“I’m fine.” She stared at the dull yellow of the quilt draped over her.
“Kieran said you dozed off in the bath.”
“Did he tell you he came into the bathing chamber?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Her gaze shot to mine.
“I trust Kieran,” I said. “You’ve been asleep for several hours.”
“Is that not normal?”
“It’s not abnormal. I guess I’m…” I frowned. “I guess I’m feeling guilty for biting you.”
“You guess?” she stammered.
I wasn’t sure. If I hadn’t bitten her, I never would’ve discovered that she was half-Atlantian. Then again, there was a lot with Poppy that I felt guilt for but didn’t regret. “I believe so.”
“You should feel guilt!” she exclaimed.
I raised a brow. “Even though you stabbed me and left me to die?”
Her mouth clamped shut. “You didn’t die. Obviously.”
“Obviously. I was barely winded.”
“Congratulations.” Poppy rolled her eyes.
Amused, I chuckled.
Poppy, however, was not amused. Shoving the quilt aside, she scooted to the other side of the bed. “Why are you here? To take me back to the cell?”
“I should. If anyone other than Kieran knew you had stabbed me, I would be expected to.”
Poppy stood. “Then why don’t you?”
“I don’t want to.”
Her hands opened and closed as she stared. “So, what now? How is this going to work, Your Highness?”
My jaw clenched.
“You’ll keep me locked up in a room until you’re ready for us to leave?” she asked.
“Do you not like this room?”
“It’s far better than a dirty cell, but it’s still a prison,” she said. “A cage, no matter how nice the accommodations are.”
She was right. “You would know, wouldn’t you? After all, you’ve been imprisoned since you were a child. Caged and veiled.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t deny that as she turned to the small window, her arms folded over her chest.
My gaze dropped. The breeches she wore fit her like a second skin. I liked it. A lot. “I came here to escort you to dinner.”
“Escort me to dinner?” Her eyes widened.
“I feel like there’s an echo in this room, but yes, I imagine you’re hungry,” I said. “And we’ll discuss what will happen next when we have some food in our stomachs.”
“No.”
“No?” I repeated. When there was no further explanation, I stretched out on my side, plopping my cheek on my fist. “You have to be hungry.”
Poppy shook her head, but the act didn’t match her words. “I am hungry.”
I sighed. “Then what’s the problem, Princess?”
“I don’t want to eat with you. That’s the problem.”
I fought a grin. “Well, it’s a problem you’re going to have to get over because it’s your only option.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I have options.” She turned from me.
Big mistake.
I rose silently.
“I’d rather starve than eat with you, Your Highness—” Poppy squeaked as I stepped in front of her. “Gods,” she gasped, pressing her hand to her chest.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Princess.” I met her stare. “You don’t have options when it comes to your own well-being and your own foolish stubbornness.”
Her brows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“I won’t let you weaken or starve yourself because you’re mad. And I do get it. I get why you’re upset. Why you want to fight me on everything, every step of the way.” I took a step toward her. She didn’t back down. Her chin lifted, and I knew she was digging in for a fight, but little did she know, it wouldn’t get the desired effect. “I want you to, Princess. I enjoy it.”
Poppy blinked. “You’re twisted.”
“Never said I wasn’t. So, fight me. Argue with me. See if you can actually injure me next time.” I paused. “I dare you.”
Her arms unfolded. “You’re…there’s something wrong with you.”
“That may be true, but what is also true, is the fact that I will not let you put yourself in unnecessary danger.”
“Maybe you’ve forgotten, but I can handle myself,” she retorted.
“I haven’t forgotten. I won’t ever prevent you from lifting a sword to protect your life or those you care about,” I told her. “But I won’t let you shove that sword through your own heart to prove a point.”
She was quiet as she appeared to process what I shared, and then she let out a shriek of frustration. “Of course, you won’t! What good am I to you dead? I imagine you still plan to use me to free your brother.”
“You are nothing to me if you’re dead,” I snapped, my irritation flaring to life. That wasn’t at all what I’d been getting at.
Poppy’s sharp inhale stung like a lash against my skin.
This was not a good start.
“Come. The food will grow cold.” I took her hand, but she didn’t budge. “Don’t fight me on this, Poppy. You need to eat, and my people need to see that you have my protection if you have any hope of not finding yourself spending your days locked in a room.”
Poppy clearly wanted to fight, but in this, she relented.
For now.
MY PRINCESS
Glasses and plates clinked, and laughter and conversation hummed while Poppy stared at the dining hall’s closed doors.
She was not pleased.
It could’ve been the argument before we left for supper, or Kieran’s knowing chuckle when she all but stomped out of the chamber. But what really bothered her was what she’d seen in the hall outside.
What everyone in the dining hall had seen.
My message.
My warning to others that I’d left hanging on the wall.
Poppy had been horrified and disturbed, especially when she realized Jericho still breathed, though what disturbed her wasn’t the fact that he lived. It was that he suffered.
The fucker had tried to murder her. Yet she felt bad for him. That was a level of basic decency many didn’t have when it came to someone who sought to harm them. I sure as fuck didn’t.
And I sure as fuck didn’t like that it made me wish I was that decent.
The things done to me had nearly killed that within me. What had been required of me and still was finished it off.
I shifted in my seat, sipping wine as others at the table talked. My gaze flicked to her plate. Kieran had offered her some of his beef. She’d accepted, but the meat remained untouched. He’d also placed a piece of roasted duck on her plate. I’d added some potato and broke off a hunk of cheese, her favorite. It all remained.
“Poppy,” I said softly.
She looked up at me as if coming out of a daze.
“Eat,” I said, voice low.
She speared a piece of meat, then moved on to the potatoes. I could tell she was forcing herself.
My grip on the glass tightened. I’d clearly shocked her. Maybe even made her afraid of me, so much so that it had dampened the fire inside her. An ache settled in the back of my throat. “You don’t agree with what I did to them?”