Chapter 25
“What’s today’s plan?” Quinn asked over breakfast.
Casimir swallowed a spoonful of tasteless porridge with a wince. Did no one know how to cook in this damned castle?
“I’m to meet with a scroll master in the archives in an hour,” Jorrar said, sipping Caelestia’s abysmal version of tea. “Quinn, I’d like you to come with me.”
“Of course. And you two?” Quinn asked Casimir.
He glanced at Ava, her chin in her hand as she tried not to nod off at the table. “If she can stay awake, I believe we're going to attempt to talk to Seraphina today.” Casimir placed a hand on her back. “Why are you so tired? Did you not sleep?”
She and Quinn were gallivanting around the castle in the middle of the night, stealing food, Aro said.
Casimir whipped his head to Quinn. “Please tell me Aro is lying.”
Quinn crossed her arms. “What did he tell you?”
“That the two of you stole food last night?”
Ava cringed. “Well…”
“Are you two out of your minds?” Casimir admonished. “Do you have any idea what my father would have done if you were caught?”
Jorrar blew out a breath.
“It’s a good thing we weren’t caught then,” Quinn said.
Casimir gave them both a hard look.
“The food here is terrible.” Ava gestured at the porridge on the table.
“I couldn’t sleep and we were starving and I know how to cook and we just thought we’d make something real quick.
In and out,” she rambled, like a child caught in the act.
It would actually be quite endearing if he wasn’t so concerned about his father’s wrath.
Casimir shook his head. “You’re lucky you weren’t caught.”
Ava placed her hand on his arm. “Are you angry?”
“No. I’m…terrified.”
“Of what your father would have done?”
He nodded. Orion didn’t take kindly to theft or anything that might be considered disrespectful. And though Casimir didn’t see it as much of an issue, his father would be wholly offended should he find out.
“It’s a good thing he doesn’t know then, huh?” Ava asked.
“Well, now I do.” Jareth’s voice came from the doorway.
Casimir was out of his seat without a moment’s hesitation, his chair crashing to the ground. He wrapped vines around his brother’s wrists, preventing him from using his magic as he rushed toward him.
“And you will keep your mouth shut,” he growled in his face.
Jareth sneered. “Why would I do that? I think it might be fun to see how father reacts when he learns of the mess they left last night.”
“You didn’t even clean it up?” Casimir called over his shoulder.
“We didn’t have time,” Quinn said. “Someone was coming.”
Casimir glared at his brother. “You will not tell father about this.”
“What do I get in return?”
“Me sparing your life.”
Moments later Ava was standing next to the two of them. “You’re not going to kill your brother for tattling on me like some immature child.”
Casimir turned to her, brow raised.
She placed her hands on her hips. “Look at you two. You’re fighting over the fact that Quinn and I got hungry. That’s it. It’s not a big deal.”
Casimir let go. Jareth muttered under his breath, rubbing his wrists.
“Jareth,” Ava said. “Your food here is terrible. We were starving. We shouldn’t have broken in and should have cleaned up after ourselves. So, for that, I’m apologizing. But it is you who should be apologizing for practically starving your guests.”
Casimir watched closely, prepared to intervene should Jareth try something against her.
“Are you saying your food in Mosshaven is better than ours?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
He stepped away, giving Casimir one last disdainful glare, as he sauntered toward the door to leave. “Well, you’re right,” he said over his shoulder. “Your food is better.”
As he ventured down the hallway, Ava stepped after him. “Wait.”
He halted, not turning around.
“I need to speak to your mother. Alone.”
“Good luck.” He walked away.
“Please,” she urged.
Jareth paused again, back still turned. With a sigh, he said, “She takes her afternoon tea at two o’clock in the solarium. She doesn’t like to be bothered.”
Resuming his stride, he turned the corner and disappeared.
Ava turned around triumphantly. “See? Easy peasy.”
“Is that another one of your strange human sayings?” Casimir asked. Though he often teased her, he thought her human terms were charming.
“Yes. I guess so. Even though I’m not human, I won’t ever unlearn our colloquialisms.”
“Another word I don’t know,” he murmured.
“Expressions. Sayings. Better?”
“Much.”
“Well, Quinn and I are off to the archives. We’ll see you two later,” Jorrar interrupted. “Good luck with the queen, Ava.”
Casimir stood in the hallway outside the solarium, unable to take his eyes off Ava fidgeting with her silver necklace while they waited to ambush the queen.
She wore cornflower blue billowing pants with a matching top revealing an inch of her stomach.
There were only two things he liked about this kingdom.
The beauty and the clothing. It was comfortable and Ava looked entirely delectable in it.
Perhaps they would have time for him to rip it off later.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ava asked.
“How am I looking at you, love?” Casimir’s lips tilted in a smirk.
“Kind of like you want to eat me…”
He stepped forward, backing her into the wall. Placing a hand beside her head, he caged her in. Fingers moving to her chin, he tilted her head to the side and leaned in. “That’s exactly what I want to do. I want to fucking devour you,” he whispered.
He proceeded to press his lips to the soft spot below her ear before pulling back. She cleared her throat, her pupils now enlarged.
“Maybe that can be arranged later,” she rasped.
“Ahem,” a soft voice spoke behind him.
Casimir turned to find Queen Seraphina standing in the hallway.
“Excuse me,” she said.
Casimir bowed as Ava curtsied.
“Your Majesty,” Ava said. “Could we have a word with you? Perhaps join you for tea?”
Seraphina scrutinized them, eyes catching on Casimir and regarding him with a hint of bitterness. Her gaze moved to Ava. “Just you. Not him.”
“I’d like him to be—” Ava started, but the queen held up her hand.
“I do not need the reminder of my husband’s infidelity while I enjoy my tea.”
Casimir’s breath caught. Though he had no fond feelings for Seraphina, her statement hurt. As if it was his fault Orion slept with his mother. He narrowed his eyes at Seraphina before stepping closer to Ava and pressing his lips to her temple.
“I’ll wait for you in our quarters.”
He ventured down the hallway, raising his hand and flaring a ball of starlight to hover above his palm. He supposed he would take Ava’s advice while he waited for her to return.