Chapter 13
The Law of Flesh
DELILAH
The guards opened the castle doors as I watched Veyraxxies fly away, shrinking into the distance. I passed the kitchen, and the fire sprites asked if I wanted
lunch sent to my room. I nodded with a forced smile, but I was not hungry. My stomach was still in knots from what had happened at Dragon’s Maw.
That was when I heard two voices arguing down a corridor. Quietly, I followed the sound. I peeked around the corner and hid behind a giant ceramic vase, spotting Aurelius and Prisca locked in a heated conversation.
“What do you mean no? You can’t tell me no. I’m the Princess of Flame. If you don’t, I’ll just tell Titus you forced yourself on me at the solstice celebration,” she threatened.
“Prisca, don’t play games. You are going to get me killed. It was a one-time thing. What did you think would come of it? You know I can’t take a mate,” he reasoned.
She pointed her finger in his face. “This is because of that human whore, isn’t it? I see the way you look at her,” she accused.
“No, I’m not even convinced she will accept the High Lord’s mate mark at this point. They can’t seem to stand being in the
same room together, let alone be mates,” he defended, lowering her hand from his face.
She crossed her arms and turned her shoulder. “But you’re hoping she does so you and Cercies can fuck her too, tell me I’m wrong Aurelius!” she yelled.
He paused and took a breath. Calmly, he stated, “I hope she does because she is the only way to stop a full realm war that will destroy us all. I do not plan on invoking the Law of Flesh on the High Lord’s mate.
Her time here is temporary. She wishes to return to her realm with her mortal mate.
And as long as we can keep this a secret from the council, Cercies and I will not be forced to comply with Holy Law. ”
She stormed off in the opposite direction.
I slid back around the corner and walked nonchalantly toward my room, knowing he would round the corner and see me.
I pretended I had not just overheard a deeply disturbing conversation.
I was so confused. Titus had not mentioned anything about having to be involved with anyone else, and now both Aurelius and Cercies had some kind of claim to me through a law I did not understand.
I thought Fae males were territorial. None of this made sense.
My fist clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my skin.
I was starting to get the feeling that I had been played for a fool, duped into some weird Faerie sex cult thing. That’s when I heard,
“Delilah!” he called out.
I pretended I did not hear him and kept walking. I wanted to avoid him at all costs. He shouted again.
“Delilah, wait!” His pace quickened. I had no choice but to halt. It was unavoidable.
He took one look at my red, puffy face, heavy eyeliner streaked down my cheeks, and the ripped leather strap, and horror consumed him.
Panic and rage filled his voice, “Dear Guardians, are you okay? What happened?”
“Just leave me alone, Aurelius. I’ve dealt with enough assholes for one day,” I said flatly and resumed walking.
I really was at my wits’ end. My sanity was hanging on by a thread. I could not pretend for another moment that I was unaware of their scheme. I snapped. I could not hold my fury back any longer, “why don’t you ask Cercies at the next gang bang, he’ll tell you all about it.”
“Did he do this to you?” he shouted. “I swear I’ll kill him.” My words took a moment to register. He seemed to have a delayed reaction to what I had implied.
His face shifted into a look of remorse. “Fuck, how much did you hear?” he asked.
“Enough to know you are all fucking crazy. I want to leave.
Screw your prophecy. I don’t care anymore!”
“Delilah, can we talk about this? I will explain everything, please,” he begged.
“Why do you do that?” I shouted, shoving him away with watery eyes. He looked overtaken with confusion.
“Why do you call me Delilah now instead of Lady Delilah? Is it because I let you almost kiss me, and now you don’t respect me anymore?
Do you think I’m some kind of property of the High Lord's to be passed around?” My voice shook as the words poured out.
“When I woke up in this shitty realm, you were my only friend. You saved me. But I was wrong. You played me for a fool.”
I stormed off again. Then I felt a gentle tug on my arm.
“I stopped addressing you as Lady Delilah whenever I could get away with it because it made me feel like you were so far above me and out of my reach.
It was killing me. The very words started to burn my lips.
Last night, in your room, I realized I wanted you to be mine.
I wanted to be close enough to address you casually, to be your close friend, and hopefully more.
I know how insane that sounds. You have only been here a short time, but you are all I think about. "
“I see the way the dragons respond to you. I’ve worked with dragons my entire existence.
I am the Royal Master of Dragons. How they interact with you and submit to you is not normal.
You are extraordinary, Delilah, and I am doing the best I can to be honorable and worthy of you.
But it is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. ”
“Why didn’t you kiss me?” I asked. Why was I asking? What was I doing? Did I want him to kiss me? I did not know if part of me was burning with curiosity, or if another, more dangerous part wanted to provoke him.
“I did. I kissed your hand, remember?” he replied shortly.
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t pretend your lips weren’t inches from mine. What happened, Aurelius? Why did you change your mind?” I demanded.
His head tipped down in frustration. He pursed his lips into a line, then leaned in close and spoke in an almost inaudible tone. “You never know who is watching, Delilah. You need to be careful.”
My eyes widened. My stomach dropped, and bile rose up my throat. Could Titus watch me through fire? That would mean, oh God, he saw everything with Big Red. I felt overwhelmingly violated for the second time today. I turned on my heel and ran back to my room. This time, he let me go.
I slammed my door shut and tried to catch my breath. I had sprinted the rest of the way. The first thing I did was dump a pitcher of water on the fire, extinguishing both fireplaces.
“Goodness, Lila, you gave me a fright!” Calpurnia yelped as she changed my sheets.
She studied me, and her face fell into a look of panic and horror.
“What happened? Guardians, Lila, are you all right?” She embraced me in a tight hug.
Then the flood gates opened. I could not hold it back any longer. I sobbed, and she began to cry too. I held her tightly and cried into her shoulder. We sank to the floor as tears streamed down our faces.
I told her everything. How I had been creeped out by Cercies.
How I fled. How I ran into three monsters who violated me.
How I watched them burn. The conversation I overheard.
How I learned about the so-called rights the second and third in command had over me.
And how Aurelius professed his love for me.
Wait.
“Did you know about this claim thing, Cal?” I asked. She looked down, ashamed.
“I’ve heard of it, but females in this kingdom don’t go to school and study Fae law like the males do. I’m lucky that I know how to read. Many female Fire Fae do not. But I wouldn’t worry. Fae children are extremely rare.”
“Whoa, wait. Who said anything about a child? What exactly is this law?” I demanded.
She glanced at the stack of books on my desk and summoned the one about Faerie laws and traditions. It floated across the room and met her outstretched hand. She flipped through the pages for a moment, then began to read.
“The Law of Flesh.”
“The second and third in command in the Kingdom of Flame are forbidden to take a mate. They are expected to remain celibate and devote their lives to the kingdom instead. The High Lord, however, is required to take a mate in order to produce heirs and strengthen the bloodline of the Fire Fae. After the reining High Lord selects a mate and marks the female, the second and third in command must invoke their claim on her flesh one day a month, on the least fertile day. If the second and third wish to challenge the ranking of the High Lord this will be done by means of Natural selection, this shall take place on the most fertile day, all three males will engage in the physical union of her flesh with intent to produce a child. Whomever seed proves most potent by the Holy Flame is declared the new High Lord.”
She shut the book. “See? Everything is going to be okay. Nobody would ever challenge Titus. He’s the most powerful High Lord in the history of the Fire Fae, especially not with war tensions so high.”
It all made sense now. Calpurnia had told me when I arrived that power is what makes someone an appealing mate, that's all this kingdom seemed to care about, power.
“So it’s unlikely they will challenge Titus or invoke their monthly claim, but they could?” I asked.
“Yes, technically. The Law of Flesh is a Holy Law, which means it was created by the Temple's Council. As long as they don’t know Titus has marked you, they won’t force Aurelius and Cercies to invoke it.
Those two are far from celibate. Rumor has it they have no trouble meeting their needs elsewhere,” she said with raised brows.
I sensed no deception. I could tell she honestly believed what she was saying.
However, that was not good enough for me. I refused to spend the rest of my time here on edge, waiting for the day Aurelius and Cercies might change their minds, or for the council to discover the truth and enforce their sick, twisted laws upon me.
“Cal, I need your help. I need a bag of supplies,” I said coldly.
She looked at me, and the pain behind her eyes drove daggers into my heart. She did not speak. She only nodded, holding back tears. She knew what I was asking. She knew I was asking her to help me escape.
She stood up and began to draw me a bath, then quietly left the room.