
Cami narrowed her eyes. “You forget yourself, Barbie.”
“Pardon me,” I said. My smile didn’t drop. “I’ll remember myself next time, My Lady Cami.”
“Don’t My Lady me,” she said.
Sy peeked out to inspect the diamond. She’d asked me a hundred times if Rowan had messaged me.
I guess he really wants to get laid, I said. I’ll message him in a minute and tell him tonight is on!
Sy beamed at me. You’re the best pimp, Barbie!
You’re welcome. I grinned, my mood improving dramatically. We won’t do it for free anymore. Live and learn!
Live and learn,Sy cheered.
Cami stared at me with open suspicion.
“I’m giving Sir Rowan private lessons via text message, Lady Cami,” I lied.
“About what?” she demanded.
“Uh, well,” I said. If I fended her off, she’d keep coming back or even get Killian involved. Rowan must be really desperate to see Sy to ask Cami to bring me the diamond. Desperation drove people to do stupid things, and I bet Rowan was lovesick. “Everyone knows about my knack of neutralizing spells, and the fae prince wants to study my ability.”
She narrowed her eyes further. “Are you trying to con a prince heir?”
“Shush, Lady Cami!” I said, darting my eyes around wildly, even though it was only her and me, plus Pucker in his ghost form, in the room. “I don’t have a trust fund, unlike you, and a girl has to eat. I don’t have any other gifts except that no spells work on me. If Sir Rowan finds it in his generous heart to offer me a small fortune to study my gift and satisfy his academic curiosity, I’m not going to turn him away.”
“I can smell your lie a mile away.” Cami snorted.
“Fine, I’ll come clean.” I spread my arms. “He pays me to be his pimp, and he has a type.”
“I don’t get what the princes see in you.” She shook her head. “Personally, talking to you is like talking to the wall most of the time.” She gave me a wary look. “Just be careful when it comes to the princes. They’re charming, but they’re top predators.” She paused for a beat. “You can trust only my cousin.”
She’d softened a lot toward me after she saw Killian kiss me and observed that I could withstand his lethal touch just fine.
We didn’t hit it off, but I liked her.
I smiled. “But I’m not sure if I can trust Sir Killian either. Men are fickle, and I was born with trust issues, Lady Cami.”
“Just tread carefully, especially in front of Queen Lilith. She’ll arrive at Shades Academy anytime now.”
She didn’t say “Killian’s betrothed” this time, probably for my ears, but the mention of the Queen of the Underworld instantly sent me into a foul mood. Even the diamond in my hand didn’t cheer me up as much. Cami turned on her heels, made a beeline out of my room, and closed the door behind her.
Pucker eyed the diamond on my palm in approval. I strode toward the closet and put it in a shoebox. There were a few more pieces of jewelry inside. Either the house had given them to me, or Pucker had stolen them for me.
After the servants came and removed all the empty dishes from my room, I put the privacy sign on the outside doorknob.
In the drawing room, Rock and his team were playing cards while staying guard. They were eavesdropping but pretended otherwise. Now they narrowed their eyes at me. To them, “privacy” from their charge was a dirty word.
“Gents,” I said. “I’m calling it a night.”
“You okay, right, Barbie?” Rock asked.
I whistled at him. “Yeah. Why shouldn’t I be?”
The warriors shook their heads. Well, they thought I’d still be shaken like a little leaf. I’d done that, though, and now I was over it, and Sy needed to go.
You’re up, Pucker,I told my familiar.
He would distract the warriors for a few hours and keep them at bay so they wouldn’t come knocking on my door and find that I was gone.
Pucker cracked his neck before he went solid and materialized by the card table. Everyone jumped out of their chairs, shouting in alarm, their weapons drawn. Cami flung her magic, but it passed through Pucker like a bubble.
“Hello, girls and boys.” Pucker grinned evilly. “Don’t be rude. I’m Guardian Pucker, and I’m more than happy to show you a trick or two on the card table.”