24. Chapter Twenty-Four
Zyon charges toward me. “What are you doing here? In all the colors you can see, can you not see black? Is that the problem?”
“The black had stars on it, so I thought it different,” I say.
“It was locked!”
I look back toward the door. “Oh, was it?”
“You know very well it was. You could have been killed by the dragon!”
The marble dragon stretches and yawns. “If you spent more time in your library, king, you’d have known that’s not the case.”
“Useless guardian!” Zyon spats.
“Would you rather I devoured her on the spot? Your complaining in both directions leaves your wishes unclear, master.” The dragon keeps his tone mocking as he curls back around himself.
“As long as no one touches the books, I don’t mind the company.
The books finding harm ignites my wrath.
” He closes his eyes and looks like a statue again.
Zyon turns back to me. “Every time you go through a forbidden door, you almost end up dead! You think you would learn your lesson.”
“Actually, the only black door crossing that left me almost dead was the dungeon. The last time I was almost left to madness was one you prodded me to enter.”
“I didn’t care if you died then.”
“And you do now?”
“Obviously! How could you question that?”
“You talk one minute like you will make me your queen and then keep secrets from me. Hide things behind black doors.”
“They are things of no consequence.”
“Then why forbid me access?” I head to the door.
He rushes after me. “This is my castle! If I wish to keep something private, I will.”
“Fine!”
“It’s not like you don’t have secrets of your own.”
“What secrets do you think I have?”
“You’re always sneaking around and going places you shouldn’t.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“It’s not paranoia when I almost watched you die in my bed." His chest heaves in a deep breath. "You couldn’t even walk properly for days without getting cramps.”
“So next time leave me to die if it’s a burden for you.” I jog toward my room, dodging his attempts to grab my wrist.
“Why would I ever do that?”
“Spare your eyes from my suffering,” I say.
“The point is, you’d still be suffering, and it’s an annoyance that I have started to worry about.”
“After the mountain, you won’t have to worry about me at all.”
He catches up to me and presses me against the wall. “Unfortunately, worry for you will always be my greatest affliction now.”
“Liar.”
“Entrancing, frustrating woman! You beguile me in a way that will kill me. Maybe I should make you pay for such entrapment.”
“Do your best.”
A rumble escapes his chest like a dragon ready to release its fire. “My desire for you is an out of control plague.” His palm runs under my dress and over my bare thigh. “You may lead me to a slow and agonizing death.”
“I will make the pleasure worth your time, Your Majesty.”
“I should fuck you right here.”
My breathing quickens at his irises turning orange like a burning inferno, and his hard length pressing into me from under his pants makes my body throb with longing. The tension is too much as he rocks against me, and I whimper.
Someone clears their throat to our left, and Zyon sends a death glare to Maximo. “This. Had better be. The most. Important thing you have ever told me!” After slow, irritated words, he spews the rest of his sentence out with oozing poison.
I roll my eyes and slide away from him, placing my feet back on the floor. “Such a temper.”
Maximo bows dramatically. “Sir, pardon me, but there is an issue that requires your assistance.”
Zyon grabs my elbow to pull me into a long kiss that sends heat through my body, like he’s showing Maximo finishing things with me is far more important than any matter he could be interrupted for.
“Go relax, and I’ll be up to see you soon.
“ He winks and adds a lopsided grin that makes me want to beg him to let someone else handle the urgent issue.
He squeezes my hand and takes off with Maximo.
I go to my room where I draw a bath and soak while pleasuring myself to soothe the ache left by the wicked king.
It's not satisfactory enough, but it will have to do.
The drawers in the bathroom have soft pants and shirts, and I choose a peach set to relax in.
I get out my notebook and write about everything the dragon told me.
When I read over everything I’ve written, I realize I’m never going to find the cloak or gain access to the key without talking to Lazzus.
A servant pops her head into my room. “My lady, the king has said you requested me as your personal servant.”
“You’re the one who helped me while I was recovering.”
“Yes, my lady.” She curtsies.
“I’m sorry for what he did to you on my account, and if you wish another job, I can make it happen.”
“Whatever pleases you pleases me.”
“What is your name?”
“Rana. Can I get anything for you?”
“No, I’m doing well right now. Why don’t you take the day off?
I think she will argue, but she simply curtsies again and leaves.
The rest of my day is spent crossing off places on the castle map where I’ve been.
Since the book it’s in is borrowed from the library, I draw a replica in my notebook and get so into all the little details, adding new ones that I know from going to various locations.
The only thing needed is colors to make it prettier, and it’s something I want to ask Zyon for.
The sun has set, and the servants bring me dinner, which means the king is still too busy.
I put my project in the closet and eat alone.
Meals with him used to be loathsome, but I find myself missing his company as I eat my salad.
The stars are peeking out from the grey clouds in a rare appearance, so I watch them as I wait for him.
Eventually, I give up and climb into my bed.
“Why aren’t you in my bed?” Zyon wakes me rather than only staring at me, which shows how far we’ve come.
“You didn’t invite me to your bed.”
“It’s an open invitation for you.”
I yank him into my bed and snuggle into his chest. “What are we even doing?”
“Making terrible mistakes.”
I consider shoving him onto the floor, but his scent and warmth are addictive. “You’re so romantic.”
“You and your romantic demands.”
“Such a tough thing for a king.”
“It is. One of the dumbest things I’ve ever done.”
That makes me roll away from him. “Go sleep alone then.”
“You misunderstand.”
“I only understand what you say.”
“And I only say what I mean.” He rolls over me, so he’s facing me again. “It’s dumb because the more I romance you, the more it makes me fall for you.”
“That’s the point of romance, isn’t it?”
“I thought it was for sex. That’s why I started doing grand gestures for you because there isn’t much to do in this castle.”
“And I’m the only warm body,” I say.
“Yes, exactly, and I wanted to spend time with you so you would feel comfortable warming my bed.”
“Stupid man.” I play with the small bit of scruff growing on his chin.
“Yes, I was an idiot because as soon as I spent time with you, I discovered I wanted much more than to take you to bed. I wanted to cut my soul open for you because you showed me how beautiful yours is.”
I turn away from him again but scoot as close as I can get to him. His words start to scare me the more I sit with them. “You shouldn’t do that. Not before the mountain.”
“What’s that?”
“Get attached. We’ll both pay the price. We need to stop this now.”
He releases a heavy breath. “Can’t we just enjoy this?”
“No, I think it’s a distraction from what we’re supposed to be doing. The castle wants us together because it gets to stay alive in this curse. It’s fogging our minds. None of it is real.”
“You. Us. Is the realest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“You can’t truly know that.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “You should go to your bed.”
“Neera.”
“I’m serious. Go, or I will, and I’ll find a black door to sleep behind.”
He leaves after I reject his touch one last time, and in the morning, he’s not in the dining hall. I tell myself it’s for the best, but the ache in my heart doesn’t agree.
I spend the next few days working on the map, and Rana finds me colors.
I feel giddy as I turn my artwork pretty.
The map is growing more beautiful with all the flowers I draw on the edges.
Zyon doesn’t come to my room or send anyone to get me for anything.
It’s clear he felt nothing much at all if I could push him away so easily.
It’s what I want. It is. That’s what I insist to myself every time I think about the king, and I immediately try to return my focus on figuring out the cloak and key.
After I’ve showered and gotten completely ready for bed, I call for Gulzar.
He chirps happily when he sees me and toddles over.
I hug him tight, tuck him in next to me, and easily drift to sleep.
He’s become my comfort as I try to soothe the loss of my almost relationship with a king I have no business being with.
I open eyes and hide my grin under my blanket. “We’re back to this.” I chide my stomach for flopping.
Zyon sits in his favorite chair next to my bed. “You’re difficult to stay away from, and we have a couple of surprises today.”
I groan and roll over, hugging my little monster. “There doesn’t need to be any more surprises. The imagination cave, the apothecary shop, and the flowers were enough, and the one before that was too much. You could have written a pretty note and called it good.”
“They’re already done, so might as well not waste my effort.”
“I had plans today, you know?” I kiss Gulzar on the nose.
“That didn’t include me?”
“Of course. I’ve learned to live without you over the last several days since you stopped wanting to eat meals with me.” I set Gulzar on my lap and pet a couple of his snakes on the head. They affectionately rub against my hand.
“Give me one hour for these surprises, and then you can be off to wherever you must go.”
“Fine. If I must.” I stretch and feign annoyance. “Are we having breakfast first?”