Chapter 15
Skye
The Princess glided ahead of me, moving like a ghost. Her dressing gown made her look like she came straight out of a depressing Renaissance painting.
I’d obviously never met the Princess, but I’d never really seen her in the news, either. I hadn’t known what to expect when I met her for the first time, especially considering one of her Links had just died, but I certainly hadn’t expected her to snap at me. Nor had I expected myself to snap back.
Or to attack her.
Holy fuck, though. I stared at the palm of my hand, wondering why the hell my affinity had decided to shove the Princess. Clearly it was reacting to her tone against Rafe, but that’d never happened before.
Well…actually, that had happened before. When I’d turned the knife on the attacker in Alaska.
I shivered, not wanting to think about the crazy look in that dude’s eye, focusing back on the issue at hand.
The Princess was suspicious of me, definitely, but she was more concerned about Raaz. Her guard. Her Link?
And as for Rafe stepping between me and the Princess? Unbelievably hot. I wanted nothing more than to go back to his bedroom and ride him on that stupidly large bed.
What an awful thought to have while his mother is three feet in front of me.
I shook my head as if that would rid me of my unholy thoughts, and we slowed as we entered a private bedroom, clearly fit for a queen.
The walls were deep shades of green with gold filigree accents.
The ceiling was the opposite, gold with a deep green filigree design that looked like it should’ve been tacky, but wasn’t.
The center of the room was a step lower in a vintage style, but instead of a conversation pit, there was a massive mattress covered in varying shades of green and gold silk pillows.
On one edge of the bed lay Raaz, the guard Aiden and I had met the night of the gala.
Beside him was a handsome older man, one of the Princess’ Links.
His hair and skin were a few shades lighter than the rest of the Royal Chain.
I slowed as Ramira jogged down the two steps into the pit, then blinked several times when she casually flopped onto the mattress beside her guard and Link. The Link kissed her hair, then looked up at me curiously. His deep green eyes were a bit of a surprise. I wondered where he was from.
“Eduardo, this is Skye Aria, Rafael’s Key.” Ramira said.
Eduardo’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “A Healer?”
“No,” Rafe’s voice sounded from behind me just as I opened my mouth to reply, not that I had any idea what the hell I would’ve said anyway. “Not a Healer,” Rafe went on, coming to my side. His tone suggested my affinities were not to be discussed any further.
“A Telepath,” Ramira explained. Eduardo’s eyes flickered just slightly, like he was also suspicious, but he didn’t argue. He moved back, looking relieved when Hugo entered the room, coming to his side.
Ramira remained beside Raaz, her eyes glassy. She didn’t trust me at all, but she trusted her son, and now she was putting a very important man’s life in my hands.
Fuck, I really hoped I could do this.
“Give her room,” Rafe said, forcing Eduardo and Hugo back.
I settled near Raaz’s head, ignoring how Ramira fussed over his pretty curls, and then I blinked, trying to imagine how I could fix this. Whatever I’d tried with Aiden hadn’t worked, so I needed to change tactics.
Rafe loomed behind me. I got goosebumps just from the heat of his legs so close to my back, and that…was weird. I couldn’t hide my reactions to any of these men if my life depended on it. How could the Princess have spent so long pretending Raaz was nothing to her?
Ugh.
I pressed my fingers to his temples, though I had no idea why. I really had no idea if I could even wake him up, I just had a feeling that I could…which could end really badly if the Princess caught on.
I breathed out slowly, then pushed myself into his mind.
Darkness greeted me.
I felt like I was sloshing through a marsh, heavy and sluggish. There wasn’t anything to see. No memories. No dreams. Raaz’s mind was…weirdly empty.
I shivered as I waded through more nothingness. The implications of what’d just happened…
Shit. I wasn’t getting anywhere. I shouldn’t be zoning out while in a dude’s mind.
I wracked my brain, hoping I wasn’t visibly sweating as everyone stared at me.
I pulled out of Raaz’s mind with a gentle gasp.
“What is it? What’s happened? He’s not awake. Why isn’t he awake? If you’ve lied to me–”
“Mother,” Rafe warned sharply. Eduardo tensed, his eyes darting back and forth between his Key and his son like he wasn’t sure who’s side to be on.
The Princess swallowed thickly, but didn’t speak again.
Maybe…maybe this was physical, not mental.
I let out my other affinity.
My telekinesis flooded Raaz’s unconscious body like it had with Aiden during the overdose. I went directly to his brain, finding the part that controlled his sleep. I’d tried to study a map of the brain while Aiden was out, and I was thanking whatever God was out there that something had stuck.
And then…it was like I flipped a switch.
Raaz’s eyes opened, and the Princess gasped dramatically.
A few shadows wrapped around my arms, gently tugging me back and away from Raaz while the Princess and Eduardo threw themselves at him. Hugo looked on, his broad shoulders slumped in relief.
Rafe’s eyebrows were at his hairline, and then he glanced at me, pursing his lips like he wanted to laugh.
Aiden chuckled first, and then I snorted before stifling my own laugh. Wyatt looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but here.
The Royals didn’t notice, they were too busy…cuddling.
Time to go, Rafe said to all of us, and we quietly slipped out of the room.
I paced back and forth across Rafe’s bedroom –which was the size of the entire living room and kitchen at the apartment– while Aiden played video games on a ninety inch TV that came out of a hole in the wall, and Wyatt was…reading a book.
I flopped down on the couch between Aiden and Wyatt, not sure which one I wanted to cuddle with more.
Aiden hissed as the car in his video game flew off a bridge and into the side of a building.
I leaned toward him, then pursed my lips when he immediately went back to the save screen to restart his game.
I glanced at Wyatt, who looked like he hadn’t even noticed my presence, lost in his book.
“What are you reading?” I asked.
“The Tragedy of Renard,” Wyatt replied.
I scrunched up my nose.
Wyatt side-eyed me. “You really hate this book?”
“I had to write an essay on the meaning behind the color of the sky every time he looked outside the cell window. It was awful.”
Wyatt snorted, going back to the book. “I’m just making sure there’s no more hidden meanings hiding in here.”
“Why the hell does Rafe even own that book?” I asked.
“It’s from his library,” Wyatt said without elaborating. I stared up at the ceiling.
“You’re turning those pages awfully fast. Are you even understanding what you’re reading?” Aiden scoffed, not looking away from his game.
“I’m a very fast reader,” Wyatt replied, turning another page.
I was, too, but not when I was reading something I wasn’t interested in.
I dramatically dropped my head back against the couch cushion, sinking into the leather a bit more than intended.
“You want me to distract you, baby?” Aiden asked, his eyes still on the TV screen.
“Maybe I can distract you,” I said quietly, walking my fingers up his thigh. Aiden shivered, then cursed as his car flew into another building.
“That sounds better,” Aiden said a little breathlessly. He tossed the controller aside, and I leaned into him. I didn’t mean to kiss him, but he slid an arm around my waist and pulled me close, then kissed me senseless.
“Aiden,” I groaned as he leaned into me, forcing me to bump up against Wyatt. He shamelessly pushed his tongue into my mouth, and one of his cool hands met my warm stomach, and then–
“Well, this looks fun.”
I gasped, pushing Aiden back. He had no intention of stopping, though, so he frowned at Rafe in the doorway.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice hoarse. Aiden kissed my cheek, moving to my jaw, and I groaned, half-heartedly batting him away.
“We’re to wait here while my mother fucks her Links,” Rafe sighed.
Wyatt made a disgusted sound from behind me, and I leaned my neck back so that I could look at him upside-down.
He narrowed his hazel eyes at me, and I grinned. He was annoyed with Aiden, but this, I could get behind. I liked Wyatt sexually frustrated.
It was then that I noticed there was a guard behind Rafe, one that wasn’t Raaz. His black hair was just long enough to show waves on top while stylishly shaved down into nothing on the sides. His brown skin was similar to Rafe’s, though his brown eyes were much deeper, nearly black.
I sat up, feeling self-conscious, but Rafe made his way over to me, then took my face in his hands.
“You’re safe with me, darling. Anyone allowed to lay eyes on you here has been vetted by me personally.”
“Oh,” I breathed.
Rafe kissed me softly, but didn’t linger. “This is Isaiah,” he said. “He was recommended by Raaz.” He pulled back, then noticed the game controller on the ground. “Breaking my things already?”
Aiden scoffed. “Sorry, Skye was demanding attention.”
“I was not demanding attention–”
“You kind of were,” Wyatt muttered.
My jaw dropped.
All three of my Links chuckled, and my cheeks flamed as I looked to the guard.
He hadn’t moved.
He sort of resembled a statue.
“So…feel free to tell me to shut up,” Aiden started.
“Never,” I muttered at the same time Wyatt said, “Shut up.”
I glared at Wyatt, and he actually shrunk back from me slightly. I closed my eyes, hating that he was a little afraid of me, but also…kind of liking it?
Ugh.
I sat up fully.
“Anyway,” Aiden went on. “Wouldn’t a guard barring the door mean…that we’re prisoners?”
“I am not a prisoner in my own home,” Rafe said firmly, glaring at the guard.
Isaiah’s face didn’t change.
“Are we supposed to feel comforted by that statement?” Wyatt asked, standing and heading into the bathroom. I watched him leave, wanting to huff in frustration.
Rafe caught me staring, wiggled his eyebrows at me, then hissed as I used my affinity to pull his hair.
Wyatt emerged from the bathroom a moment later, his hairline slightly dampened like he’d splashed his face with water.
“The Crown Princess has declared that you remain in your quarters until she is ready to see you,” Isaiah said. “Although, you are the Heir Apparent. I cannot disobey you.”
“Interesting set of rules,” Rafe said. “I’ll have to change those.”
“Definitely,” Wyatt agreed. “What’s the point of giving orders if they can be surpassed?”
Hours later, we were sat on the floor in front of the massive TV. Rafe, Wyatt, and Aiden all played the car game while I sat in Rafe’s lap, tracing his tattoo.
I was hopelessly bored.
There was a part of me that wanted to get someone to fuck me, but every time I caught sight of Isaiah at the door, I’d grimace. Even if he were outside the room, I probably wouldn’t want to mess around.
Rafe rubbed his stubble back and forth against my cheek. “Your thoughts are all over your face, my love.”
I feel like we should be doing something, I said to all of them. Aiden’s controller twitched. I hate that we’re just…sitting around.
True, Rafe replied. I suppose we could walk the Palace if we take our jailer. I would like to see what’s left of the dungeon.
You just told us he wasn’t a jailer, Aiden said, turning toward us with alarm.
Rafe laughed out loud. “Let’s go, then.” He stood, pulling me up with him. “Isaiah, we’re taking a trip down to what’s left of the dungeons. I’m not in the mood for a fight.”
“Nor am I,” Isaiah replied in a murmur, stepping aside for us to file past him.