This was not at all going how I expected it to. I was sure Weylin felt similarly, if for different reasons. After being stuck with this insane family for so long, I’d come to expect nothing less than secrets, schemes, and backstabbing.
“Very well.” Prince Weylin nodded, sounding uncomfortable, yet undaunted from his plan. “My brother is not fit to be heir, and your sister will be shackling herself to a man who won’t live to see the crown on his head. I seek to help you and your family avoid this fate.”
“Is that so?” Sybella asked. “And what makes you think he won’t live to see the throne become his?”
“My own father, the king, doesn’t want him as his heir!” Weylin laughed incredulously, while I was shocked he admitted it so freely. I wasn’t sure it was exactly accurate either, not after the way King Astraeus insisted Cyrus marry.
“Hmm. I see.” Princess Sybella hummed. “And what is it you want from me and my sister?”
“Nothing.” Weylin declared softly, earnestly almost. Clearly, he was doing his best to appear charming and kind to the visiting royal. “I’d like our kingdoms to work together, of course. And when I do take the throne, I will need a queen. I see no reason that the queen shouldn’t come from Dawn Kingdom.”
I peered around the hedge, looking for Princess Sybella to gauge her reaction. I spied her standing by the fountain, looking down at the exotic fish from Gemaria that Queen Stelara had recently added. They twinkled like green emeralds, and Sybella lowered her hand into the water, skimming her hand across their crystalline scales.
“I’ll be sure to consider your—” The princess trailed off for a moment. “Generous offer. My sister and I have much to consider indeed.”
“That is all I ask, Princess.” Prince Weylin asserted. “I’d hate to see your family choose poorly in this. As sure as dusk comes daily, my brother will never be king.” With those parting words, Weylin nodded his head to her and walked away, Sybella and her companion departing in the opposite direction. I leaned against the hedge, waiting a few minutes to ensure they were long gone before making my own way out.
Entering Cyrus’s rooms, I came to a standstill upon finding the man himself pacing while lightning crackled all around him—bolts of it dancing off his aggravated form. His face was set in a scowl that made me wish to turn and back away, but his head whipped over to me before I could.
“Asteria. Tell me you got something.” Cyrus demanded. I felt like a trapped rabbit before a very hungry wolf. He’d been fine before I left to spy on his brother’s meeting, there was no way Weylin was who had him so pissed.
“What happened?” I asked, hoping to find out what he knew before admitting to anything I’d been keeping hidden from him—but my voice betrayed me, cracking at the end.
Way to play it cool, Asteria.
“Fucking Kian.” Cyrus growled, clenching his fists tightly. My eyes widened as I realized this was indeed about Kian. There was no way Cyrus could know about what I’d heard though, so I kept my mouth shut, hoping for more information.
“I’ve been summoned to appear before my father in an hour.” Cyrus fumed, his anger coming off him in snaps of electric bolts. “Apparently, Kian found a slave stealing from us—a slave that just so happens to be Raziel.” His tone made it clear he believed this to be no coincidence.
Neither did I. I released a deep sigh, running a hand through my hair. Raziel was one of Cyrus’s best human spies, trusted by many in the palace and the city—his genial nature making him the ideal spy.
“That’s not good.” I replied lamely, unable to voice my suspicions without giving too much away. Cyrus was more right than he knew—there was no way this was a coincidence. I just couldn’t figure out how this all added up. What was Kian trying to accomplish?
“No, it’s not.” Cyrus snorted. “I want to know how he discovered Raziel answered to me.” His eyes drilled into me, and I nodded my understanding of my new task. I would do what I could to find out. “Now, what did you discover at the meeting, my dear?”
His sharp words told me his patience was at its limit, so I succinctly informed him of what happened in the gardens with Prince Weylin and Princess Sybella. When I was finished, he stared at me for a solid minute, making me squirm a bit uncomfortably, before he let out a loud, bellowing laugh. I flinched in surprise, my eyes going wide.
“Oh, my brother is such a fool.” Cyrus laughed, holding his stomach as he bent forward, it was so powerful. “I suppose I should be grateful for that fact. It makes my life so much easier.”
I tilted my head to the side, considering his point. He was right, Weylin was too upfront with the princess. He laid all his cards on the table right away and proved that he didn’t have what it takes to manage a kingdom in the process—spilling royal secrets to a foreign princess.
“Good work, Asteria.” Cyrus praised when he finally calmed down. “We’ll go deal with my father and Kian. Hopefully we can sort out this business with Raziel.” I nodded my agreement before he continued. “Then I must meet with Princess Zerlina. While our fathers may agree to the official betrothal, I still need to win her over to ensure she doesn’t protest it and fuck my plans up. Hopefully, some standard courting will be more than enough, considering this will get her a crown. You’ll follow along behind us but don’t draw attention to yourself.”
I had to follow him even as he courted someone? Old Gods, how was I going to get through this without throwing up or laughing? It seemed an impossible task, really. I could only wish Princess Zerlina good luck.
“You’re so beautiful, Asteria.” Cyrus stated as he stood, walking over to me and caressing my hair. “And now my dreams are filled with nothing but you writhing on my cock. Watching your glorious breasts bounce as you ride me, or that perfect ass shake as I pound into you from behind.” He smirked at me, and while his words might have stirred some arousal, now all I could think about was him sending his slaves to be sacrificed like cattle to the slaughter, using their blood and bone to fuel his forbidden magic. It was so easy for him to take a life, to spill one’s blood and use it for his own means.
I had to focus on what was happening here and now. This bastard is going to court someone and yet speaks of dreaming of me in the same breath.Fae, Old Gods, they were something else. He thought I would be jealous of his courting Zerlina, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. That he tried to distract me from any supposed jealousy by playing on what happened between us…
It did give me an opportunity. Playing the jealous lover card could help keep Cyrus’s trust in me if it’s what he expects now. It would also keep him distracted as I investigated both his and Kian’s plans.
“That’s not going to happen.” I said as I turned away from him, hoping I could make this believable. “You expect me to watch you court another woman and then fall into your bed? I wouldn’t degrade myself to fuck a man who owns me, but I certainly wouldn’t share if I did!” I spat the words at him, knowing he would expect my rage to be explosive.
Cyrus watched me as lightning sparked in his eyes, his jaw grinding as he held back the words he wanted to say. Instead, he smiled widely, unnerving me all the more.
“You keep saying that, Asteria.” He murmured, stepping forward until he was towering over me. “Yet, you keep ending up with your legs spread and your cunt dripping wet.”
I stared him down, glaring at him, while praying my façade didn’t crack.
