Chapter 8 Chapter 8
KILLIAN
The witch gasped, eyes wide as her hands flew to my arms. She looked stunned—like she hadn’t invaded my dream less than an hour ago—and I tightened my grip, lifting her off the ground as I closed the distance between us.
Being this close, her scent clouded my nostrils and something in the back of my mind urged me to get even closer.
What the fuck?
“Who the fuck are you?” I bit out while she clawed at my arms. The only response I got was her choking and frantically kicking at the air.
Why was she here? How was she here?
“Your Highness,” Cederic said in a rush, grabbing my arm. “Please forgive her. She’s one of your father’s guests.”
My frown deepened.
So she was working for my father? Why?
Apart from the fact that witches kept to themselves, most, if not all, of them hated my father. Why would she risk being hated by her own kind to work for him?
“Your Highness!” Cederic tightened his grip on me as her struggle weakened.
An urge to let go of her suddenly hit me, rushing through my veins like hot oil, and I gritted my teeth. First urging me closer, now pushing me to let go. She was in my fucking head. I dove in immediately, hunting the tendrils of her magic in my head so I could snuff it out before snuffing her out… but there was nothing there.
I paused. Her eyes had begun to roll back into her head.
Furrowing my brows, I reached into her next and the complete absence of magic beneath her skin made me instantly draw my hand back, letting go of her. She unceremoniously dropped to the ground, gasping for air.
“What the hell?” I muttered while her chest rose and fell in desperate, shallow breaths.
How was she… Is she… What?
She blinked at me in a daze for a moment before her eyes widened in fear again. She scrambled to her feet and as my gaze shifted to my hand which was still outstretched, she ran down the hallway.
To say I was confused would be an understatement.
According to my powers, she wasn’t a witch, but that wasn’t possible. She’d been in my head. Me being incorrect was impossible too, so what the hell was this?
Horror at almost killing her suddenly washed over me out of no-fucking-where and the feeling was so overwhelming that I stumbled to the side, feeling like I needed to catch my breath.
She was still in my head.
I had to check her again.
I started after her, but Cederic’s grip on my arm prevented me from moving further, and I shot him a look.
“Your Highness, please…” he trailed off, looking like he wanted to say more, but he eventually settled on: “The King is waiting.”
I yanked my arm out of his grip and glanced down the hallway. The witch had already disappeared into another hallway, but I could catch up with her in less than a second if I wanted to. I didn’t want to go after her right now anymore though.
Apart from the fact that whatever was in the back of my mind wanted me to leave her alone and not hurt her, I did not want her in my head again.
Overwhelming horror? Seriously?
Besides, I now knew she worked for my father, so I’d definitely see her again.
My jaw clenched and I tightened my hands into fists before turning away, heading in the direction of the throne room once more. When I got to the double doors that led to my destination, I took a deep breath and shoved the witch to a corner of mind while the guards at the door pushed them open—
To reveal every member of the Kingsguard inside, standing in a tight formation between me and the throne my father was sitting on.
A short laugh escaped me as I walked in. “What is this?”
“What are you doing here, Killian?” he asked and I clicked my tongue.
“Why’s that the first thing you’re all asking? What happened to ‘It’s been years, Killian. It’s so good to see you’?”
“Answer my question.”
“And why should I?”
He leaned forward in his seat, his gaze fierce. “You unsettle me. You unsettle everyone.”
“Well it brings me joy to hear that.”
“You almost killed your brother,” he snarled and I gave him a blank stare. That happened ten years ago and it was the reason I’d been exiled from the city.
“I vividly remember him attacking me first.”
Sennet had barged into my room in my mother’s palace—a place he wasn’t even allowed to enter— waving his sword around like a madman, trying to take my head off.
“I took necessary measures to defend myself. It’s called self-defense for a reason.”
Thanks to the witch, I was still unconsciously hunting for any trace of magic that wasn’t mine in my head. So when my father snuck in, trying to bend me to his will—his favorite pastime—I immediately threw everything I had into blocking him.
We stared each other down, unflinching.
Despite the fact that his powers had been slowly dwindling ever since my mother died, he was still strong, but the last time he’d done this and succeeded was ten years ago. I’d grown stronger.
My hand twitched and a line appeared between his brows before he pushed himself even more, desperate to subdue me. But that only worked against him.
Blood trickled from his nose, distracting him, and I seized the chance to shove him out of my mind. He tensed.
I felt like collapsing, but I held my ground and smirked. “You’ve grown weaker, father. Is that why you’re thinking of stepping down, per chance?”
My uncle had told me he planned to do that sometime during the diplomatic gathering. He’d also told me the true purpose of the diplomatic gathering.
For moments, he didn’t say anything and just stared at me. Then he laughed. The sound grew, wild and unhinged, until it filled the room, and the people in the room glanced at each other nervously.
“...And you say I unsettle everyone.”
The laughter died down slowly. “You animal,” he said, wiping the blood from his nose
“I missed you too, father.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched and he let out a harsh breath. “Stay away from your brother. Stay away from Jillian.”
Jillian was Sennet’s mother and the truly unsettling thing here was her name being so close to mine. Everytime I heard it, it made my skin crawl.
“The palace is big, but it’s not that big.”
My father glared and I heaved a sigh.
“If you’re that worried, tell her to stay away from me,” I added before turning to leave.
“Sennet too.”
I paused, the corner of my mouth lifting as I glanced over my shoulder.
“The boy is terrified of you,” he gritted out.
“Odd statement considering he doesn’t act like it.”
He certainly hadn’t seemed terrified all the times he’d tried to kill me.
My father narrowed his eyes and got to his feet. “You want him to cower in fear around you.”
“That’d be nice,” I replied and his frown deepened. Then he glanced heavenward, like he was thinking of something, and all of a sudden, his lips curved into a smile.
Now I was the one frowning.
“You can have the human,” he said. “McGuire.”
I stared at him, expressionless. “…Who the fuck is that?”
“Her father leads Moon Valley.”
“Why would I want her? Isn’t she part of your tournament?” I asked and he glowered. “Diplomatic gathering, I mean. Slip of the tongue.”
His gaze hardened. “Do whatever you wish with her. Take out whatever depravity your mind forms on her instead of Sennet.”
Ah, her father must have offended him.
“And they call me cold,” I muttered before heading towards the door.
“Killian–”
“The ride here was long.” I gave a dismissive wave over my shoulder. “I need to rest.”