48. Bay
Bay
“I’m sorry, Princess Bay. You’re not allowed in.” The city guard eyes my chest, now adorned with the dragon mark, and decides to give me trouble again.
Just ask, and he’s dead. The deep male voice I still haven’t gotten used to threatens inside my head, and I roll my eyes with a sigh.
Can we stop with all the death, please? I ask sarcastically. He’s been pestering me the whole way here with his ridiculous comments, like he’s looking for a buddy to chat with over coffee and pancakes.
“This is my city, Orin,” I clarify to the guard, immediately recognizing him—he used to be one of my father’s guards before I escaped. He’s replaced all his guards since I declared revenge on my parents. Coward. How am I even related to these people by blood?
You’re not related to any of them by blood anymore. You’re Black Blooded now—you’re part of me.
Great. Are you going to keep reminding me of that? I reply, my eyebrows knitting in anger. Orin seems to think it’s directed at him because he starts stammering.
“I… I… Princess Bay, you’re no longe—”
“I’m no longer what?” My voice is sharp, cutting.
Am I no longer royalty? No longer worthy of seeing my family?
Rage begins to build in my chest, and the familiar burning sensation flares, lighting up the dragon mark on my chest in a glowing purple light.
Orin stumbles back but doesn’t lower his spear.
“You… you can’t enter, Princess Bay. You’re marked by the dragon,” he confirms what the stupid dragon hasn’t stopped reminding me.
I heard it.
Great, thanks for the letting me know. I throw a casual, unimpressed look. Can we tone down the light show, please?
A familiar growl rumbles through every cell in my head. It’s not me—it’s you. My power belongs to you; it reacts to you.
Are you finally going to tell me what this power is, or is that another thing I’m supposed to ‘reveal in the future’? He goes silent now, clearly irritated. Great, now I can feel what he’s feeling? I can barely handle my own emotions.
“Are we really going to make this harder than it needs to be?” I threaten Orin, who looks scared but doesn’t let that stop him from doing his job thoroughly.
“Alert the queen, Grim,” he orders the younger guard behind him, who immediately swims toward the palace. I’m already getting used to this annoying reception.
“Yeah, go ahead and alert the queen, Grim! Tell her to come see what kind of idiots she’s put in charge of guarding the city!” I shout after him as Orin’s spear shifts in my chest direction, his fear palpable.
Seriously, how do you have the patience for these morons? I would’ve burned them ages ago. The familiar voice suddenly chimes in again.
For someone who said they had centuries to calm down from their revenge, you’re definitely still full of rage, I shoot back at him.
I’m not the one who just threatened him… he retorts, and I can feel the smugness in his tone.
You and Pedro would get along great with your snarky comments.
Don’t compare me to such an inferior creature. His growl booms once again.
One, you’re not going to talk about him like that. Two, there is no ‘us’ here—there’s only ‘you,’ I grind my teeth in anger.
“Bay!” Aunt Lora’s voice suddenly rings out from the other side of the city gates as she swims toward me with the speed only she and Alin can manage with their powers.
“Aunt Lora, your guards are threatening me!” I call out to her in a wounded voice, playing the helpless princess card in front of them.
“What? I didn’t threa—”
“Orin!” Aunt Lora’s furious voice cuts off his protest, and he straightens up, pressing his spear to his chest in a show of respect to his queen.
“As long as you don’t receive a direct order from me, you will not prevent any of the princesses from entering the city. Is that clear?” Her voice is laced with a threat that sends a shiver down my spine.
“It’s clear, Queen Lora! I will accept my punishment,” he replies submissively, lowering his gaze to the seabed.
“There’s no need for punishment. But consider this your final warning,” she dismisses him with a wave of her hand and quickly swims toward me. I don’t miss the chance to stick my tongue out at him in victory just before she reaches me.
“Why did you do this?” The color drains from her face as her eyes land on my chest. Good thing she didn’t see the light show from a few moments ago.
“I didn’t do it. The stupid dragon did it.
Can we go inside? I have a few things to update you on,” I ask quickly, nodding my head toward the curious guards behind us who are clearly trying to eavesdrop on the conversation.
This isn’t the place to discuss it. She immediately understands, nodding quickly, and grabs my arm with an unfamiliar affection that makes me give her a questioning look as we swim straight into her private office.