Frustration scorches inside of me, causing my hands to fly up to my face. I rub my palms against my cheeks, trying to calm myself down before releasing a heavy sigh of annoyance. “It’s not my fault the horse ran!”
“It obviouslydidn’t like you… smart horse.”
My bottom lip drops, my hands clenched in fists beside me. “Fine. I’ll walk.” My voice growls, hand gesturing for him to go so I may follow. “After you,my Prince.”
I watch his fluid movements as he swings himself onto the horse's back, his worn leather boots finding their place in the stirrups. He gives a gentle nudge, a small smirk towards me and the horse begins to walk, leading the way as I follow close behind.
“I hope you enjoy the view.” He turns his head, and the horse beneath him shifts with each step, its tail flicking back and forth. “You can walk beside me if you prefer.” He raises an eyebrow inquisitively.
“I’d rather stare at the horse's ass, butthanks.”
Chapter 6
“The Deskyiara bloodline is made for Royalty, yet on the inside they are fighting the worst battle of all the Royals. They must fulfill their duty as a descendant from the God of Fire, or the Realms shall forever be cursed.” - Book of Azure
I BEG FOR SHADE.
The sun sparkles through my fingers as I gaze up to the wide sky.I miss the trees.The grass beneath my boots felt like a cushion compared to the dusty, sandy plains we now walk on. Everything looks as if it's been washed away by a sand storm. Dead logs and branches everywhere I look. Intriguing, spiked lizards, their sharp spikes glistening in the sunlight, and winged creatures with iridescent wings dart around us as we venture on. In the distance, with my blurry vision, I catch skeleton-like bugsscurrying about, their thin bodies skittering in every direction we turn.
I must have stepped on one, because a loud crunch echoes in the slight breeze as my foot comes down. When I lift my boot, one of the skeleton-like creatures is attached to the sole. Its antennae twitches nervously as it tries to free itself from my shoe. I delicately grab it by the antennae and toss it as far away from me as possible.
“Disgusting.”My body wiggles. Shivers run down my spine with the thought of more of these damn bugs coming near me.
I wipe my clammy palm against my drenched forehead, only to feel more beads of sweat slide down my temple. It's as if a sudden downpour has started during the journey to meet the Queen.
I’m soaked.
A Queen.I choke out a silent chuckle. The thought of walking up to herroyal highnessin these clothes, in this condition, has me internally screaming with laughter. This is all just a mess.
“Your majesty.” I wobbly curtsy, my feet tripping over each other as I practice to polish the moves just right for when I face the Queen. “How lovely it is to meet you this evening.”
I cover my mouth, holding in the laugh that wants to bellow out. My body sways, as if I have been at a bar for hours yet only to be walking through a desert that is trying to kill me. The thought of meeting a Queen has my mind playing tricks on me, visualizing every movement I will do once I walk up to her. Should I bow? Curtsey? What the hell do the people do here in front of royalty?
I honestly think death has been knocking at my door these past few days, and it's catching up to me.
“How may Iserve you, my Queen.” My laugh escapes my dry lips, and I fumble over a dead log, falling on the ground andbursting into a deep chuckle. My dark hair tosses over my face as my palm glides along the sharp pebbles.
“I’m okay…I’m okay.” I unsteadily push myself up, dusting the red dirt off of my leggings. “That’ll hurt later.”
“Get your shit together.” Florian's lip curls into a sneer, his eyes narrowing with a deadly gleam as I catch sight of him through the strands of my hair. I toss my tangled waves out of my face, exhaling deeply to blow a strand that still tickles across my nose.
“Don't you dare make light of the Queen.” He circles his horse around me. “She will throw you into the battle games and have you killed.”
“Sucks for the person who kills me.” I shrug, my eyes widening with the thought of someone taking my life and being cursed forever. “Damn.”
He pauses. “Actually, keep this act up. Having you thrown into the games might benefit me.”
“Because you wouldn’t have to be the one to kill me?” My brow raises.
The horse comes to a sudden stop, its powerful muscles rippling throughout its legs. Prince Florian leans over, his warm breath tickling against my face and carrying with it the familiar scent of musk. Taking me back to the cabin where the elder was. Sometimes I wish I had stayed back with her.
A small, mischievous smirk tugs at the corners of his full, luscious lips. His words are laced with sarcasm as he says, “Precisely.You would be gone, and I wouldn’t be the one to bear whatever curse comes with killing you.” The glint in his eyes hints at the joy he would feel if this were to actually happen. “If… you are truly her.”
I pucker my lips, my eyes rolling away from his death glare.
“Key word…if.”
His eyes trace my whole body, catching every detail of filth and sweat along my skin. “Stop talking, and move.”
