I tense. “That would require trusting you, don’t you think? Because if I tell you anything, you could go back there and hurt them. I’m not sure I want to tell you anything.”
“I promise you I’m no threat to your family, unless they hurt you?—”
I cut him off with a horrified gasp. “They would never...” I pause and really look at him. Hunter knows where I live and no matter what I tell him, it won’t make a difference if he went back and went after my parents. I doubt he would survive my father if he did, no matter how powerful he is. There is a reason my father is a feared king and spoken about like a legend. As is my mother... “My parents are the King and Queen of the Moon Dynasty. It’s one of the two larger dynasties in my world. The Sun Dynasty is the other, and my parents are all close friends. There was a war, and they fought together. It’s a complicated history between vampyres and fae in my world. But my parents and my uncle — the King of the Sun Dynasty — have worked extremely hard to make peace, to bring about laws, and they continue to do so every day. There are five justice courts, an army of keepers who make sure if someone needs help, they get it. My parents’ advisors are always bringing problems to my parents, and they never dismiss a single one — they fix them.”
“And where does your dynasty fit into that? How does a daughter, the oldest, I’m guessing, end up the Queen of the Dawn Dynasty?” He cocks his head to the side.
Fair question. “The Dawn Dynasty was eradicated years ago. A lot of them went missing. At least, that’s what the previous king, Mazzis, my grandfather in law, thought. He has no heirs, no one to give the throne to, and it was chosen for me when I was young as a sort of united peace between lands. The Sun and Moon Dynasty will be united under my cousin. She’s the heir to both and therefore I did not have a throne.”
“Interesting,” he murmurs, searching my face. “You don’t want to be a queen.”
I rub my arm. “No, I didn’t. I don’t want the responsibility of so many lives on my shoulders before I’ve had the chance to explore the world — to live. My parents had each other when they began their new rule, and before that, my father made mistakes. I don’t want to mess it up.”
Hunter says nothing for such a long time, and I wonder if he is judging me. I would not blame him if he were. “I understand the pressure of lives you didn’t ask to protect.” He clears his throat and straightens. “The game will start soon.” He unclips a flask that he had tucked under his arm and hands it to me. I take it, sniffing it once. “I’m not going to poison you.”
I roll my eyes at him, drinking it, and a small moan of joy escapes my lips. I drink every last drop before giving it back. He continues to watch me, and his eyes track my every movement. They look darker now, the purple less bright than before. “Now that you’ve asked questions about my life, can I ask more about yours?”
“No.” He stops me.
“What? That’s not fair, Hunter.” I mutter.
“I like it when you say my name. You should say it more.” He takes a step into the room. “It makes me want to fuck you even more than when we first met.”
“Stop flirting with me.” I will my cheeks not to burn with a blush.
“Why? I like the way your heartbeat races. Your blood drums throughout your body faster when I flirt with you.” He winks and I just know I don’t have a single good thing to reply, so I stay silent. “Be careful today. I mean it. These games... they’re not always as they seem. The first is usually a basic and easier game.”
“I will be fine. I am a queen after all, and I was not raised to die out there.” I lift my chin.
“Good. Come on. The dragons await, as do the people.” He waves at the door.
I’m really not good in front of staring well-wishers. Unless the people here want me dead. I literally have no idea. “What people are going to be watching us?”
“Everyone watches to see what happens when you rebel against the dragons. One person from every family is forced to attend or face consequences.” Hunter calmly explains.
“Technically, I rebelled against nothing other than being kidnapped. This is really not fair.” I cross my arms.
“For once, I actually agree with you, thief.” He waits for me to join his side.
“You say you like it when I say your name. I like my name too. So, Hunter, Wrenley is my name, or just Wren.” I correct him.
“If you win this game, I’ll call you Wren as much as you like.” He offers me his hand to shake.
“Deal.” I take his hand and I yelp as he pulls me from my room, letting go and laughing at my shocked face. I walk by his side in silence, straight out into a narrow corridor and through a door to another. Each of the corridors are covered in sand. I’m barely able to see the purple stone tiles or the beautiful architecture. The stone pillars that tower over me are covered in dust and cobwebs. “Dragons couldn’t have built this castle, so who did?”
“My family did, a long time ago, before the dragons came.” I’m surprised he tells me anything.
“So your family was here before the dragons came?” I question.
“My something like fourth great-grandfather was, yes. My family ruled this world.” Hunter adds so casually, so easily, I nearly stop dead in my tracks.
“You’re like a prince or a king if you’re the only one left in your family.” I barely blink before he’s pushed me against the wall, his hand over my mouth.
“What did I tell you about using royal titles in this place?” His voice is a harsh whisper in my ear, meant only for me. “Your room is safe to speak in. The corridors definitely are not, and the dragons do not like being reminded of who my bloodline is. We’ll both end up dead. Do you understand?”
I nod. He lowers his hand from my mouth, looking down at me, at our flush bodies and how well we just fit against each other. My heart beats even faster as he leans in a slight bit before he steps away, and I want him back. I don’t understand the sudden urge to tug him closer, but it’s there as much as there is air in the world. “Come on, before we are late.”
“I’m sorry.” I whisper.
