“But you’re not a hell fae?” he asks oddly.
A hell fae?
“Why would you think that, my Prince?”
“Answer the question, Cersia.” His lips are a thin crack against his serious face.
“No. I’m not any sort of fae.”
Pure relief smooths the tension in his features.
“They’re more shifting than any shifter I’ve ever met. More demonic than any demon. Their glamours are forbidden, and some of their own kind have been exiled from my kingdom. They’re lucky they’re not slaughtered into extinction like the dragons once were so long ago. I appreciate your beauty, but do not ever lie to me. Because I won’t hesitate to slit your pretty throat, Cersia.” A manic glint shines in his eyes, and it’s held on me for so long I become all too aware of my beating heart.
I wonder briefly if he’s heard of the fleet of dragons that practically own the Kingdom of Minden in my world or if he’d beoutraged to know that dragons like the fae, will never be tamed into extinction.
“I would never, my Prince,” I say instead with a tilt of my chin lifting high to show him as much respect as I’ve ever given anyone.
And it’s a fucking lie. I cling to that lie like it’ll save my life.
Indeed, I hope it does.
“You’re dismissed,” he says flatly with a sudden snapping click of his fingers. He does it three times.
It startles me until I realize it’s a doggy order that Avian hasn’t yet taught me.
I refrain from rolling my eyes or doing anything more than shuffle across the room with too many emotions churning through my stomach.
My gaze is lowered to the floor as I pass him by, and he moves clear out of my way as I pass. There’s no longer humor in the shitty antics anymore though.
Not a single ounce of happiness is in me.
Because I entered this room feeling like I’d won the game.
And now I’m not so sure if I’ll even survive it.
SIXTEEN
THE TIME HAS COME
When I returnto the safe haven of their bedroom, there’s a long white gown hanging near the bath. It’s thin and sheer like my one from home, made of more lace than fabric, but black glittering diamonds are gleaming along the hem of the sleeves, the hood, and the base of the dress.
It’s a gift. Just like he said he had a gift for me.
I hate how much it looks like a mating gown.
I ran away from one of those already.
At least that ceremony wasn’t going to end in my death.
What if he knows why I was truly brought here? What if he knows about my affiliation with the exiled witch? What if he kills me before I kill him?
“You’re going to be his bride!” Zilo says happily with a big clap of his hands as he walks in behind me followed by two more less than excited hellhounds.
“You should tell her the plan,” Avian says suddenly.
The smile shining in his friend’s eyes drains away rather quickly. “No. It’ll put her in danger.” Zilo skims past me and takes a seat on the settee, making it seem tiny beneath his enormous frame. His legs spread wide as he makes himself comfortable, but he doesn’t look at all comfy really. It occurs tome that I doubt Zilo has ever been really at ease a single day in his entire life.
He’s tense. The hard lines of his shoulders and chest are deep cutting.
