“I do trust you. It’s Caspian I don’t trust.” A deep, reluctant sigh comes from beneath his helm. “I’ll be right here watching.”
“Good.” It’s time to face the Prince of Thorns.
56
Rosalina
Imakemywayup the staircase of briars.
Caspian’s still lounging on his throne and raises a dark brow at my approach. The fae man from the dance floor stands beside him. Thank god he’s tucked his limp dick away.
From this high, I have a view of the whole party, including our willow tree where Kel watches me with an intense gaze. I’m sure he’s not happy about this.
“Princess, how wonderful of you to pay your respects to the guest of honor.Me.”
I don’t let a hint of emotion pass over my face as I stand before him. “Enough with the games. Stop sending Keldarion your rejects—”
“You can’t talk to His Majesty that way,human.” The man beside Caspian glowers.
Caspian releases a long sigh. “Get out of my sight.”
The man with the long ice blond hair flashes a satisfied smirk. But within a heartbeat, Caspian pierces him with a glare. “You. Now.”
The fae man’s mouth opens and closes. Then he tilts his pointy chin in the air. “I see how it is. I suppose the human does look fuckable.” As he walks past me, he slaps me hard on the ass. I whirl, ready to rip his head off.
But I don’t get the chance.
Caspian stands and shoves the man off the raised platform. His face twists in horror, and he doesn’t have time to scream before a sharp thorn rises from the ground and impales him.
Blood and guts splatter as his ruined body slides down the thorn.
The music stops. Kel’s rushing out of the alcove. Ezryn’s halfway up the stairs. Even Dayton and Farron sprint off the dance floor.
But Caspian gently steps in front of me and eyes the crowd. “This is Rosalina O’Connell,” he says, not needing to shout to capture the attention of everyone in the courtyard.
I wave down my princes, not wanting them to get caught up in this. They slow their movements, watching me intently.
“She is a very special guest. If any of you touch her, you’ll join,” Caspian furrows his brow down at the bloody thorn, “whoever that was as a party decoration. And since you have a warning, I won’t let you die quickly. I’ll enjoy your screams alongside the music as you’re slowly ripped apart by my thorns.”
The crowd is still and silent, looking from the Prince of Thorns to the dead man hanging off the briars.
Caspian falls back in his throne as if exasperated, then waves an idle hand. “Carry on.” The music picks up its haunting elegance again, and the guests return to their activities.
I make eye contact with the princes, letting them know I’m okay. Caspian waves a hand and the throne he sits on twists, becoming larger. Large enough for me to sit beside him.
“Take a seat, Princess.” A crafted smile spreads across his lips, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Gulping, I take a seat.
This is… weird. I’m sitting on a throne of thorns with Caspian at his birthday party. And I’m not afraid. Which doesn’t really make sense considering I just watched him toss a man off his pedestal.
Though, I am nervous. Invisible wrinkles flee beneath my fingers as I smooth down my skirt for the hundredth time.
“It’s prettier here than I thought it would be,” I say.
“And how exactly did you picture the underworld?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Blood dripping from the ceiling. Skeletons leaning against the walls. The sound of your victims screaming.”
