Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(64)

“You see,” he continues, expression blank, “Willow is very important to the running of Glacium.” He doesn’t break the stare.

I’ve had enough. I pinch the king. Hard. I don’t dare move away from his side. I’m still supposed to be his inferior. I doubt he’d let me anyway.

I smooth my expression as Hamish’s face turns a furious shade of red.

I take a deep breath and try to smooth the incident over. “Maybe when things settle down,” I say with an apologetic smile.

Jovan turns his mouth against my ear. “Unlikely,” he growls loudly enough for Hamish to hear.

I’m going to kill him! I jerk my head away, addressing Hamish. “Do you need to stay here for the night? Are you hungry?”

Hamish looks between the king and I for a long moment and clears his throat, disappointment evident. “No ... No, I should be fine,” he says, giving me a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes.

“I mean, Breena gave me food for the journey,” he recovers, pointing behind him.

“Oh,” I say as he picks up the Soar and reverses the process of half an hour before. I escape from Jovan’s hold and approach.

“Well, goodbye,” I say awkwardly.

Hamish darts a glance at Jovan. “Are you okay, Willow?” he asks in a low voice.

“Of course.” I smile. I’m okay, but Jovan isn’t going to be once Hamish is out of sight. “I’m glad everyone at the Ire is safe. Please send the king’s regards to Adox, and tell him I said hello.”

He nods, not entirely convinced by my show. “See you in a week,” he calls, plunging from the castle roof.

I step back next to the towering presence of the king as Hamish disappears into the darkness; my anger rising.

“What was that?” I demand, crossing my arms and glaring up at Jovan.

He crossed his own bulging arms, visible through his tunic. “Just making sure he knew he didn’t have a chance.”

I sputter, speechless and furious at the same time. “He’s my friend,” I say and Jovan scoffs.

“He doesn’t want to be your friend, Olina. That boy wants to bed you.”

I gasp at his crass words. “Stop calling him a boy,” I say loudly, rubbing my forehead. “I can’t even believe we’re having this conversation. You realize you need to forge relationships right now? He’ll be reporting what happened to Adox.”

He scoffs again, the sound grating on my ears. “I’m sure an old man knows a jealous pup when he sees him.”

“He’s not the only one.” I give him his own insult back.

“You’ve danced with him!” he says, placing his hands on either side of my head against the wall. I scowl into his face.

“So what?” I demand. He doesn’t answer. His jaw ticks instead, which is worse. He strokes a finger lightly down the side of my face. The action is possessive, just like his furious gaze. I push him away.

“Jovan, who I want to be with is none of your business,” I say, voice trembling with rage.

“Like fuck,” he says.

I plow on, ignoring him. “If I want to be with Hamish or a dozen other men, I will.” I artfully evade his grabbing hands. “I don’t even like dancing,” I add as an afterthought.

“Well, I assumed that was a reason you said no to me at the ball,” he says. He’s regained his calm. It infuriates me.

“I won’t stand by and let you treat Hamish that way again. Or any of my friends.” I slap his hands from my hip and move to the door. I strain to pull it open.

It doesn’t budge.

I need to get off this roof! A big, calloused hand snakes around my waist, brushing my skin. I know if I check, I’ll have goosebumps where he’s touched me. It only adds to my anger. He reaches for the handle, and opens the traitorous door with a quick pull.

“Thank you,” I mutter the ungrateful words over my shoulder as I stomp down the stairs.





Chapter Fourteen


I listen as Kaura bowls after a leather ball in the front courtyard. Half a minute goes by before she trots back to where I stand at the base of the stairs and drops the slobbering mess in my hand. I give her head a fond scratch.

The doors creak open behind me as I throw the ball once more.

“I’ve been telling father for months we should just clear out the Outer Rings. But does he listen to me? And now look, poor Jovan has to actually go there just so we don’t get murdered in our sleep.” I screw up my nose at the nasal tone of Arla’s voice.

“He’s so brave,” another sighs. Arla chuckles like she knows a secret. It irritates me beyond reason. A sudden hush followed by whispers tells me they’ve spotted me.

I cock back my arm and throw the ball again. I always hope no one is in the way. If I’m lucky, they’ll see the ball coming and move. I usually use the empty courtyard at the back of the castle, but Kaura has grown too large to get a real run around there. Really, she needs to be exercised with the sleds, and Rhone has been training her, but with him gone to the Third Sector, she’s not getting nearly as much exercise as she should. When this is all over, I’ll spend more time with her. Though I’m not sure how she’ll do in Osolis with the heat.

“Come on, ladies. Let’s take this to a … cleaner location.”