Chapter 11: Chapter Eleven

Cosimo tosses his head back with a moan, uninterested in our friend's feelings. He, on the other hand, is very much a man. "How can you say such mean things? And you're even more lovely when you're angry."

This time, the curse in my eyes is enough to let him know how serious I am. The Fae have taught me a lot about violence and when to apply it.

"Alright, a deal is a deal," Cosimo sighs, turning to scan the room for listening ears. "A servant told me that your sister's Mistress is a consort of the Seelie Queen."

I knew that Alice was bought by a Noble, but I had no idea that her Mistress was so high in rank. That should mean that she is treated well at least, and pampered as a rich person's purse puppy. That's good news for me, even if it means that she'll be much harder to reach than I'd originally hoped. How a servant of Cosimo's Master would know this is interesting, but I'll take any information I can get my hands on. I'll worry about the authenticity of it later.

"Okay, what else did you find out? Surely that wasn't the whole of it." I urge him, sensing a change in the atmosphere of the room. Turning my head, I can see Vespertine zero in on the crowd and standing up from his chair, though he doesn't make a motion to leave his podium again yet.

Cosimo speaks again, but this time I don't take my eyes away from the Prince for long enough to look at him. "Another kiss might jog my memory of the details,"

I could kill him right now for being so stupid. How can he not sense the atmosphere, or even read my body language? The only reason he's survived this long is because of his Young Master's respected stature within the court.

Vespertine sees an opening and rockets down the side of the stairs, moving like a blur that my eyes can’t follow. My heart sinks as I realize that he’s heading in my direction, the crowd parting for him with lightning speed.

Before Cosimo can finish his idiotic sentence about my butt, Vespertine towers over him with a predatory smile, his golden eyes staring into mine with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. He reaches to grab Cosimo by the back of his neck, dragging his nails carelessly across the soft skin of my friend’s throat, picking him up.

Cosimo’s face registers the situation finally, and he looks more terrified than I’ve ever seen him. His eyes gaze at me in his fear as he reaches to try and claw at the hand that gouges his neck, mouth opening but no sound coming out.

Vespertine’s grin widens as he tosses Cosimo aside, and I watch in horror as his head cracks against the wall before slumping forward motionlessly. I hear Andriella scream from behind me as she runs towards the other humans that stand nearby, mouths agape in alarm. I’m glad to see her self-preservation instincts are still intact.

“You have been very troublesome tonight,” Vespertine snarls, spraying Cosimo’s blood from his hand on the floor with a flick of his wrist. His white hair cascades like a waterfall in the light over his shoulder as he leans forward to be at eye level with me. He doesn’t take another step forward, seeming to enjoy the look on my face. “It’s a shame that such a beautiful creature can be so vile.”

I correct my expression, allowing the mask to settle on my features again. Though I have no choice but to look him in his eyes despite my best attempts to avoid it, I clench my fists at my side to keep them from shaking. My nails dig painfully into the soft skin of my palm, keeping me grounded. I try to speak, but my mouth remains clamped shut as a shudder rack my body in fear, making me bite down on my tongue instead.

Vespertine’s sharp brows quirk up in amusement as his gaze rakes my body, pausing to admire my well-exposed breasts. “So perfect,” he croons, causing me to wish I could evacuate my own skin.

My eyes roll to the side as I search for Ascian, unable to move my head. He was on his way to me before, wasn’t he? Why am I so frozen with complete terror without him?

Vespertine’s chuckle is like the sound of a thousand small bells. “My brother is preoccupied at the moment,” His words bring ice to my blood. “He will not be saving you this time.”

I set my jaw and dig my nails into my palm even harder, harder until it hurts too much to feel scared. Finally, my jaw unclenches enough for me to speak, even though my voice feels small, nearly drowned out by the snarling that rips through the crowd to my right. Someone is fighting with Ascian. “He will always come for me.”

It isn’t what I wanted to say, but I realize it’s what I needed to hear. I know that it’s true, and it brings me newfound courage as I lift my chin, glowering back at the prince. “This may be your home,” I continue, proud to hear the strength in my tone. “But you still cannot touch me.”

Vespertine’s face contorts into a rage at my taunting and he reaches for my throat, his claws outstretched. “You forget your place, Pet,” He growls. “You will be mine.”

My gaze doesn’t waver from him as his hand stops abruptly, unable to move any closer to me. The necklace that Ascian placed on me has come to life, curling defensively around my throat. It pulses with magic strong enough to make the prince visibly flinch as he retracts his hand.

His lip curls in disgust as he glares at the collar. “Inconceivable. Outside magic does not work in my palace,” He snarls, reaching to claw at his face in frustration. “I will have you!”

I look on in horror as he scratches gouges into his own skin as if he doesn’t feel a thing. I think we’ve finally driven him to insanity. As if on cue to the prince’s temper tantrum, Ascian steps out of the crowd of Fae and begins to walk towards us.

“Ascian,” I say underneath my breath, never happier to see him. Whoever picked a fight with him is now in pieces, which I can see scattered on the floor behind him as the crowed parts briefly to let Ascian through. It looks like whatever Fae lies dead managed to deal a bit of damage before their demise, however, since Ascian’s coat is now in tatters, his hair tousled from the fight. He stills looks as beautiful as ever though, maybe even moreso with a bit of blood on his cheek.

“I apologize for leaving you, Bela Bear,” Ascian is beside me in a moment, pushing me behind him as he steps between me and his brother. “An imbecile attempted to make an unfavorable arrangement with me.”

I say nothing, just cling to the remainder of his jacket as I breathe him in, willing the familiar scent to calm my racing heart. It pounds so violently within my chest that it hurts. He must be able to tell how afraid I was because he smiles at me over his shoulder, all but ignoring his younger brother’s outburst.

“YOU!” Vespertine yowls, lunging forward. “Why won’t you just die!?”

Ascian stops the prince in his tracks with a look, causing the atmosphere around him to change completely. “You will not harass her anymore,” His voice is commanding, drawing everyone’s chattering to an abrupt stop.

At this moment, everyone seems to come to the same conclusion; Why is Vespertine the chosen prince? Ascian is clearly the one in charge here, even on his enemy’s property. He makes the prince look like a child having a fit in comparison to his commanding presence. If he doesn’t act soon, the Unseelie court is about to become a frenzy of Fae fighting for the throne.

By the time Vespertine has gathered himself, his face is in ribbons, smeared with more gold than skin. He’s shaking violently in his anger, eyes darting wildly to the room around him, realizing the situation he’s in. He collects himself enough to lock eyes with me from where I peer beneath Ascian’s elbow.

“I know what you are after, Little Mink,” He growls, raking a gold-soaked hand through his hair in an attempt to compose himself. “I think you know that I can help you.”

My heart leaps into my throat at the insinuation as my eyes dart to Cosimo’s body on the floor beside us. There’s no way that he would… how else would he get the information he told me? My jaw sets in realization, watching as Cosimo begins to stir. It’s a shame that he isn’t dead.

Ascian reaches behind him for my arm, forcing me to stand beside him. “There will be no such coercion with my property,” He states with finality, wrapping an arm around my waist.

Vespertine glances at his brother for just a moment before returning his gaze to me. “I can help you see her again.”

I spit at his feet, lifting my lip in a snarl. I wish it was Cosimo I was unleashing my anger on, but I know his head is too foggy to focus on my words. “I will not be baited like a fish,” it hurts much more than I expect to have my suspicions confirmed. Cosimo was working with Vespertine to gain information about my motivations. I feel so stupid.