Chapter 33 Kasimir
KASIMIR
My chest heaves as I sprint down the golden hallways of the palace.
Ruby wasn’t in her bedchamber. She also wasn’t in her dance circle. In fact, I was moments away from charging headfirst into Sol’s quarters and demanding he tell me where she is when I catch a flash of ruby-red hair from inside the ballroom.
Halting, I peer around the arched entrance.
It looks like some kind of ballet lesson.
Training barres are set up around the edge of the ballroom while all twelve princesses, in their multicoloured dance gowns, leap across the floor.
In the corner, a woman with a stern face taps her cane in time with the piano music, barking out instructions and critiquing their steps.
Most importantly, Amaryllis looks fine. She’s smiling while she dances with her sisters, not a furious prince in sight. But I doubt that’ll last long.
I barrel into the ballroom. “Ruby!”
The music stops with a crash of piano keys. Around me, the princesses gasp, and the woman with the cane lets out a yelp, but I ignore them all and charge straight for Ruby.
“Kasimir? What are you doing here?” she panics.
“We need to go. Now.” I tug her towards the archway.
“Wait.” She squirms against my hold. “I said wait! Where are we going? What’s happening?”
“There’s no time to explain.” Shoving past the other princesses, I keep us moving. But just when we’re metres from the exit, I’m forced to stop.
A wall of pink tulle blocks my path.
“Take your hands off our sister.” Blossom glares up at me in her fluffy pink tutu.
Another girl, dressed in white, stands beside her – Camellia, third eldest, if I’m remembering this right. “You need to let go of Ami right now unless you want us to scream for the guards,” she snarls.
I slide Ruby a look. “You gonna make your sisters move or shall I?”
“Just wait a moment,” she wheezes. “Tell me what’s going on and why you’re here!”
I narrow my eyes, then glance back at her still-unmoving sisters. Finally, with a sigh, I release her hand and drag my fingers through my hair. “Orion knows.”
Ruby pales. “What?”
“He saw us together last night in the gardens, and now he’s looking for you.”
“Ami, you need to tell us what’s going on right now,” Blossom cuts in. “Do you know this man?”
“Yes.” Ruby’s cheeks flush pink. “Well, sort of.” I raise an eyebrow as confused murmurs bubble around us. “He’s… um… he’s—”
“He’s the Scorpion.”
Gasps fill the ballroom. Both Ruby and I turn to see Dahlia marching past her sisters.
“That’s the Scorpion?” Blossom squeals, stepping back.
“Yep.” Dahlia stands beside us, a proud smirk on her face. “And I suggest you let them pass because yesterday I watched him almost kill Prince Orion.” She grins as the ballroom turns into a panicking frenzy.
So much for not snitching…
“Let’s go.” I grab hold of Ruby and shove past her sisters.
“He’s really not dangerous!” she calls over her shoulder. But she may as well be shouting to a waterfall. Nothing can be heard apart from ten sets of squeals and Dahlia’s cackling.
Damn it, this is not how I wanted today to go. I was hoping that Ruby would at least get to say goodbye to her sisters, perhaps pack a few things from her room. But there’s no time now.
Hand in hand, we sprint towards the ballroom’s entrance archway, only to fly backwards when we’re blocked by something else.
Ruby yelps. A furious prince with golden blond hair, wearing a puffy white dress shirt stands before us, surrounded by half a dozen scowling guards.
Silence falls over us all.
“Ah,” Orion seethes. “Just the couple I was looking for.”
Heart racing, I push Ruby behind me.
“If you want her, you’ll have to kill me first,” I say, flicking a dagger free from my wrist.
“Oh, Henry.” Orion chuckles. “That’s very noble, very sweet. But there are six of us, and only one of you.” He drops the mocking tone to bark at his guards, “Separate them.”
The guards lunge forward, but so do I. Grinning, I take out the first one with an elbow to the face. He tumbles backwards, cursing as the weight of him sends his two buddies to the floor too.
Then I charge for the next guy. With all that armour he’s bigger than me, but I’m faster.
Raising my dagger, I stab it through his hand and force him to the floor. His sword clatters away as I drive my blade down, pinning him to the floor.
“Wha-at?” he sputters.
“Night-night.” I grin, before my fist collides with his face and he’s out cold. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a proper fight. I roll my shoulders as I push up from the floor. But damn, I should go to more bars. This is fucking exhilarating.
Ruby screams, and I’m already reaching for a second blade as I whip around to face her. A guard, a little smaller than the rest, wrestles her arms behind her back. He’s not being rough, but just the sight of his hands on her wrists has my blood boiling.
“Don’t you dare touch my girl.” I hurl a dagger at his face and it lands square between his eyes.
Ruby yelps as he drops to the floor.
Orion scoffs, “Your girl?”
I chuckle, reaching for a third dagger while turning to the prince. “You better run, Your Highness.”
His pale eyes widen, but another guard charges at me, knocking my blade out of my hand before I can deliver on the threat.
Focusing on the new guy, we trade blows until he gets tired and reaches for his sword. Then I kick him to the floor and finish him off with a new dagger to the chest.
I really don’t like killing strangers, but this idiot was just asking for it.
Yanking my blade out, I push up from his body, when a scream turns my bones to ice.
“Kasimir!”
I whip around, expecting someone to be lunging for her, but instead my stomach drops. Orion stands behind Ruby, using her body as a shield while the edge of his sword digs into her neck.
Fuck.
“Enough,” Orion spits at me. “Drop your weapon.”
I edge closer, my fists clenched. “You won’t hurt her.”
“Won’t I?” The prince grins, flashing a row of teeth before pressing the blade harder against Ruby’s neck. She whimpers, desperately trying to catch her breath as blood trickles onto her bodice.
“Stop,” I growl, but he ignores me. “Damn it, stop!” I toss my dagger to the ground, holding up my palms in surrender.
“No!” Ruby cries.
“That’s it,” Orion laughs, lifting his blade slightly. “You see now, pet?” He lowers his lips to Ruby’s ear. “When we behave, we get what we want. Remember that for later.”
My gaze darkens as she squirms against his hold. Blood pounds in my ears. On the other side of the ballroom, the princesses have all huddled together, crying quietly, but the only tears I can focus on are the ones rolling down Ruby’s face.
My Ruby.
“Take. Your. Fucking. Hands. Off. Her.” My voice has never been more feral.
“Now, now, Henry.” Orion smirks, keeping the blade against her neck.
“Or should I say… Kasimir?” He tilts his head.
“You know I was curious about you after our first meeting on the road. I know I promised I wouldn’t report you, but I couldn’t help myself.
After I saw the way you looked at my bride, I charged into the garrison and demanded you be assigned somewhere else.
And you know what they said?” he sneers.
“They said there were no ‘Henry’s assigned to any of the princesses, and when I described you to them, they didn’t have a clue who you were. ”
Ruby sobs quietly as I keep my chin high.
“Who are you, Kasimir?” Orion continues, glaring. “Because you’re certainly not a guard. None of Sol’s guards fight like that.”
“I’m good at my job,” I bite out.
The prince scowls, then he turns to his three remaining guards – two of which are still struggling to stand after getting knocked to the floor by their buddy. “You three, search him.” He jerks his chin towards me.
The guards hobble over as my fingers burn for my blades.
“And don’t even think of trying anything else,” Orion says, adjusting his grip on his sword.
“I might not be able to kill Amaryllis, but I only need her womb to make an heir. Arms and legs aren’t important.
Though it would be a shame to cripple such a talented dancer.
” He strokes her tear-stained cheek with the back of his hand.
“Fucking prick,” I hiss, letting the guards pat me down.
Orion grins. Metal clinks upon metal as they toss all my daggers onto the floor, and as the last blade joins the pile, I feel ill.
“That’s everything, Your Highness,” one of the guards says.
“Good,” Orion purrs. “Now take him to the dungeon, and have him executed.”
“No!” Ruby screams.
Ignoring her, the guards grab my arms. I don’t put up a fight. I can’t. Not while Orion’s so close to her. But the second we’re out of sight, I’ll make these guards wish they never took this job, then I’ll save my fucking princess.
“No, please,” Ruby sobs as I’m dragged away. “Please!”
I slide her a smile. “Stay strong for me sweetheart.” I’ll come back for you.
“NO!” she thrashes against the prince. “Please, Orion! Please!” she screams. “I’ll do anything, please don’t kill him.”
Orion smirks. “Anything?” He holds up a hand to pause the guards.
“No, Ruby!” I cry out. “Don’t you dare let him touch you!”
“Quiet,” Orion hisses to me. Then he turns back to Ruby, grinning. “If I spare him, what will you do for me?”
“Anything you want,” she says, eyes glossy. “I’ll be good for you. I’ll play any part you want me to. Just please, please let him live.”
Orion’s face lights up like the sun. “Guards.” He turns to his men. “See to it that Kasimir gets a comfortable cell. My dear princess has decided to behave, for once.”
My lip curls. “Don’t do this, Ruby. You owe him nothing!”
“Oh, but she does,” Orion beams, facing me. “And the moment my darling forgets her place, I’ll have your head decorating the wall of our bedchamber.”
Ruby lets out a quiet sob.
“Now take him away.” He flicks his wrist towards the guards as my chest seizes. “And for Stars’ sake, tie him up.”