“You dare strike against the princess?” he growled, threat flooding his every word.
The soldier on the ground was evidently at a loss for words, sputtering them out. “No, I thought it was merely you, Zyion! I was catching you off guard to win the earlier game we’d played. You have to believe that I did not know you’d located the princess. I swear it on my oath to the king!” The warrior dropped to his knees and awkwardly began kissing the hemline of my dress as he pleaded for mercy.
“It was a mistake. No harm was done,” I offered, much to the disagreement of the warrior at my back. “Release me, now,” I hissed through clenched teeth. The hand clasping me firmly, loosened and started to fall away, but as it lowered to my hip, a thumb trailed over the exposed skin. Then he stepped away, offering me much-needed distance. “Please, get up. It was merely an accident.”
“Return to the barracks, Rayson. Report to the sergeant for being out past curfew and mention your slight against the princess. Tomorrow, you’ll tend the stables.”
“That’s unnecessary,” I argued, but the younger warrior rose to his feet and vanished from sight.
“Do not intervene between me and the recruits, Your Majesty. It is not your place to do so. You’re not the king, unless I am mistaken about what lies beneath the thin bodice of your gown?”
“They’re called boobs, block head,” I muttered before starting toward the path. “I’ll find my father myself. You’re dismissed, or whatever they say.” Holding my hand up, I waved at him like an adolescent child throwing a fit. His chuckle trailed me as I wove through the maze of shrubs lining the pathway. I stopped at the fountain in the center of the garden as the sound of Aden’s raised voice pulled me toward the entrance.
“Find her, now! She could not have vanished. I’ll not have my future pet out here lost, or worse, rutting with the trash. We need her on our side if we’re ever to return home again. Plus, I cannot ascend the throne without her. Once I’ve ascended, she can be punished for such things.” The bottom dropped out of my stomach as repulsion tightened my throat. That slimy little fucker was about to find out I wasn’t that bitch.
“Good thing the princess isn’t hard on the eyes since you’ll also need to bed the bitch,” a masculine voice joined the others.
“The princess is a means to an end. Griffon may be blinded by his daughter and willing to look beyond her blatant disregard for our people, but I am not,” Aden snapped coldly. “Aria Hecate is not loyal to this kingdom, nor can she be allowed to lead our people. Aria willingly traveled with the enemy, which proved she’s a dragon’s whore. I may wed her, but she’ll never hold authority over the Kingdom of Fire. I won’t allow it, ever. Once we’re wed, her power becomes mine to wield.”
“Eavesdropping is beneath you, princess,” the guard I’d dismissed whispered against my ear as his hand clamped over my lips. I jerked back and let out a startled scream against his palm. “Stop struggling against me and be silent. Don’t make me skewer the prince tonight. Not only would it be tediously messy, but would also not look good for either of us if your intended fiancé ended up dead by my blade.” After he put some distance between us, and Aden and his men, he removed his hand from my mouth.
“Care to explain what he meant when he said he intended to wed me?” I hissed through clenched teeth. To his credit, the poor guy looked uncomfortable, but answered, anyway.
“Aden is your father’s choice for your hand. Shouldn’t you be rejoicing that he chose the most loyal, eligible bachelor for his only daughter.”
“Fuck that shit,” I growled as I touched my fingertips to my lips. “I'd rather marry a pineapple and ride it into battle like a steed.” His eyes sparkled at my vehemently hissed words.
“You are a lot like your grandmother. A pretty face did not sway her either. A word of warning, if I may.” I nodded. “No one will accept your claim without you earning it first because you’re an outsider here. It won’t matter that you’re supposed to be our savior, everyone is aware that you’re sleeping with the enemy. That won’t win over your people.”
“And I should listen to you, why? I don’t know you, nor do I trust you. So, who do I have the privilege of speaking to?” I asked, exhausted by the insanity of whiplash this place was handing out. Wasn’t enduring that torture enough?
“I’m the head of your guard and the one man who swore to protect you from harm. I am Zyion, Head of the Queen’s Guard, and Crown Prince of the Vanir. I was your grandmother’s guard, protector, and confidant for her entire life. Griffon isn’t against you, but his brothers won’t step aside for an outsider to steal the throne from beneath them. They’ll band together against you and easily win the vote of the people. I hope you didn’t plan to claim it merely by strolling in, Aria.”
“I didn’t assume it would be easy, no. I also never intended to claim the throne. Scylla told me I didn’t have a choice. According to her, if I don’t claim my birthright, which is the throne, Hecate won’t be forced from the land until I do so.”
“Then it seems as if you need me after all,” he stated.
“I didn’t say that. In fact, I don’t need your help at all, Zyion of the Blah-blah-blah,” I muttered crossly. If the prick expected me to remember his titles at the sheer level of exhaustion I’d hit, he was mistaken. “Goodnight, sir.” I dodged his hand as it shot out to catch my arm, but then we both paused at the sound of footsteps. A second later, Aden rounded the bend and chuckled joyfully. It took effort not to gag at the sight of him. Zyion noted it and stifled a chuckle as Aden and his crew came into sight.
“Aria,” he whispered, and my eyes couldn’t roll hard enough at the mocked relief lacing his tone. “Your father and I have been worried sick. You vanished without so much as a trace of where you went.”
“I was with Scylla Prometheus,” I disclosed as the men with him watched my every move. They were also alert and watchful of Zyion, who smoothly stepped in front of me. The tension grew, making my hackles rise. He didn’t trust them any more than I did.
“I was just taking the princess back to her father,” Zyion stated firmly.
Aden closed the distance between us and slid his hand behind my back. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll escort her back myself.”
Chapter Eight
Aria