A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(22)

I heard Gavril laughing behind me. “Sorry about that, Frederick. It would seem the Starblessed was in the mood to celebrate and went heavy on the drink.” I heard his words, and I flinched. I wanted to find my magic so I could rip his eyes from his head. I wanted to show him he didn’t control me. I wanted to show him that I wasn’t what he was making me.

Yet, it would not come.

I blinked up at the man I was still clinging to, but I didn’t recognize him. His hair was a rich dark brown like mahogany but speckled with white that showed his age, and his eyes narrowed on me as he reached forward and pressed his hands along my arms to hold me steady.

“I think the queen-to-be might need to sit down, Your Grace.” His voice was like velvet, deep and smooth, and he smelled of leather.

There was a softness in his voice, but I didn’t trust it. Not with what I knew about the people of this kingdom. They wanted me because they wished for the day the royal family would be made stronger with my blood. I knew my presence here strengthened them against their enemy. Against Evren.

I leaned away from him, but he didn’t release his hold on me.

“I will take her from here.” Gavril laughed again, and I felt his hand wrap around my midsection. He pulled me backward until my back pressed against his chest, and the man in front of me finally released me from his hold.

But his gaze tracked my every movement.

“She looks different than the last time we saw her,” the man said absently as he ran his hand over his clean-shaven jaw.

“Does she?” Gavril’s hand pressed against my face, and he tilted my head back in his direction so he could look down upon me. His hand dwarfed my face, but his hold was soft against me.

My heart began to beat faster and faster as I stared up at him and watched that red power slither around his pupils.

Could these people not see it? Did they not fear it as I did?

Was I the only one who could see the monster held prisoner behind his mask?

“She looks like the perfect Starblessed to me,” Gavril said softly, his fingers trailing along my jaw. “She looks exactly like what our people need.” There was a threat in his tone, and I felt my fear clawing up my throat.

He wouldn’t show his power here. Not with so many people around. But I didn’t doubt he would the second we were alone again. I felt his hold tighten, and I knew he wanted to show me what would happen to me if I didn’t do exactly as he wanted.

“Do you think the bastard has ruined her?” The man whispered, and I felt Gavril stiffen behind me. “It is rumored throughout the kingdom that he made sure that she is no longer pure for our future king.”

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think beyond the man’s words or Gavril’s rigid hold against me.

“I will be the only one to touch her.” His voice was hard, and I felt his hold on my midsection tighten, digging into me through the dress. “The only one,” he said it again. “The Starblessed belongs to me, and no one will speculate on what condition she will be in when she is presented to the kingdom.” His voice lowered to a whisper and his words were menacing. “Do you understand?”

All the color drained from the man’s face as he stuttered over his next words. “Of course, Your Grace.” The man backed up a step. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

“Of course you did.” Gavril released his hold on me, and I almost fell forward before his hand took mine. “But you will pay dearly if you are ever to speak it again.”

Gavril didn’t wait for the man’s reply. He simply hauled me toward him and toward the dais on which his parents sat. My head swam again as he pulled me behind him. I squeezed my eyes shut as I clung to his hand.

“Get yourself together,” he hissed at me. “You’re about to be presented to the queen and king.”

I didn’t know if it was his words or his magic, but the world rushed around me, and the room spun harder as I opened my eyes.

Gavril didn’t seem to notice. He simply dragged me behind him until we were standing in front of the king and queen who were seated in golden thrones. They were dressed in rich clothing and golden crowns sat upon their heads. Both were watching me with the same hunger as the people in the room.

But no one looked as ravenous as the queen.

Gavril’s hold on my arm tightened as he pulled me to the base of the dais. He whispered harshly into my ear, “Do not embarrass me.” He jerked me forward until the toe of my shoes hit the base, and the people in the room dropped to their knees as the king and queen stood before us.

The queen’s face was severe as she looked down upon us, but it was the king’s voice that boomed low and resonant through the room, rolling back and forth over the crowd.

“We are pleased to welcome the Starblessed back to Citlali.” He motioned his arms toward me, and the crowd of people cheered at his words. “She is the symbol of the great war our two kingdoms have waged against one another. She is a symbol of what the Blood kingdom is willing to take in their thirst for power.” The king roared over the cheers, and I felt Gavril’s magic swirl around me as bile rose in my throat. “But thanks to my son, the heir to my throne, she is back where she belongs.”

Their cheers raised to a fever pitch, and Gavril’s magic exploded over my skin. I looked down as his red power swirled and danced along every inch of me, and when I looked back up, the insatiable longing of his people stared back at me.