The female’s bodyguards stretched to the sides amid the columns. Their eyes constantly surveyed the crowd, all stopped and waiting for the princess to get out of the way and let them through. But she was waiting for Tarian.
Tarian’s shoulders tightened, the only indication of her unwanted attention. He strolled toward her confidently, Daisy’s hand in his.
The princess’s eyes were locked on him. Her smile twisted into a disturbing, cruel thing.
Then her gaze swung to Daisy, and pain flared in Daisy’s body. She hadn’t even been introduced and she was already under attack.
22
Daisy
They’re pushing us back,Gorlan said in alarm, one of only twoFallenallowed to join Tarian inside.They’re trying to separate us from you two. They’ve never done this before.
We’re at the end of the line,Tarian said in an internal, monotone voice.I’ve found their chalice. I’m drawing up instructions. The moment they don’t need me, they won’t have any reason to keep me alive.
What about the gods?Daisy asked, feeling a chill roll down her back as she internalized the pain before letting it flow away again.
This court forsook the gods a long time ago. Besides, they agreed to take me in. They didn’t specify how long they’d keep me.
The chill turned into a whole-body tremble.
Stick to the plan,Tarian murmured, his gaze locked on the princess’s while she stared at Daisy.I know what he intends. I know the timelines, give or take. I have not been idle. Stick to the plan and we’ll play them at their own game.
That was all well and good, but Daisy didn’tknowthe fucking plan. She loved chess, and she’d hoped to play with Tarian, but now she was on the outside looking in while supposedly a big player.
Your piece is surviving,he said, very unhelpfully.You’ve done amazingly so far. Keep it up.
Help him,Faelynn said to just Daisy from somewhere behind.Maintain your courage. He cannot take on this court alone.
She was walking up with him, wasn’t she?
He threaded his fingers between hers tightly as they kept going, and Daisy looked away to the side, still not making eye contact with anyone, but not deferring to the princess. Apparently, her entire existence would focus aroundwinging it.
“Stupid human,” she heard from those watching them pass. Over and over they muttered it, or something like it. And she smiled at the name. Not a Chester, but a human in general. Magical people would have been so annoyed to be lumped in with the likes of her.
“What is this?” the princess hissed. Her words sounded like a thousand snakes singing a chorus. Dark, forbidding magic slithered over Daisy’s body to match the sound. A horribly acidic smell like sulfur wafted up.
It used to be an earthy smell,Tarian thought.Even the smell gives away the rotting nature of this magic.
Everything in Daisy recoiled. It definitely didn’t feel natural, that magic. Her hair stood up on her arms and prickled on her scalp. Still, she kept from looking at the royal figure, instead pulling up her free hand and checking out her nails. She popped one into her mouth, chewing on the end as she scanned a pair of weird fucking shoes that really shouldn’t exist. The shoemaker needed to be dragged over to a well and tossed in until he could come up with better ideas.
Tarian laughed, not covering it this time. The sound was light and carefree, like he’d been freed of this terrible place.
I have,he murmured.Through you.
That was a stretch because they were marching toward the undertaker, and if they made it through her, they’d be greeted by the prison-robbing rapist next. What a fucking family.
“Princess Elamorna, hello.” He tugged on Daisy’s hand, and she finally dragged her attention in that direction.
She didn’t look at the princess, though. Oh no. She was a stupid human, after all. She had to play her part.
She looked up at Tarian to see what he wanted. The gold in his eyes had settled but still moved around the pupils, no black to be found. The black hadn’t returned since they’d first made love.
…made love…
The words echoed in her mind, and she knew Tarian was echoing them back to her, teasing her.
I’m just being tasteful,she groused.
