Chapter 21
The pest
The steady clunk of metal against metal rang through the den. The foul stench of body odour and liquid fire wafted through the air, making it feel like he was marinating in death itself. Thorns yelled from all areas of the room, demanding supplies or for a body to be removed because another worker had fainted from the heat.
Matthias lounged in a chair, overseeing the chaos. Since his return, he’d offered to be put in charge of productions. It was the last place he wanted to be, but keeping the lie alive was a priority at the moment. If his father actively saw him getting involved with the kingdom, he’d have the freedom to move about the castle and his cabin as he pleased.
He’d played the doting son for an entire month, masquerading as a prince of darkness interested in growing his father’s army. He hadn’t decided on his next move, but for now, it seemed his father believed Matthias had fallen in line.
As he flipped a dagger over and over, Matthias’ glanced at the clock on the far back wall, his time was up—soon a Thorn would come to replace him. Matthias casually stood and strode down the dais, wings dragging across the ground, his posture tall and proud. He had to sell the story to everyone, not just his father. A guard passed him by and grunted in acknowledgement—Matthias nodded his head.
Dinner wasn’t far off. He had enough time to head to his room to freshen up. Any meal with his father was pure torture, but he couldn’t let them see that. A mask of enjoyment would be plastered on his face with every bite of food he took, every word he spoke, and every fake laugh that escaped his mouth.
Once he reached his room, he finally let the charade down. Here, he could be himself, even just for a breath of time. Bones was waiting patiently and greeted him with a bushy, wagging tail. Matthias ruffled his fur before heading to his bathroom.
The tub called, and he never said no to the tub.
Warmth seeped into his aching body and Matthias relaxed, sinking beneath the surface and staying there until his lungs screamed at him for air. This moment each day reminded him he was alive.
A warm, raw heart beat inside the chest of flesh and bones.
Matthias smiled as Adalia came to the front of his mind. It had been too long since he had seen her, but that steady beating inside his chest kept him going. He knew she would be concerned for his wellbeing and he’d purposely kept away. If his father caught the drift of any ill intentions, there was no knowing what he might do.
Her mossy, brown eyes gazed into his, and for a moment, he dreamt her into reality. There she was, sitting on the edge of the tub, her fingers grazing the surface of the water, creating ripples that gently bumped against his skin. She smiled at him and Matthias felt his body turn warm from her hungry observation. Shaking his head, he disappeared beneath the water again and when he emerged to take a breath; she was gone. Relief and disappointment washed over him as he exited the tub.
Hopefully soon he could go to her—once the lie was buried deep enough inside his father’s soulless body.
A gong rang through the hall outside of his room and Matthias realised he had spent more time in the tub than intended. Dressing for dinner, he told Bones to stay put, then left for the dining hall.
As he walked, he prepared the script in his mind, donning his character for the evening.
Hands in pockets, deep in thought. That’s what he always did. No one questioned that part of him.
An easy disguise.
A few high rollers were already sniffing around the room, seeing what they could devour that didn’t belong to them. They scattered when the dark prince entered the room. Matthias chuckled under his breath. He’d earned a lot more respect since he had become his father’s accomplice.
In the corner of the room, he spied Jes and Snake murmuring in low tones. What could they possibly be talking about?
Matthias seated himself at the long table, already laden with every food one could ever desire. Roasted meats, sauces, and breads. Silver trays of exotic fruits that were far too sweet for his liking. Food that was good to look at, but horrid to eat.
Moments later, his father sauntered into the room and sat at the head of the table. His cape was clasped with a golden buckle—triangle with a dagger through it. The king’s long brown hair had long lost its lustre and sat flat against his head. The crown upon it was no better, slightly crooked and dull looking. Matthias wondered if anyone ever took the time to polish it.
The king’s arrival began the evening’s festivities of wining and dining. Female thorns clad in barely there garments danced around the room, entertaining anyone who cared to look. Matthias felt sorry for them. As hard as they tried to please the king, he never seemed satisfied.
The scent of alcohol drifted through the air and people were already falling over themselves. Laughter flowed from their mouths, but all Matthias heard were silent cries for help. He sipped his red wine slowly and surveyed the room, keeping watch and taking mental notes.
“How are the weapon productions down in the den this afternoon, boy?” the king asked as he stuffed a roasted duck leg into his mouth.
“Just fine. Metal went in and weapons came out. Plenty to go around for your army, Father.” Matthias replied calmly, without looking up from his plate of food.
The king grunted in reply.
“What do you plan on doing with all the weapons you are creating? There aren’t enough soldiers to give them too,” Matthias asked casually.
His father licked his greasy fingers clean before replying. “That’s why more Shadowkin need recruiting from The Grey and more of the subjects need to know how dire this situation is. We need more to join us.”
“And how do we get them to join, Father? Can we give them some sort of incentive? A reward maybe—money?” Matthias mused.
The king stopped eating and eyed his son. “Why would I give my subjects’ money to do something that benefits them?”
Matthias shrugged his shoulders. “You have plenty of it, or if you don’t want to do that, maybe you could throw them all a big party. Just a thought.”
His father pondered on his words for a moment before returning to his meal.
As Matthias sat amongst the creatures before him, he longed for the quiet dinners he’d shared with Adalia, Shiloh, and, yes, Nikolas, too, even though he could be an overprotective ass at times. The laughter around that table had always been genuine. There’d been deep, connecting conversations between them all. Soft breezes would dance across their skin and the whispers in the trees told of stories yet to be had.
Adalia’s cooking was nothing like he’d ever tasted before. She was gifted with the way she mixed flavours together. It was all so authentic, not like this food or company before him.
Could he stay away another night?
Maybe under the cover of darkness he could winnow into her home and see her. He’d never winnowed that far before, so he wasn’t even sure that he could. And then there was the issue of just randomly turning up inside her home, where not only one, but two majors lived. Maybe he could winnow to The Grey and walk through to Lucius, would the guards at the gate let him pass?
The thought of being there reminded him of how badly he wanted to escape. He longed for the fingers that had run through his hair, sending tiny bumps across his body in a flood of sensitivity. He longed for the taste of her lips upon his own and the way her body fit perfectly with his, but most of all, he longed for her mind.
Never in his lifetime had he met someone with the intricate mind she carried. Matthias wanted . . . no, needed more time with her so he could pick it apart and find out just how it worked. He wanted to have conversations with her until the early hours of the morning, learning everything there was to know about her.
That need wasn’t his to have, though . . . she wasn’t his to have.
The only way this turned out well for everyone was to stay put for now—as hard as that was for him.
The loudness of the room grew and Matthis knew that the evening would carry on well into the night at this rate, so he excused himself and told his father he was tired.
In the few days after his return, the king had paid extra attention to his whereabouts, often sending a Thorn to accompany him wherever he went. As the days wore on and Matthias proved himself the ever loyal son, the hand-holding became less and less.
Turning to face the room as he reached the doorway, he paused to see if his father would look at him with some sort of care, but the king was so engrossed in Jes sitting on his lap that no one else existed in the room.
For a split second, Matthias contemplated slipping through the Veil and venturing into Lucius. If he could just get a note to Blue to pass onto her, it would put his heart at ease.
His eyes shifted to the king again. He wouldn’t risk it . . . not tonight. He couldn’t let his father ever lay his hands on Adalia again.
Moving, he headed back to his room, where the call of a bed and his canine companion awaited.
Warm lips caressed his sculptured stomach as they made their journey to the lower regions of his body. Matthias sucked in his breath and raked his hands through the long, silken hair of the woman who lay on top of him. He placed his hands on either side of her face and pulled her up to his. The woman lowered her head, claiming his lips with her own. Her taste was sweet like honey, and Matthias groaned into her mouth as he circled her waist with his arms, drawing her closer. The kiss deepened, and Matthias went with it. She’d finally come to him. The wait was over and it was more than he dreamed it would be.
“Adalia,” he whispered to her soft lips.
“I can be whoever you want me to be, my prince. Yours to suck, kiss or—”
The second her voice touched his ears, Matthias’s eyes shot open, and he swiftly moved, flipping the body above him to underneath. With a ragged breath, he stared at the woman beneath him. This wasn’t Ada.
No.
It was his father’s lover.
“How dare you enter my chambers and touch me without my permission? Do you think so little of your hands . . . your mouth?” Matthias hissed.
Jes smirked at him. “But you looked so lonely tonight at dinner. I thought you could use the company. I’m very good at touching . . . biting—whatever you fancy. I thought you’d be pleased?”
Matthias’s ears roared. She’d gone too far.
He sat up, his strong legs still straddling her hips. Leaning over the side of the bed, he reached for the belt he’d dropped on the floor the night before and tied one of Jes’s hands to his bedpost.
“Now, this is interesting. Are you finally giving in to those desires I know your body is craving?” Jes taunted.
Matthias remained silent as he went about his task. He stood from the bed and moved to the other side, grabbing another belt from his cupboard, and walked back to Jes. Who willingly placed her other hand on the bedpost—Matthias secured it.
After he was done, he grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head.
“Going somewhere, prince?” Jes murmured.
Matthias glanced up at her and smirked, and her body sensually wriggled in response to his gaze.
Moving to his desk, Matthias pulled out some paper and pen and wrote. Once he was pleased with his words, he moved to the bed.
When he reached her, he stood as tall as he could, wings flaring out as righteous fury crashed in. “Don’t you ever assume anything about me ever again. And stay here. I’m sure my father will join you soon. Have fun explaining to him how you got into this mess in the first place,” Matthias growled.
Jes shivered and swallowed. “Don’t leave me here, Matthias. You know what he will do to me.”
The dark prince ignored her plea. “If you even think about breathing in my direction again, I will reach my hand down your throat and rip your lungs out. Are we clear?” Matthias spoke in a tone so low that he even scared himself.
“Crystal,” Jes whispered as he slowly turned and exited his room.
Matthias called Bones to his side and headed down the hallway.
They were leaving, but not before he slipped the note under his father’s door.
Father, it seems my room has a sudden pest issue… I’ll be sleeping elsewhere until it’s taken care of.
Matthias.
P.S Be cautious. It mentioned it bites.