1. Raelyna #2
I grabbed the belt Finn had gifted me years ago, for my 100th birthday—one he had made specifically with me in mind—and tightened it across my waist, ensuring the small blades were safely secured.
While I wasn’t as talented as Finn or even Emberly with blades, one never knew when the need for protection would arise at this hour of night.
Not that a blade would do much against an affinity-powered handgun, but it was still something. And I had absolutely no plans of being held up at night without protection ever again.
After ensuring my shirt was pulled low enough to cover my belt, I turned toward the door.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said with a sigh as I zipped up my bag and swung it across my left shoulder.
“But I’ll have you both know, there can never be such a thing as too much reading.
Never.” I smirked as I sauntered out the door ahead of my friends.
The door nearly slid closed on them entirely before Finn rushed to halt it from slamming in his face as he entered his own code into the keypad.
A dark shadow stepped into my path, the scent of whiskey and sandalwood assaulting me as a low voice spoke. “And here I thought you were avoiding me.”
“Your Majesty.” I forced the words from my mouth as steadily as I could, struggling to push down my fear as I dipped my head in greeting toward the male before me. I felt my friends pause their footsteps beside me before taking two steps backward, lowering their heads in greeting as well.
My hand itched to reach for one of the blades Finn had gifted me, just as it did every time this particular male was in my presence.
But I suppressed the need, knowing I had no authority to do so.
And who was I even kidding? He was the stars-damned king.
I wouldn’t stand a chance even if I decided to take a stab at the male, which would have been a lackluster attempt to begin with, seeing as my skills with the weapon were subpar, to say the least.
His eyes gleamed in the low light as they raked across my body in a painstakingly slow motion, taking in every inch of my skin before his brown gaze finally flicked back up to my own.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of this encounter?” I pushed the words out, my voice dripping like sweetened honey as I strove to mask the tangible fear that threatened to render me immobile.
His onyx wings flexed behind him at my question, the only sign of his annoyance at my words. Long, dark feathers flared wide in a motion that was both threatening and dominating as they covered the hallway, blocking me from leaving.
“Come now, butterfly,” King Lucanus purred as he observed me, shadows dancing over his face.
The nickname crawled along my skin and grated on my every nerve, but I stood my ground, waiting for him to speak.
“You thought I wouldn’t notice your missing presence around Solis Court, did you?
” He paused for a moment, his dark brown eyes piercing into mine as I clenched my teeth at his comment.
I caught Finn jerking forward at his comment out of the corner of my eye, and prayed to the gods that he didn’t do anything we’d come to regret.
“My apologies, Luc,” I bit out, venom momentarily slipping through at the bitter words, then froze.
Astara, take me now . . . How could I have been so stupid as to use his childhood nickname? The one I’d given him back when we played together as children . . . before his father sought to take a firmer grasp on Solis Quarter and things changed between us for the worse.
His eyes turned glacial, a slight furrow sharpening between his brows as his jaw clenched at the name.
When he didn’t say anything, I continued. “Our performance schedule has been quite busy the past few weeks. However, I’m sure we can rework the schedule to accommodate your needs.”
Every word from my lips made me tremble with rage on the inside. I had worked so hard on the schedule, aligning it perfectly so that our group could avoid performances at Solis Court. And it had only been these last few weeks that we had managed to find a reprieve from dancing there. For him.
But I had no other option—none of us did.
Our lower affinity markings ensured we would forever be indebted to those with higher affinities.
Those with only one elemental affinity worked in positions that offered minimal wages, while those with multiple affinities—highers—could afford a lifestyle of luxury.
It was just the way the gods wanted it to be .
. . or so those with higher affinities told us.
King Lucanus’s royal guards stood off to the side of the corridor, their dark charcoal-gray uniforms marked with RSG in lighter gray letters embroidered on the front and upper sleeve, visible even in the low light.
Both men had masks covering the lower halves of their faces, heightening their intimidation technique as their hands rested on their weapons.
Most members of the Solis Guard had access to firearms enhanced by their elemental affinities.
The two guards held their stance, blocking my only exit, and I hated being trapped there, with him.
Emberly spoke up then, sensing that I was near my tipping point.
“Your Majesty.” Her breathy voice floated past me in a soft lilt. “If you let us know which days you wish us to perform, we will be sure to accommodate our schedule for the Solis Court.”
Dark brown eyes flicked over to Emberly, looking her up and down in a brief assessment before they dragged back to mine, a sinister grin forming over Lucanus’s lips as he trapped my gaze in his, holding it hostage.
“Perfect. I would like to see you every evening next week.” Lucanus’s hand reached out, grabbing my left wrist and twisting my arm so that my forearm was exposed.
His eyes sparked with possessiveness as a smooth finger traced over a mark—a bargain mark.
The movement of his fingertip in the shape of a knotted X caused my stomach to dip.
He continued to trail his finger along my arm, tracing slow circles across the expanse of skin until his eyes finally dragged their way up to meet mine again. “Will that work for you, butterfly?”
I held his gaze, not letting him catch a glimpse of how much he’d rattled me with his words. Of how much I hated that stars-damned nickname he’d given me as a child.
Taking a deep breath, I finally responded with, “As you wish, Your Majesty.” I held his stare for a moment longer, and the entire corridor was drenched in silence before I finally spoke again. “Is there anything else?”
At my words, Lucanus merely smiled, his eyes darkening before he responded.
“Until next week.” And with that, he turned on his heel, his guards stepping aside as he walked past. I stood there, frozen in place, my body trembling with unbridled rage until we could no longer hear the footfalls of the King of Solis Quarter.
And only then did I take a breath of air, my limbs nearly giving out as my two friends closed in on me, offering their silent support.
Finn wrapped an arm around me, guiding me toward the elevator. We stood in absolute silence, the seconds stretching by painstakingly slowly as we waited until the button chimed and the doors slid open.
Finn touched the keypad, the button indicating the ground level lighting up, and then the familiar whirl of the elevator filled the space as we shot down eighty-two floors.
Only once we exited the building through the sliding glass doors did his words fully register.
“Every evening?” I bit out in horror as the words played on repeat in my mind.
“Who does he think he is? Every evening?”
“The King of Solis Quarter.” Finn’s wry laugh fell flat as we stared down the sidewalk of the street, cars rushing past.
“I can’t do it. I just . . .” My voice caught as I processed his demands, and I couldn’t hold back the sob that rose at the thought. “I can’t take having to see him every night.”
I could have once, but not now. Not since that bargain mark first appeared across my skin. A mark that bound me to him.
Forever.
Finn sighed beside me, pulling me into his large frame as he tugged me close. The scent of smoke and sand flooded my senses as his chest rumbled while he spoke. “We’ll make it through, darling. Just like every other time.”
I didn’t say anything, just mutely nodded against Finn as my arms tightened around him, and I drew strength from my closest friend—the only person in all of Solis who had been with me through everything.