Skye lay on the hard ground, the cell cold and damp. She kept replaying what happened in the throne room. Why had she spoken? She should have just stayed quiet like her father warned her to.
But she couldn't stay quiet. She couldn't stand by and watch her father humiliated like that.
Now here they were locked up in another kingdom at the mercy of Prince Zed Laskaris. Tears burned her eyes, their fate had been sealed. What would happen to their kingdom now? Would he really take over it.
If only she had stayed home.
A rattle at the door made her look up. The heavy iron door swung open and a guard stood by the doorway.
"Come with me," he ordered.
"No," Skye shot back.
"If you want your people to live, you'll come."
That made her freeze. She eyed him suspiciously, but having no choice, she followed.
He brought her down a short corridor and stopped outside a plain door. "Go in." He held the handle and stepped aside.
She went through and the door slammed shut behind her.
"Hey—open up!" Skye yelled, slamming the door but there was no answer. She pounded again. "Hello!" Still nothing.
She took a cautious step inside. The room was furnished and orderly, as though someone lived here, It was too neat, too deliberate. Expensive furniture, dark colors, heavy curtains. Suddenly, the candles in the lamps dimmed and the silence tightened.
"Princess Skye," a low voice whispered right by her ear. She jumped, screamed, and turned.
A dark chuckle answered her.
Zed.
"What are you doing here?" Her heart in her throat.
"It is where I belong," he answered. "You are in my chambers." The smile that followed made her feel cold.
Her stomach dropped. "Why am I here?"
Skye tried to steady herself. His coat was open at the top, revealing his pale muscular chest. She looked elsewhere trying to keep her eyes off the open collar of his coat and the careless way he stood there.
"I didn't expect Alexander to bring his daughter," he said, sounding almost amused. Then he tilted his head. "The rumors were true."
"What rumors?" she pressed, backing up as he came closer.
"That you're beautiful." He stopped, eyes burning into hers. "The fairest lady in all the lands"
Before she could react, he shoved her lightly against the wall. In an instant he was against her, pressing her to the stone wall, towering over her, pinning her with just his presence.
Her breath caught. His eyes weren't just amber, she saw dark streaks, like iron in fire. For a moment she thought he wasn't ordinary.
"What do you want from me?" she whispered, finding her voice.
"Let's make a deal." He pressed harder, and heat seemed to radiate off him. It wasn't just his body—being near him felt like being near a furnace; it hurt her skin.
"You're hurting me," she gasped.
He glanced down, blinked, and stepped back. Her wrist throbbed where his hand had been; a red mark had appeared around her wrist staring at her.
"You're not human, are you?" she said quietly.
"Why? Does my appearance suggest otherwise?" His tone was amused laced with pride.
"You feel like fire," she murmured.
His smirk faltered, but only for a second. Then he turned and then left the room and the door opened on its own accord, as if he controlled the door and it closed behind him with a click.
"Prince Zed!" Skye ran to the door and yanked the handle, but it wouldn't budge. Her chest tightened. This was hopeless.
She looked around the room again. Dark paintings—creatures, blood, death. They sent a chill up her spine.
"He finds comfort in them," another voice said, suddenly making her jump. She turned to see a man step from the shadows.
"Calm down. I won't hurt you." His hands were empty and open. He looked ordinary enough, though his eyes were too steady.
Her eyes narrowed.
"I am Pharian," he said, taking a small step forward but halted before he could take the second one. He looked towards the door as if he had heard something. "I must leave, Zed will be back soon. I will see you again, Princess Skye." He smiled once, then was gone, as if he had melted into the shadows.
Skye swayed. Her head swam. Before she could make sense of what had happened, Zed came through the doors, moving across the room with the same casual menace.
Noticing her unsteady steps, he reached for her steadying her and pulled her close, his face stayed controlled, but he seemed angry.
"I'll go straight to the point," he said. "I'll release your father and spare your kingdom."
Her breath hitched but she smiled. "You… you will?"
He smiled in turn, that same unsettling smile. "Yes. But I have a condition."
"What condition?" Her chest sank. She should have known it wouldn't be free.
He leaned closer, his eyes fixed on her.
"Marry me."