And I wonder if that’s what he’s thinking just as the shining light in his eyes fades out.
My own heart tightens, and the air in my lungs has been missing for a long moment now.
It hurts.
But I can’t pause.
I can’t stop the charade for even a second.
Because like Roman said, I’m losing. And that means I’m failing men just like this guard.
With my head held high, I stride out into the ashen arena. Violent sunlight warms my skin from overhead. The walls are tall and regal. I feel the attention of the royals and the kingdom above watching every step I take out toward the cruel man wiping fresh blood from his blade. They sit in their little seats that circle the fighting space below. We’re nothing more than animals to the ones up above. That’s okay. You stay up there in the safety of your cushioned seats while I play with your politics like the literal wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“He wasn’t really much of an opponent,” I say with the nastiness of those words stinging my tongue.
The Prince turns, and I know the moment he really sees me. Because that sheer mating gown is finally coming in handy. He seems to note the way it clings to the flawless shape of my breasts and the nice curve of my hips.
While the men wanted me to blend in to this culture of practicality in their dark pants and worn shirts, that’s not what will get me noticed.
And I am beingthoroughlyfucking noticed right now.
“Good morning,” he says with a heat in his eyes I’ve seen too many times to count.
I’ve also seen the way men’s eyebrows shoot up high when I pick up a weapon. Just like his does as I pick up the dead man’s blade. I study the length of it. Not a drop of blood adorns the dark metal. Not one wound was given to the guard’s killer.
We should rectify that.
I hold the hilt in my palm in a sort of novice way that I haven’t done since I was a very small girl. I’ll admit I like to play innocent from time to time… Okay, so I like to fuck with people sometimes. Nothing wrong with that.
No one ever thinks about how sharp of a weapon deception really is. And I wield it so fucking well.
I peer up from beneath my thick lashes at the man watching me with insulting amusement in his features. “You’re a cute one,” he labels me.Cute.I’ma be so damn cute when I cut your dick from your balls.
Fucking adorable.
“Thank you, my Prince.” The smile I give him is that same innocence. “Care to go another round?” With purpose, I flop my sword around in a mock joust.
Ah, he laughs and laughs. Like a total fucking fool.
“I’d love to go a few rounds with you,” he insinuates with a rake of his gaze sliding down my frame once more.
To really stroke his ego, I appraise him right back. I measure up all the ways he’s different from Roman. They’re brothers, but the similarity in appearance is very vague. The inky black hair that’s pushed back from his face is the only matching trait I can pinpoint. And even that’s hard since Roman is shaved closely.The gaze eating me up right now isn’t alight with energy. It’s dark and haunting. Even his build is opposing to Roman’s tall, lithe frame. The Prince stands just a few small inches taller than myself.
And that will make him an excellent opponent to duel this morning.
“Ready?” I ask with another haphazardly floppy cock wave of my weapon.
He smiles that amused little smirk once more at my attempt to play with men’s toys. “I won’t kill you, Cersia. I’ll be gentle with you.”
Goddess, he’s obnoxious.
This will be fun.
I smirk at him as I lift my gown to pull one leg back and position my weight to balance out the strike I’m already intending. The simple change in my stance puts a confused crease between his thick eyebrows.
It’s the most rewarding fucking look of concern.
My arm flexes as I truly take hold of the hilt of the sword and lower it until I’m ready. Until he’s ready. Fuck, he better be ready.
