"What do you mea—" I looked down to see fiery eyes following my every move with the king. "He is not my prince..." I muttered.
"Odd. His heart tends to always be erratic when you are near," he simply answered. The king wore an all-black suit that matched his hair, something bright sparkled from his chest. My hand reached out to touch it on its own accord but the king's cold hand caught mine. "I wouldn't suggest touching it. Unless you want to kill me." His gaze darkened and then swept his dress shirt aside for me to see the red jewel he wore as a necklace. My eyes peeked in remembrance of the art in the cave. Before I could ask him about it, he was taking me down the walls and twirling me again, back on the ballroom floor.
"Be careful around the Apollons. Follow your instincts and the prophecies set out,tiod va de, va de. Not even Solaire Gideon can change that," the king spoke fast and soft, speaking Korovian.The forbidden language.
Tiod va de, va de...
It meant that: “What will be, will be.”
"Howdo you know Korovian?"
"She's mine for the taking now," the prince's voice spoke roughly as he reached for my hand, taking it in his. I was too stunned to realise that I was being twirled into the prince's arms.
"But of course." The king smirked. The prince pulled me closer to his chest, beginning to move with me across the dance floor, in a dance that felt more like a battle.
"Did you know the king before today's meeting? Tell me now." Goosebumps arose along my neck when his breath brushed against me, his voice sceptical.
"Of course not! Why would you ask that?" I scoffed and looked at the prince. And then... his scent hit me, he smelled like himself—like warm sage, embers and... wine. I realised to my utter surprise that the prince was drunk.
He gripped me closer. "Do you see how he looks at you? You had spoken so much to him during the dance. You two looked—familiar." His red eyes shone.
"Tell me, Prince... are you jealous?" I laughed, throwing his words back at him when he insinuated that about me earlier. I gasped when he dipped me low and then brought me back up slowly.
"You are mine, Morana. My warrior. No one else's." He brought his lips close to mine, soft and warm. I shivered and leaned away, realizing that this was beginning to get intense and... indecent.
"You know, they say jealousy makes a person go green yet... I would say you go red with jealousy, Prince." I was playing on dangerous grounds here and all I prayed was that he would not remember this in the morning. A low growl rumbled from his chest, pulling me closer.
"And tell me, do you like seeing me like this?" His crimson eyes darkened. The air was escaping my lungs by being crushed so tightly against his chest.
"You came to my room earlier—" He smirked in remembrance. My cheeks reddened and I scolded. "No, not aboutthat.You wanted to talk to me about something." The prince leaned his forehead against my own.Goodness, how much wine had he drunk?His silver curls kissed his eyes and he looked like an angel back for vengeance.
"I needed to know why you weren't stationed in my room—" I pulled back to look at him.
"You are absolutely delirious and not in the right state of mind—" he cut me off.
"And if you have forgiven me yet. For what I said in the forest," he confessed softly.
"It's really bothering you... isn't it? I didn't think you cared about how it made me feel." My answer was truthful while he swayed me in the ballroom.
"I don't know why I care," he murmured against my neck.
"You sacrificed your men. Knowingly," I answered.
"Indeed. I have."
"Was it really worth it?" I asked.
"Yes. It was."
"Then no. I have not forgiven you." I gave him his answer, pulling away from him. Serena was right there to take over my spot as his new dance partner. And yet, all he did was stare at me as I left to join Red and Inanov at the table. Even though exhaustion weighed heavy on my shoulders, my stomach growled lowly and settled into an ache. I had suddenly worked up an appetite and was praying to Nocturna that the food was edible. I buried the deep thoughts of the prince's words into the back of my heart and I buried even deeper the thoughts and questions forming from my discussion with the king to the darkest parts of my soul, hoping to never remember it.
Chapter 25
Hunter & Hunted
Every five hundred years a witch queen is born from Riaan. Destined to take the Throne of Maidens, Crones and Mothers. The last queen was birthed naturally, a holy birth, a curse to all witches. To be a defect in the Witch Kingdom is a bad omen and an immediate banishment. There is no longer a witch queen. Only the Empress of Witches, who has taken over the throne.
May everlasting essence bless Heihu Cho, Originally from the PoisonIvy Witch Coven.
