Chapter 20

Hollow:

For all the anger and the fury, it felt strange that it could all dissolve with a look from Farley. I’d gotten her to smile at me, and it let out the pressure in my head and chest. I would still hunt down and kill the man that hurt her of course, but now I could function without being blinded with rage.

I left Farley with the seamstress when she felt ready to leave her room. The woman couldn’t have protected her, but she might have acted as another warning should the killer show up. At least Farley was willing to use her magic to keep safe.

I felt an utter lack of surprise when, as I searched for a wounded and soon to be dead man, my father walked out of his chambers. He looked done with me. “Get in here,” he said.

I had no choice but to follow him, because he would have been annoying if I ignored him. He made me close the door, and sit across from him. The man made me wait two full minutes before he told me why I was there.

“King Kakero talked to me,” Father said. “You threatened him? Really?”

I wondered how the king had spun the tale so that he looked less like a monster who had threatened a young girl. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have seen it like that, no matter what happened. He didn’t think he could have done any wrong.

“Yes, I did,” I said without shame. “He held a sword to Farley’s throat.”

Father put his head on the desk, sighing loudly. I seemed to have irritated him. “Her name just keeps coming up, Bartholomew. Don’t you have any other reasons for acting out?”

“No.”

“You used to be so behaved.”

“I didn’t do anything. Does that really count?”

He looked up to glare at me. “It counts, because there were no dead bodies and offended leaders telling me I need to get a leash on you. What makes you think it was all right to threaten a man over a peasant girl? You couldn’t possibly have thought that could go well.”

It wasn’t a matter of how it went. I defended my person, and that had been the goal. I wanted that man to know that if he touched her, he would die. Maybe even his daughter too. If Farley died, I might have murdered everyone within a hundred miles.

“I didn’t,” I said. “I assume he would come to you and make trouble. Did he bother telling you anything that happened?”

“Yes, he said that Farley was doing magic in the castle, and lying about it.”

I exhaled. “The man who killed your guards, he tried to kill her. Farley used her magic to stay alive, and that worthless king showed up and accused her of lying. She did nothing wrong, and would be dead right now if she didn’t defend herself. She would also be dead if I didn’t show up to help her with the king. Do you not care that he would have killed her without your permission?”

My father folded his hands on the table in front of him. “I do care, but you put me in such a position that I couldn’t have said anything without upsetting the man. Remember that I’m trying to arrange a marriage between you and his daughter. I want to look reasonable, and you make that hard.”

“How else am I going to have fun?”

He slammed his hand down on the table, trying and failing to scare me. “Take this seriously! Don’t throw away this kingdom’s future for a girl that you cannot have. I told you that the witch is off limits.”

“You did tell me, and I’ve decided I can’t live with that. I don’t want the princess. I want Farley.”

Father watched me with his eyes wide open. “You’ve been having her.”

“I haven’t, actually. I’m not lying, and Farley doesn’t want to be with me. I’m working on that, even if you don’t like it. I will not resign myself to misery for you or anyone else.”

I watched the man rub his face, taking his time to think out the words he would soon berate me with. “The answer is no.”

“That’s not how this works. I’m of age. You wanted me to pick someone, and I did. You should be happy. I want this girl.”

“She’s a witch.”

“She’s also a person, Father. She’s sweet, and caring, and isn’t what they think she is. You should know, you’re the one who took her in. Do you have no faith in Farley?”

“It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s what it would mean for this kingdom if you married a witch. What would our people think?”

“I don’t care what they think. This is happening no matter what you say.”

My mind had been set since the moment I kissed her. I felt alive now, and I no longer wanted to slip back into the darkness. Even with Farley not on board, it still felt amazing to have something in me.

“Don’t force my hand,” Father threatened. “I’ll send Farley so far away that she can’t get back with all the magic in the world.”

I laughed at him and his pathetic threat. Farley didn’t need all the magic in the world to stop anyone. She had more than enough to fight for herself against my father, and the people he might have sent after her. Eventually, she wouldn’t be so against protecting herself by any means necessary. She proved it today.

“I’d go with her,” I said. “Anywhere she went, I would follow.”

Father’s jaw tightened. “You would give up everything you know? Money, comfort?”

“It means nothing. I didn’t want it before, and I don’t need it after.”

“You’re not thinking clearly. You’ve been pampered your whole life. You think she’ll love you if she has to care for you like a child? The witch will get sick of it, and then you’ll be all alone and helpless.”

“I’m already alone, but I’m not helpless. You don’t give Farley enough credit, and you do the same with me.”

He looked frustrated beyond words, and that delighted me. He deserved it for taking someone else’s side, without even considering Farley’s. We had a killer on the loose, and he wouldn’t entertain the thought that maybe the man didn’t want a powerful witch around? That seemed more important than keeping me away from happiness.

“I’m looking at this from all sides,” Father said. “You’re choosing to ignore things. What will happen to this place if you leave? Our kingdom will fall.”

How did I explain this so that even he understood it? “I do not care about this kingdom. I don’t care about anything, and I never have. You know that. This girl, this person you reduce to nothing more than a witch, she gives me something to fight for. She makes me feel like a person is supposed to. Farley cares more about this kingdom than I ever will. I’m not asking for the moon. I’m asking that you treat me like I’m your son, and not the prince. I need her, or I won’t be anything. Don’t you want a human as your son? I know that the kingdom wants a human to take care of them. Don’t they deserve the best version of me that they could get?”

Father scoffed. “You killing people is the better version?”

“Yes, because at least now I have something to stand for.”

He rubbed his eyes, probably considering killing me. “A marriage between you and Suzanna would unite two kingdoms. Our armies would be unstoppable.”

If he wanted to speak about this as if it were a business deal, then I could do that as well. I could be cold and logical. He raised me as such. “Farley’s magic could control an army. With her on our side, she would be more of an asset than any union between humans.”

“They would fear us. Fear will make people want to take us down.”

“Fear would make them hesitate before striking. Even if they didn’t, Farley could still end it all. She gets stronger every single day. She will never have less magic than right this second. And they can be afraid all they want, but you and me both know that she’s a good person. She would help me lead with more compassion and strength than you could ever hope for.”

I hoped that he might have at least thought about my reasoning. It sounded solid to me, but maybe my opinion couldn’t have been trusted. That hardly mattered, because my opinion was the most important one in this room.

“It isn’t a factor,” Father decided. “Your time is limited. It’s the entire reason you’re marrying Suzanna.”

This man just didn’t hear me, but I could work around that one. “Have you stopped to think about how Farley could heal me?”

He deadpanned. “What?”

Yeah, I knew that would have gotten his attention. It hadn’t been fair to play that card, since I’d shot down Farley when she wanted to try and fix my heart. I wasn’t even positive that she could. But I could barter with this to get what I wanted.

“Yes,” I said. “Magic can fix me. Then I’ll be around for… well, as long as Farley wants me. I imagine she could make me immortal like she is. It would be our kingdom for the rest of time.”

I watched him thinking it over, because his greed would always get the best of him. The idea of locking up this place to our name, would get him on board. Maybe not right now, but eventually. This would save my life, and his home. If he could get past the witch of it all, then we were golden.

“I need to think,” he finally said. “I still have more work to do with that madman killing my people, and I have to make this up to the king. Try not to burn any more bridges today.”

I laughed at I stood. “Please, Father. It’s almost nighttime. What harm could I possibly do with so few hours?”

“You are your mother’s son, so I wouldn’t put anything past you.”

I left him in there, and headed up to my room. I had to finish up the space I made for Farley, and if I was very lucky, I could get her on board for that sooner rather than later. Maybe she could have had a proper bed tonight.

I opened my door to see Farley waiting on my bed, pure delight and a calm I’d never known came over me. She sat with her legs crossed, and in a fresh dress as she watched the door expectantly. I caught her smile when I walked in, so she couldn’t lie about it later.

“About time,” she said.

I grinned. “Eager for something?”

“No,” she lied as she crossed her arms. “But I got bored and thought you could entertain me.”

I stalked toward her, feeling about as predatory as a person could have been. “Oh, I am positive I could keep you entertained.”

Farley held a hand up. “Without touching me.”

“Eh.”

“What? Is all you want from me sex?”

“Of course not, but it’s on a very long list.”

I sat beside her, since I didn’t think she would have let me get on top of her at the moment. I’d try later, and I could be patient. I could also be smug. “You want me,” I said.

Farley gasped. “I do not.”

“You were waiting for me.”

“To use you so I wouldn’t be alone.”

“I’ll take it.”

She rolled her eyes. “You have no shame.”

“Of course not. I’m royalty. Since when do we need shame?”

I cleared my throat, keeping it casual as I put my arm around Farley’s shoulders. She didn’t seem into it, and removed my arm as fast as I put it around her. Obviously that meant she thought this could be a fun game, and I needed to keep going. We went back and forth until she started laughing, and shoved me away.

“Knock it off,” she ordered.

“I cannot. You draw me in like you have a leash around my soul.”

“You’re disgusting.”

I smiled. “I thought you’d like that one. I couldn’t just come out and say you look pretty and I want my mouth on you. Wait… could I?”

“No,” she said sternly.

I faked playing it cool. “I’m glad, because I’m not even thinking of kissing you right now.”

Farley raised an eyebrow. “Well that’s good, because I’m not thinking about getting on your lap.”

“And I’m not thinking about getting you on your back and putting your leg over my shoulder.”

Farley cleared her throat, and then exhaled slowly. “And… I’m not thinking about letting you.”

Her cheeks turned a bright pink, and I knew I had already won our little game. That didn’t mean I wanted to stop. “I’m also not thinking about finding out exactly what I would have to do to make you scream my name.”

She watched me, and I watched her with the same focused stare. Her chest heaved as she attempted to breathe evenly. It didn’t work for her, and it wasn’t working for me.

Farley grabbed me by the shirt, and pulled me onto her so that we could fall back on my bed. My hands slid up her stomach, and I got a hold of her corset. I pulled it open, breaking the fastens with ease. Farley smiled as she tossed it aside, and I tugged at the ties of her dress. When I pulled it over her shoulders, she arched up to me, inviting me to take what I wanted.

Her fingers combed through my hair as I kissed her shoulder. I made my way down, taking my time as I dragged my lips across her flesh. Farley’s heart beat hard under her ribs, and I could feel it when I pressed my mouth to the middle of her chest.

I wanted the taste of her tongue on mine, so I lifted my head up to take her mouth. To my surprise, she turned away from me, making my kiss land on her jaw.

“Um,” I said. “Problem?”

“No kissing,” she said.

I looked down at our bodies, and at how I lied between her legs, and how her breasts were almost completely exposed to me. But I could see how kissing would have crossed the line… “Explain.”

“We kissed once,” she said, looking at me. “And we could get away with that. But if we kiss again, then it’s an affair.”

I smiled. “I would very much like to have an affair with you. It sounds fun.”

Farley looked up at me, still running her fingers through my hair. “I told you that we aren’t going to work out.”

I played dirty, because I wanted to win. Watching her eyes, I rubbed myself between her legs. She gripped my arms, and I saw the little smile appear on her lips. “We can work just fine,” I promised.

Her nose wrinkled, and I kept up my movements, making her struggle to speak clearly. “I don’t see how. I’m not anybody, and you’re supposed to be with someone who’s important.”

“You’re the most important person there is.”

“That’s sweet, but there would be consequences if we were together. The village could revolt, and other kingdoms might want to take you down. I don’t want to watch you die.”

“You won’t. This isn’t about politics or what other people would think. The only thing that matters is us. Do you want to be with me?”

“Hollow…”

“Farley.”

She closed her eyes, and didn’t answer me. I pressed my lips to her jaw, working my way down to her throat again. She took me by surprise, pulling her dress down another couple inches. I looked up to her face, reading what she might have been thinking. Her eyes still closed, so I had to make some assumptions.

Farley gasped softly when I covered the peak of her breast with my mouth. Her nails dug lightly into my scalp, and I took it as a good sign. Better this reaction than none. I literally couldn’t understand why kissing wasn’t okay, but this somehow managed to work for her. I suppose she must have been a little insane, or desperate to gasp at straws.

“This is definitely an affair,” I mumbled against her.

“Shh, don’t fuck this up.”

I laughed, and looked at her face again. “I’m not fucking this up. I’m trying to make it better, but you’ve drawn your silly line in the sand.”

“It’s not silly. We need to be good so that your people don’t decide that you have to get beheaded. I’m doing you a favor.”

“Well thanks so much. Can you do me another favor and stop doing me favors? They kind of seem a little incredibly pointless.”

“Saving your life is pointless?”

“It’s pointless, you trying to logic me out of wanting to be with you. If you wanted that, then you should have tried being a lot less charming and adorable. Though I know that isn’t possible.”

Farley rolled her eyes, but blushed at the same time. I kissed her cheek, and then fixed her dress so she could be covered again. If she didn’t want to push it, then I wouldn’t. She wanted me, and I saw it perfectly clear. Eventually, she would give in and forget all the people who didn’t matter. Her and me, that was it.