“And how do you know where I come from?” I raised a brow at her.
She raked her amber eyes up and down my body in derision, causing me to bristle with fury.
“Prince Cyrus may have taken pity on you, but a little whore like you can only be dressed up so much. Your roots clearly show. You have no class and no education on courtly matters.” She spat the nasty accusations at me while she threw her hair back over one shoulder, attempting to hurt me with words. Little did she know I had battled this front most of my life. “I don’tknow what the prince is doing with you, aside from the obvious, but you don’t belong at court.”
“Okay, first off: no one took pity on me.” I laughed in her face, causing her uppity smile to drop. “I didn’t want to be here—still don’t.” I continued coolly, rolling my shoulders back. Daring her to give me a reason, an excuse to let free the rage that had been bubbling inside me.
“Yes, I’m from a small village. And you know what? You remind me of all the little girls there who acted just like you; who felt so insignificant and unable to stand out that they used their jealousy to diminish others and make themselves feel better about who they are.” Her eyes grew wide in indignation and impotent fury, as I kept going. Could I help the years of frustration pent up within me? I yearned to share every thought I had about these stupid, vapid bitches who continually occupied themselves with trying to put me in my place.
I’d hadenough.
“I understand why Prince Cyrus wanted me, but it doesn’t mean I’m fucking him. Unlikeyouand your prince.” I continued with a sharp edge to my voice, simply because the red-headed woman was too furious to get a word in edgewise. “I may not be royally trained, but that’s a trait that can be taught. I was educated in my village with the same curriculum as every other human across Celesterra. Just because I came from a small town doesn’t mean I’m an idiot. I’m a fast learner, and I’m more than my looks. If that’s all you’re going off of to judge me before getting to know me, then shame on you. Don’t let your jealousy eat you alive.” The venom from years past unleashed itself onto this stranger, and I couldn’t help but worry about the repercussions. I wasn’t worried enough, however, to stop myself from making this bitch shut up as fast as possible.
The woman’s face was now as red as her hair, her fists clenching as I stepped into her space, refusing to back down. Ididn’t do enough in my village to stand up for myself and look where that got me. If I didn’t stop this now, she’d only get worse.
“And look, I get it, you’re jealous of my position at Prince Cyrus’s side, and you’d love nothing more than to be there in my place. You’re jealous of my looks, my dresses, the ability to wander the castle while you work task after task.” The red-head’s eyebrows rose higher and higher as snickers from the other slaves surrounded us, but Ireallydidn’t give a damn. “I’m afraid that what you just don’t realize is that I don’tcare. Your opinion means less than nothing to me.” I finished with a cold glare, crossing my arms across my chest for good measure. Then I raised an eyebrow at her furious and petulant face.
“Well…what’s going on here?” Emmie’s chuckling voice intoned, and I spun my head toward her with a relieved smile. She looked between us and shook her head. “Let me guess, Aphra here let her jealous beast out of its cage?” I chuckled lightly as the woman, Aphra, glared at Emmie.
“Stay out of this. You’re nothing but a lowly slave. You aren’t the chosen companion of one of the royals, not like I am.” Aphra smirked viciously at Emmie, but she just rolled her eyes, a hard glint in them.
“I’m in Princess Daneiris’s service. I have no need to be her chosen companion, and Icertainlydon’t need to spread my legs to rise higher than I deserve. Unlike some people.Aphra.” Emmie’s own lips tilted up in an almost smirk, paired with her raised brow, she looked more cunning than I’d given her credit for.
Emmie’s blow hit Aphra where she intended. Aphra flushed, brows furrowing, before she huffed angrily and muttered. “Watch yourself, Emmie. One day, I’ll be able to do something about you. And when that day comes, you better watch your back.”
Aphra turned her glare on me before she finally flounced away. I watched her join a group of other girls all gathered around chatting. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her words. She was Weylin’s chosen companion. And she thought she’d be in a position to get rid of Emmie one day. Considering what had happened at dinner with Cyrus, Weylin and their parents, it seemed Aphra was well aware of Weylin’s goals. Cyrus had been right about his brother. He wanted Cyrus’s crown, and he was already working on taking it.
There could be an opportunity here, but I was distracted as Emmie laid a hand on my shoulder. I jumped, turning to her. Embarrassed, I realized she’d been trying to talk to me as I focused on court machinations. I smiled apologetically, but Emmie just returned my smile with a bright one.
“Are you alright? Aphra’s one of the most entitled slaves I’ve ever met.” She rolled her eyes as I laughed in agreement.
“That seems like an understatement.” I laughed wryly. “I’m fine. Thanks for interrupting though.” I laid a hand on Emmie’s arm, hoping she understood my thanks were genuine. I was truly glad to get rid of Aphra, and now I had more information. I could find a way to use this to my advantage. I was certain the more I could provide Cyrus about his sibling’s plots, the better my own position with him would be.
“Of course! I’m just happy to see you. Cyrus is keeping you busy, huh?” Emmie asked, offering a sympathetic smile, I cringed a bit at the assumption in that question.
“Only with trying to woo me.” I replied, rolling my eyes, but I let out a laugh at her surprised expression.
“You mean—you haven’t…” Her words trailed off as I nodded. Her eyes were as big as dinner plates with that information. “How?!” She hissed as she grabbed my arm and pulled me into a secluded area.
“He claims that he wants me to join him willingly. But I’ve explained to him that being owned by a person isn’t really a turn on.” I muttered, annoyed by the entire situation. “He doesn’t understand that sleeping with a person that literallyowns youis reprehensible to me, but he’s also not forcing me.Yet, at least.” The worry soaked through my tone. I knew I walked a precarious edge here. Crown Princes are used to getting what they want, not used to being told no, especially by a human slave.
“And who is this wonderful creature you’ve been hiding from me, Emmie?” The rough voice came from Emmie’s right, and I turned to see an incredibly handsome man, especially considering he was a human, and I’d recently become rather used to looking at the perfection that was Fae beauty. His blond hair was darkened by the sun, just as his skin was tanned from working outside all day. Gray eyes locked on my blue ones, and I watched them rove over my form.
Emmie’s laugh tinkled through the air as she spun to face the stranger. “Tav! Where have you been hiding yourself?!” She launched herself into his arms and he laughed loudly as he picked her up in a bear hug. I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face watching them. I’d never had a friendship like that. Even with Soren, I kept a distance between us. Emmie must have just met this man since arriving here, yet she was already comfortable enough to hug him.
A part of me wondered what that said about me, but I quickly corrected myself. It made me smart. I knew better than to get attached. Emmie was just…well, she was helpful—and useful. That was all.
Emmie pulled back and smiled brightly, her blonde curls bouncing as she did. “Tav, this is Asteria.” She turned her smile on me. “Asteria, this is Tavarius.”
Tavarius looked at me and smiled widely. “It’s a pleasure, Asteria. I don’t know how I haven’t seen you around before.”
“My master prefers to keep me close, unfortunately.” I smiled wryly, shrugging the words off.
“Shh. You can’t speak that way about the Crown Prince!” Emmie hit my upper arm—hard. Her eyes had widened in alarm, but I brushed it off as I noticed Tavarius’s eyebrows fly up his forehead.
“Prince Cyrus, huh?” He asked slowly, and his whole posture changed. His face turned serious as he stood straight. “Are you alright?” The sympathy on his face was gutting, and his words even more so. Why would he immediately jump to asking such questions? Unless—I shuddered, quickly wiping such mauldin thoughts from my mind.
“I’m fine. He’s been…okay.” I cringed at my own lackluster description, but it was the best I could offer. Cyrus was a subject I couldn’t quite wrap my head around.
