I understand the cooks are serving roast brission tonight,I casually told my fury as I padded to an empty chair a few down from hers and sat.I suggest you take a rare piece, though if you prefer your meat medium or even well done, you’ll enjoy that as well.
Thank you.
Guards up.
Always.Her low laugh rang out.I’m rarely a violent person—
No,I breathed, my lips curling upward.
Alright, I’m learning how to be violent. What did you do with the other two?
Do you truly want to know?I asked.
Yes.
I sent her images. I would never lie to her unless I had to and only then to protect her.
They deserved it, she said.
I thought so as well.
What will you do to the one sitting across from me?
The man now studiously avoiding looking your way?The one scrambling to speak with his twin and wishing he could be anywhere inside faerie but here?Watch. Learn.
There’s a lesson in this?
In everything.
The guards at the door announced the king’s arrival, and we all stood, not taking our seats again until he’d been placed in own seat and had waved for us to settle. His gaze scanned the room, and I was sure he noted the missing guests, though he didn’t comment.
The high advisor was noticeably absent tonight, though he didn’t always attend formal functions with the king. As long as he wasn’t getting into things he shouldn’t, I didn’t care what he chose to do instead.
A few of the king’s attendants had slipped into the room behind him and they waited by the wall, Brodine among them. He stared at the floor. At nothing, really. I’d yet to find him alone long enough to probe his mind, though I’d tried when he was among the others, without success. If there was a way to bring him back, I’d find it, though I’d yet to come up with a spell that would work.
Back at the fortress, I hadn’t trusted him, but I’d settled that in my mind as jealousy on my part. He’d wanted Tempest.I’d be a pitiful man if I was jealous of what was left of him now.
“Make that thing leave,” Ivenrail snarled at me.
Send Drask away,I told Tempest.
The bird soared from the room, though I sensed it waited in the sitting area next door rather than flying to our suite.
“Serve,” Ivenrail said, and attendants bustled from the kitchen holding platters full of everything imaginable and then some. They never knew what might appeal to the king’s palate for the upcoming meal, so they prepared everything. Soon, the clink of silverware and sighs of appreciation rang out in the room.
You’re right, the rare brission is amazing,my fury said.
The vegetables are also delicious. Try some.
I believe I shall.She waved for the server to add them to her plate.I’m also enjoying watching the man across from me squirm.
Now there’s my violent storm, churning across a vast plain.I couldn’t hold back my smile.
Seeing it, the man sitting opposite me gulped and lowered his fork to his plate. His gaze flashed around, and I could tell he wanted to flit from the dining room. But no one left before the king—not if they wanted to hold on to their life, that is.
Draped in the sapphire dress I picked for her because she once told me she adored the color of my eyes; Fury stunned me. She was a jewel among thistle-crowned nightmares, and when she glanced my way, even a beast like me could feel something twist inside. I’d been molded into a predator, not one who could deliver tenderness, yet I ached to make sure she never felt even a touch of pain. Until the moment I took my last breath,I’d shield her from every shadow lurking in this wretched realm. I’d crush any threat that dared cast its eyes on what was mine.
Brutality was my second skin, but look how easily she pierced through it without even trying, armed with nothing but a smile and the soft caress of her hand.
