He stomps right up to me until his big chest is brushing mine. Blazing green eyes stare me down.
“Do you ever pause to think that I already believe that, Pretty Crow?” He spits that terrible sentence out, but his jaw clenches tightly before he speaks once more in that low harsh tone. “Do not ever fuck with my head, fae.”
I thought I understood him.
I don’t understand this man at all.
And he certainly doesn’t understand me.
“Don’t get in my way, and I won’t.” With a swift step, I turn from him.
Big green shrubs tickle my arm as I sweep past them with that flawless confidence my mother always had. I carry myself as if I’m gliding through the endless rose garden where I used to play hide-and-seek with my brother and sister so long ago.
Because there was a time Corva, Nathiale, and I were best friends. We were inseparable. I was the youngest, but they never made me feel too little. We were a tribe in a way. My father made sure the only friends we had were each other so we wouldn’t be misguided by our peers.
What he meant was, so we would only know his truth. His word. His laws.
Corva realized that first. I understood it the moment she was sent away. My brother’s anger became darker and darker over the years.
But I was better at hiding my hatred.
Just ask my brother. The man I hate more than anything and the reason why I was exiled in the first place.
He was always more deadly than my father. And if things keeping going as they are, he’ll be this kingdom’s future ruler.
I gaze at my past that’s currently clouding my present. Blood and cruelty taints this rose garden. Years of sharp knives and bloody games are what coat these petals now.
I push the memories away as I grip the big metal handle and pull the back door open without a sound. But it’s swept out of my grasp as someone hold it open for me with a small bow.
“My Queen, please allow me,” a dark rasping voice says with the smallest hint of snark.
My entire body tenses, and I glare at the stupid demon by my side. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Your Majesty, please correct me if I’m wrong, but ladies of the crown do not use the fuck word outside of the bedroom.” He cocks his head at me.
Oh. My. God.
I slam the door shut, and as much as I hope it’ll catch his fingers and smash his hand for good measure, it closes without incident.
“You are going to get yourself killed. My father kills men like you.”
“He also enslaves them. It wouldn’t be an odd sight for the Queen of Roses to have a demon escort, would it?” He searches my blazing eyes, and I have to unhinge my jaw to speak in the slowest way to make sure he understands me perfectly.
“If they suspect you, I won’t jeopardize myself to save you, demon.”
“Good,” he says flatly with a nod.
He is so fucking cocky it makes me crazy.
With too much force, I jerk one of the dozens of leashes down from the hook near the door. I wrap the leather around his neck and snap the shiny metal clip in place, and then I turn to lead my new pet inside.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he whispers under his breath.
I smirk mischievously.
I can’t lie, I really like how fast he follows when I pull on the short leash. He’s a good boy indeed.
Down the dark hall we walk in silence. A guard bows low when I pass by without offering him a glance. I don’t linger. I have a target, and I’m not going to pause on old family portraits or smile at the rushing staff. The smell of warm eggs wafts through the empty dining room.
My father will be awake soon. The morning bell tower will signal our time has run out, but it seems we have just a bit more time.
I lead Ryke toward the curving staircase. My hand glides over the carved roses that adorn the railing, but I barely spare a moment for memories to sneak into my mind as I take the steps quickly.
We’re almost there. On the second floor, a line of shining knights still stands as a display outside my father’s military office. It’s just as I recall. And just as I had hoped, I’m able to swipe a dagger off a knight’s belt and keep on walking, my dress sweeping across the fine red rug as if I’m dancing instead of plotting murder.
Everything is running smoothly. In less than fifteen seconds, I’ll be down the hall and at my brother’s door.
From out of the shadows, two fae step in front of me.
Glittering colors of gold and silver glint the air around the two fae, and even though I can’t see the quick moving creatures, I know they’re pixies. Pixies are the greatest spies of all.
And no one loves pixies more than the Shadow Guard.
The girl has long purple hair that’s pulled back to show her sharp pointed ears. She doesn’t smile as she stares hard at me. The man at her side, his smile is slashing and knowing, and I’ve spent too many years in the Shadow Guard with them to act like they didn’t just see what I did.
“Aries,” the man whispers with a slight bow of his head.
The two spies pass one another a look before stepping around either side of me and continuing on to seep into the shadows of the hall.
My racing heart calms. We’re on the same side. They know exactly who I am and why I’m here. As members of the Shadow Guard, we’re working toward the same goal: to make our realm safe for all. Especially demons.
And killing the Prince gets us one step closer to achieving that goal. But I can’t associate with them until I’ve finished what I started all that time ago.
I can’t risk them getting thrown out of the kingdom like I was.
“Who the fuck was that?” Ryke snaps.
I shake my head and lead him farther down the corridor.
“No one to worry about,” I whisper.
Less than ten steps and I’ll be there. In the next two minutes, I’ll have done what I should have done three years ago when my brother first caught me trying to steal the demon land’s token from the castle’s necropolis.
Catherine’s tomb was enormous and elaborate for such a small pile of ashes. And back then, I knew if I didn’t take them, my brother would. He’d send her back to the demon land and the demons my father loves to torment so much, they’d never be allowed to step foot in our realm ever again.
And I refused be a Princess of a land where fae see themselves as gods. So far above demons and humans that only more darkness can taint our hearts.
With time, we’ll only become worse and worse.
Unless the Shadow Guard succeeds in their endeavors.
Another five feet and it’ll be done.
Three feet.
Two.
A hunched figure steps out from around the corner. My stomach drops. With a sway of my body, I hide my face behind my long red hair that’s curled at the ends.
But the goblin’s black eyes still eat up my features.
“Princess Aries, how very nice to see you again,” he whispers suspiciously as he passes.
My breath catches, but Nille never stops his fast little wobbling pace down the dark corridor to my mother’s bedroom, like a good little spy.
“He fucking knew it was you, too,” Ryke says.
“Goblins can’t see glamours no matter how powerful the fae may be. They’re protected against deceit magic.”
“That little guy someone important?” Ryke asks in the same low tone.