Page 11 of Fated Flames: Volume Two
Instead of hiding the band of bruising beneath bulky fabric or a high-necked gown, Hiln draped me in a clingy silk dress that hangs off the shoulders by delicate golden chains. With my hair pulled into a severe knot atop my head, she made no attempt to minimize or disguise my injuries—she flaunted them.
At a time when the kingdom will expect me to hide, it’s perfect.
“Yes?” I say when the guard doesn’t continue.
Another guard steps in beside him, this one a bit older and his expression kind. “Can we fetch you something, Princess Serah? Perhaps some entertainment?”
He likely thinks me disoriented after my ordeal and hopes to pacify me. “No, thank you.”
When I move to walk around him, the youngest and most severe-looking of the group blocks my path. “I’m afraid His Majesty has requested you remain in your chambers.”
I level a cool look at him. “And I’m afraid His Majesty has overstepped his authority.”
I’ve never seen a man look so surprised. He squints at me.
“His Majesty is king of Tirenth,” he says as if I’m daft.
“Indeed he is, and I am a princess of Vasna. Excuse me.” Again, I try walking around him.
And again, he cuts me off.
“Allof Tirenth falls under His Majesty’s rule, Princess, and that includes you.”
“Now, Boyd, let’s calm down,” the older guard says, setting a hand on the shoulder of the younger man. He shakes it off.
The water at my side hums as I meet Boyd’s narrowed eye. “When His Majesty and I are properly married, it’s true that I will fall under his rule, but until then, as fellow royalty, I will come and go as I please. Right now, I am on my way to see the fight. You may either accompany me or I will restrain you.”
Boyd’s face is shocked, amused, and insulted all at once. “I think a human should remember her place here,” he hisses, and reaches for my arm.
I want my water drawing to be a gift Tirenth will cherish, not a weapon its people will fear. Mother wanted me to hide my power as long as I could, to use it as leverage to protect myself or control the king.
That’s all to say, I wanted this to go differently.
I thrust a palm outward and, without touching him, slam Boyd into the wall behind him. His eyes bulge as he hits the stone hard enough to knock the breath from his lungs.
Waterdrawingis a bit of a misnomer. I can repel water as easily as I can attract it, and dragon or not, there’s plenty of water in Boyd’s body to do so. I hold him there with ease.
As expected, the other guards whip out their swords with varying degrees of confidence and begin edging into a circular formation. They’ll try to cut off my exits and knock me unconscious, injuring me as little as possible. With my other hand, I make a pinching motion, banging the three of them into each other.
“I don’t want to hurt any of you,” I say as they struggle, and when one tries lunging out of my grasp, I direct both flattened palms downward and force them all to fall flat on the floor like stranded starfish.
There are limitations to this power, of course. Water drawing takes significant energy and mental focus; I can’t do this indefinitely. But they don’t know that, and I’m certainly not telling them while they stare up at me like I’m the one who’s suddenly grown scales and fangs.
“Please, Princess,” the older guard gasps. “We didn’t mean to offend. We have our orders, and the king will show no mercy if we fail.”
My lips purse. “Is he really that harsh with you?”
Puzzlement is my answer. “You’re his mate, Your Highness.”
“I see.” At least one of them believes that. I suppose it’s a win. “If you’ll come with me peaceably, I will speak to the king on your behalf.”
“I would be grateful,” he says after the briefest of hesitations.
“As would I,” the first guard adds quickly.
I turn my attention to Boyd, who looks marginally humbler than he did before. “Are you in the habit of insulting humans?”
Cora mentioned some not being used to humans, but I honestly didn’t expect to meet with such hostility right outside my door.
