Chapter 21 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
Kasimir’s bedchamber is nothing like how I imagined.
In my dreams, I’d pictured black paint on the walls, blood-red tapestries, skulls on his dressers – perhaps even a prisoner or two chained up in the corner.
But instead of anything nightmarish, I’m met with a lavish room not too dissimilar to my own.
Soft, cream carpets cover the floors while elegant bookshelves and dressers stand against the dark-panelled walls. The centrepiece of the room is a grand four-poster bed, the deep red sheets basking in the light of the afternoon sun from a large window nearby.
Most surprisingly, there’s not a single weapon in sight. And with the little fireplace – the coals still smouldering from last night – his room could almost be considered… cosy.
Stepping further inside, my gaze continues exploring until it catches on a small mirror, and my lips part.
It’s funny. With all the make-up and another stolen gown hugging my figure, I hardly recognise myself.
It’s not as if I had a choice, though. Meera said, if I wanted to make it into Andrick’s office, I’d have to fit in with the other women there.
And while it’s clear to see she did a good job, I’ll have to work on hiding the fear that tugs at my features.
Kasimir’s reaction downstairs certainly didn’t help.
A small naive part of me hoped he’d like my disguise, but he barely looked at me in the hallway.
Swishing my dress, I marvel at the fabric. It doesn’t matter what Kasimir thinks. As long as he lets me steal that letter and help more people, that’s all I need to care about.
Footsteps force my attention from the mirror.
Kasimir, dressed in all black, marches into the room with two wooden daggers in his hands. After kicking the door shut, he spies me by the mirror only to quickly avert his gaze, clearing his throat.
“Stay here,” he says, turning away. “I’ll have Meera bring you something else to wear while we spar.”
“But I’ll be wearing this to Andrick’s,” I remind him. “It wouldn’t make sense for me to practise in anything else.”
Kaz’s jaw tightens, but then he sighs, turning back to face me. “Fine.”
Dropping both daggers on the nearest dresser, he rolls his shoulders. “We’ll start with seeing what you know. Try to defend yourself from me.”
I nod, heart pounding.
A brief silence falls over us. Kasimir remains still, watching me like a predator as my skin starts to feel hot. Maybe he was right. Maybe I should change out of this gown.
But before I can say anything, I’m suddenly flying backwards.
There’s a blur of black. I yelp. Then I’m pinned against the wall, my eyes growing wide as I blink up at him.
“Fight back,” he orders, looming over me.
I try to, but his strong hands already have mine locked above my head. Snarling, I squirm and thrash, kicking my legs like a wild beast, but it’s no use. I may as well be trapped under a boulder. With his entire body pressed against mine, I can barely breathe.
Kaz clicks his tongue. “You’re hopeless,” he groans, pushing away from the wall and taking all the weight with him.
The moment I’m free, I gasp. Thick air rushes into my lungs and I double over as my hands drop to my knees.
This shouldn’t be so hard. I cough forcefully. It’s not fair.
“Try again,” I hear Kaz say. His footsteps thud against the carpet as he returns to his place across the room. “This time, try to stop me before I trap you against the wall.”
Hesitantly, I straighten.
“Listen,” he starts, urgency burning in his words. “You’re a dancer, right? You have strong legs. Use them. Try to trip me up or move out of the way. Anything.”
“Fine.” I exhale, adjusting my position. I can do this. I’m strong. I’m—
Kasimir moves quicker than a shadow. I try to dart to the side, but he’s already grabbed my arm and shoved me towards the wall. Yelping, I kick at his legs. There’s no point, though. After the third kick my shins burn, and I’m certain I must be doing more damage to myself.
Once again, my back thuds against the wall, and my arms are soon locked above my head.
“It’s like you’re not even trying,” he sighs, pushing off me.
“You’re too strong!”
“As if the men at the whorehouse will be any weaker,” he snarls back.
“Believe or not, I’m holding back right now.
The men out there won’t be.” Scowling, he stomps over to the dresser and scoops up a wooden training dagger.
“Take this.” He extends the hilt to me. “Hide it in your bodice, and the next time I charge at you, have it ready before I get there.”
Breath shaking, I accept the dagger.
Kasimir returns to his place.
The moment the dagger is secured between my breasts, he charges at me again.
This time, with a yelp, I manage to whip out the dagger.
But of course, my grip fails, and the hilt flies out of my hand, spinning through the air.
Panicking, I grasp it heartbeats before Kaz is upon me, and I thrust it towards his chest.
He stops, inches away. Scowling, his gaze drops to my hand.
I can’t help but grin. I did it! I actually stopped him! But the grin slides off my face as I stare down at the dagger.
I’m holding it backwards, the dull blade covered by my hand.
“You just lost your fingers, Ruby,” Kaz tuts.
“Oh…”
“It’s alright.” He smirks. “Perhaps the next man who attacks you will be gentlemanly enough to point out your mistake before you hurt yourself?”
I groan, shoving the dagger back into my corset.
“That was better, though,” he adds seriously. “You’re quicker than I thought.” He steps back to his place on the carpet. “Speed is a good thing. If you can’t overpower your enemy, outrun them.”
“But you’re stronger than me, and faster,” I argue.
Grinning, he shrugs. “Then find another way.”
My eyes narrow as he just chuckles.
“Let’s go again,” he says, swallowing his laughter. “I’ll be slower this time. Really try with the dagger.”
As if I wasn’t trying before. My scowl deepens.
Exhaling, I brace for another collision with the wall. But the moment Kaz lunges towards me, an idea pops into my head. It’s risky. Completely foolish. He might expect it. Still, there’s no harm in trying.
Whipping out the dagger, I lower it to my side. Then, when he’s heartbeats away, I rise onto my tiptoes and loop my arms around his shoulders, pulling myself closer.
My lips collide with his.
Kasimir freezes. Every muscle within him tenses as our bodies crash together. For a moment, I’m sure he’ll force me away.
I feel his shoulders stiffen. His jaw clenches.
But then he groans, and any aggression in his stance melts away into something much softer.
The arm that was shoving against my hips, curls gently around my waist. His other arm flies up to tangle his fingers through my hair. The feeling makes me shiver, and with a sigh, my lips part.
Of course, Kasimir doesn’t stop to question the invitation. His tongue dips into my mouth, and I moan in surprise.
I’ve never been kissed like this before. Or at least, not in a way that was enjoyable for me. But this, this is magical. I’ve no idea what I’m doing and yet still, everything feels so right. It’s so natural, like I was made for him. When his fingers tug at my hair, another moan slips out of me.
“Those damn noises,” he growls against my lips. His hands drop to my backside, and he forces me up to his hips, my legs locking around him.
I gasp, stroking his shoulders. But then the rough hilt of my wooden dagger pulls me back to reality, and my eyes flutter open.
There’s a reason we’re kissing right now.
Swallowing, I pretend to moan as my arm slips down his back. Slowly, and without breaking the kiss, I manoeuvre the blade until it’s almost touching his chest. Then, I jab the tip into him.
Kasimir stiffens.
“Got you.” I smile against his lips.
Our foreheads collide as he tips his chin down.
“So you did,” he remarks, out of breath. His gaze lifts back to my swollen lips. “Tell me you’re not planning on using that trick on anyone else.”
My head tilts. “Why? You don’t think it would work again?”
His grip on my backside tightens as I gasp. “No, it would work,” he says in a voice that rumbles through me. “And if you missed with your dagger, I’d be sure to finish the job. Swiftly.”
Warmth pools in my lower belly. “You’d kill them for me?”
“Of course,” he murmurs. “Because those pretty lips are mine, Amaryllis.” I shudder. “All mine.”
He snarls before squeezing my backside and striding over to the wall, shoving me against it until I’m completely engulfed by him. Dark leather. Dark green eyes.
When his hand strokes the underside of my breast, I gasp, but Kasimir uses my open mouth as another opportunity to fill it with his tongue.
The warmth in my belly turns to fire. I want this. I want him, I think.
Even if just one touch is all it takes to steal every breath from my lungs. He can have them. He can take them all, and me – every last drop. But then a flash of gold slices through my mind.
I was expecting to have to break you.
My rushing blood turns to ice.
I’ll drag the name of every man you’d ever bedded from your lips.
My chest seizes. Suddenly, I’m no longer in Kaz’s bedchamber.
The wall behind me turns to hedgerows and there’s grass beneath my feet.
Except I’m not touching the ground. My legs are wrapped around the waist of a golden-haired prince – one whose foul tongue is once again invading every corner of my mouth.
“Stop!” I scream.
My eyes fly open.
“Ruby?” Kasimir stands before me, wide-eyed, as the green hedgerows morph back into walls. Carefully, he lowers me onto the grass – no, the wooden floor. I’m here again, in Night Alley, safe in the bedroom of an assassin.
The thought makes me want to laugh.
“Is everything alright?” Kaz asks, his voice low.
A tear rolls down my cheek. “Sorry,” I stutter, “I don’t know what that was, I…” My voice trails off.
“Hey, it’s alright,” Kaz says. He places a hand on my arm, squeezing it gently. “Was I too rough with you? You can tell me if I was. I never want to hurt you.”
I shake my head. “No, you were wonderful. More than wonderful, perfect. It’s just—” My voice cracks. “It’s something else. Something bad happened at the palace, and I—”
“Was it Orion?”
Just hearing the name makes me shiver. “I’m sorry,” I swallow down a sob. “I can’t talk about this any more.”
Kasimir watches me with murder in his eyes.
“It’s why I came here, why I want so badly to help you get that letter,” I continue, tears blurring my vision.
“I need a distraction, a job, anything to take my mind away from the palace. And I know I’ll have to go back soon…
” My breath shudders. “But just for now, I want to forget. I want to be useful.” My heavy eyes meet his.
“So please let me help you. I know I can do it.”
Kasimir scowls, but after a heavy sigh his gaze softens. “Fine,” he grumbles. “But we’re practising more with that dagger first. I’m not letting you out of my sight again until you actually learn how to use that thing.”
My heart glows as a smile pushes through my tears. “I’d like that.”