Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords Book 3) (21 page)

“Jovan, who I want to be with is none of your business,” I say, voice trembling with rage.

“Like fuck,” he says.

I plow on, ignoring him. “If I want to be with Hamish or a dozen other men, I will.” I artfully evade his grabbing hands. “I don’t even
like
dancing,” I add as an afterthought.

“Well, I assumed that was a reason you said no to me at the ball,” he says. He’s regained his calm. It infuriates me.

“I won’t stand by and let you treat Hamish that way again. Or any of my friends.” I slap his hands from my hip and move to the door. I strain to pull it open.

It doesn’t budge.

I need to get off this roof! A big, calloused hand snakes around my waist, brushing my skin. I know if I check, I’ll have goosebumps where he’s touched me. It only adds to my anger. He reaches for the handle, and opens the traitorous door with a quick pull.

“Thank you,” I mutter the ungrateful words over my shoulder as I stomp down the stairs.

I listen as Kaura bowls after a leather ball in the front courtyard. Half a minute goes by before she trots back to where I stand at the base of the stairs and drops the slobbering mess in my hand. I give her head a fond scratch.

The doors creak open behind me as I throw the ball once more.

“I’ve been telling father for months we should just clear out the Outer Rings. But does he listen to me? And now look, poor Jovan has to actually
go
there just so we don’t get murdered in our sleep.” I screw up my nose at the nasal tone of Arla’s voice.

“He’s so brave,” another sighs. Arla chuckles like she knows a secret. It irritates me beyond reason. A sudden hush followed by whispers tells me they’ve spotted me.

I cock back my arm and throw the ball again. I always hope no one is in the way. If I’m lucky, they’ll see the ball coming and move. I usually use the empty courtyard at the back of the castle, but Kaura has grown too large to get a real run around there. Really, she needs to be exercised with the sleds, and Rhone has been training her, but with him gone to the Third Sector, she’s not getting nearly as much exercise as she should. When this is all over, I’ll spend more time with her. Though I’m not sure how she’ll do in Osolis with the heat.

“Come on, ladies. Let’s take this to a … cleaner location.”

I struggle for control as I recognize Jacquiline’s voice. She’s hanging around Arla again. I swallow down my reaction to her obvious jab about my mixed blood. I worry for a moment my former friend may have told Arla my secret. But I shake off that thought immediately. I would’ve received Arla’s threats by now if she knew.

The large group of women sweeps by me with a few giggles and I ignore them. But a stuttering voice stops me in my tracks.

“Tatuma, how are you today?” I peer through my veil to confirm the person’s identity.

“Good, Macy. How are your flowers?” I smile inwardly at her defiance against Arla and the rest of the group. Macy thought Frost contacted me while she was at the castle speaking to the council. She thought Frost had passed on her knowledge about the mistreatment from Blaine. When I mentioned I knew of her beatings, she didn’t even attempt to deny them. But then Sole was also present. Maybe this helped.

“They look beautiful at the moment. But they will close soon when we move into colder temperatures.” She pauses briefly. “Y-you are most welcome to come visit,” she says.

“I would love to,” I reply, warming my voice as much as I can. A true smile lights her face as she curtsies before moving back.

The creaking of the portcullis sounds behind me. Kaura butts my hand impatiently. I grab for the ball in her mouth, dismissing the others.

“Kaura,” I say in a stern voice, wiggling at the ball gripped in her mouth. She makes playful growling noises in return. “It’s going to be like that, is it?” I laugh at her and tug harder.

“King Jovan, you’ve returned!” Arla’s high-pitched voice carries back to me. I continue wrestling with Kaura, now listening carefully.

“As you see,” he replies. I smile at his short reply.

“Was it terrible?” she asks, a tremor in her voice. “I just feel like taking in all those sick children out there.”

I barely restrain my burst of laughter. At the same time I have this overwhelming want to scratch her. Kaura whines, sensing something is wrong. I pull the ball from her mouth while she’s distracted. Soon she’s chasing it across the courtyard once again.

“The situation there is not good. But the new Minister of the People has some excellent plans to begin changing that,” Jovan says.

I wonder what Blizzard is thinking right now. I turn toward the group, just making out the king’s outline.

“Oh, just look at your cloak. It’s covered in filth. Let me take it for you,” Arla cries. “Come now. I won’t take no for an answer,” she fake scolds. I grit my teeth as she presses herself against him to take it off. I can’t see the finer detail, but I can imagine she’s taking advantage of the opportunity.

I turn away, whistling for Kaura. She comes to me as I make my way in. She begins running to the kennels, but I call her to me as I climb the large stone steps. I think I’ll need a friend today.

A council session is planned for after the noon meal. I bite into a juicy pear, happy some things stay constant. Unlike kings of Glacium.

“I’m starving,” Olandon says as he plonks down into the chair beside me. I look at him, bemused. He looks up and waves at someone in the assembly. I wonder who.

“Been training all day with Ashawn,” he continues, shoveling food into his mouth. I blink, breaking from my shock.

“I see,” I say slowly.

He reaches for his goblet and a loud tearing sound makes the advisors around us jump. Olandon puts down his goblet with a clunk and reaches for the back of his tunic. Laughter trickles up to us from the front tables.

“This has happened five times now,” he mutters angrily. A small giggle escapes me. I clamp down as I receive the brunt of his glower. He’s mortified.

“They obviously aren’t made properly,” he says, face red.

I know the advisors around me are listening. “It does seem convenient that it’s happened to … did you say five tunics?” I trail off, waiting for him to grasp my meaning.

“You mean, someone is doing this on purpose?” he asks.

I giggle again. I can’t help it.

“But who?” he asks. I purse my lips, wondering if I should tell him. My brother has made real progress in the last few days. I decide to reward him with a hint.

“Sometimes, it’s the people we’d least expect who do these things to us. You could also reason, those closest to us have the best opportunity.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You know who it is,” he accuses. He takes a sip from his goblet again. “I will think on what you have said,” he says.

“Once you figure it out, might I recommend something?” I ask. He dips his head. “Turning the tables could be more satisfactory than other pathways you may wish to take.”

A wide grin spreads over his face and he resumes eating. Drummond to my right, chuckles loudly as he chews some roast meat. I grimace at the loud, wet sounds his mouth makes.

“Such occurrences as these can also be turned in your favor. For instance, many of the females here find you attractive. If you wanted, you could turn this around to strengthen your position, rather than lose footing.” With that said I stand and face the tables in front of me.

“You’ll have to excuse my brother. He’s gaining muscle quickly with the delicious food here. It seems he’ll soon need larger tunics.” With that, I turn to him expectantly. Whatever my brother is, he’s not slow.

He stands also with a searching glance my way. “They do seem to be a bit small,” he says woodenly. I sit and watch the assembly as he peels off the ruined tunic. I try not to laugh at the whistles and giggles I hear erupting with his display.

Olandon sits down, tossing the tunic behind him. I press a hand to my mouth under my veil as he sits tall, trying to appear as big as possible.

“That worked damn well,” Drummond congratulates. “Wish I’d tried that when my pants split at the ball last sector.”

There’s laughter down the table at his comment. I hear Jovan’s deep chuckle.

“The problem there, Drum, is you need something impressive underneath,” Jovan says loudly. The plates rattle and bounce and the men around me slap their hands on the table and roar. I peek at my brother and see he’s struggling to restrain his own humor. I elbow him and his laughter bursts out, adding to the noise of the others.

* * *

The king speaks quietly to the council. He doesn’t need to raise his voice. Everyone pays the utmost attention. There’s been a subtle shift in the advisors’ attitudes since the Outer Rings showed up outside the castle gates. They’ve seen Jovan in action. I rest my head back and listen to the changes Blizzard has proposed. Short-term plans to distribute food and clothing, and long-term plans to decrease crime rates and improve housing conditions. Blizzard won’t be worth talking to for months—poor Ice.

The advisors leap on board with the drafted plans, raising points they believe may become issues. A discussion opens which Jovan directs with ease. I wonder if they’ve been comparing Jovan to his father this whole time. This might be the first time they’re seeing him as a complete king in his own right, and listening to what their king says out of respect for Jovan himself, rather than respect for his position. After all, he’s only just approaching his twenty-fifth birthday. I often forget his age; he’s so competent most of the time.

“I think we should bring Frost back in,” Blaine says, interrupting Roscoe.

“Your reasons?” Roscoe asks stiffly. I don’t blame him. He’s second in command here, and Blaine’s interruption was disrespectful.

“I think she would be a useful asset for deciding how to decrease crime rates,” he says.

I narrow my eyes, trying to guess his real reason.

“Blizzard should suffice, being a pit fighter as well,” Drummond says. He looks at Jovan, who gives nothing away.

“Yes, but my sources tell me Frost has connections in the prostitution circles. Perhaps she is one. And her knowledge there could serve as doubly useful.” He presses the point, not wanting to back down.

I feel my hands curling into fists under the table. Blaine wants to know who I’ve been talking to. He wants to weed out the weak links in his underground crime system. Or maybe his spies are pulling up blanks on Frost’s whereabouts. This could be a ploy to flush me out so he can try to tag me again. He obviously knows Frost is on to something after her involvement with the angry mob outside the castle. Or maybe he sees her as an opposing force.

“A proposition I’ll keep in mind, but I don’t think it’s necessary for now,” Jovan says. He can hardly do otherwise.

“Of course, my King,” Blaine purrs.

* * *

The rest of the day continues in the same fashion. Fiona runs out of dinner crying, leaving a glum Sanjay staring at his plate. I wonder if she’s confronted the delegate about his unusual behavior. I hope she forgives me for not telling her straightaway once everything is revealed.

Alzona and the others should be back tomorrow night. I hope the news from Willow is in Sanjay’s favor.

For all my witnesses against Blaine and the stack of intelligence gathered by Ice, I’m not sure it will be enough without the documents from Rhone. I’m becoming increasingly nervous about calling the advisor out. I need those papers from the Third Sector castle, but I feel like Blaine is breathing down my neck. And now he might know my secret. He hasn’t gotten this far by being stupid. Even if he doesn’t know about my alter ego, he’s bound to notice the behavior of Macy, Sanjay or Sole. And if he catches a single glimpse of Alzona in the castle, he’ll know something is happening. And what if one of Ice’s spies reports to Hale for more money?

No, I have to strike as soon as Alzona and the others return from the whorehouse, regardless of whether Rhone is back.

* * *

I lay in bed, wrapped and curled beneath stacks of warm fur. At least if I have to go through days like today, there’s comfort knowing a bed is at the end of it.

I smile into the pillow at nothing in particular, pushing at the warm, heavy mass of Kaura, who encroaches on my space.

The door creaks open and I still, breath held.

“Just me,” whispers Jovan. I smile at the irony of the words. Saying something is “just Jovan” will always be a ridiculous understatement. I shift to look up at him and remember my lack of clothing. Heart racing, I turn on my side away from him, drawing the furs up to my chin.

“Hello.” I wince at the strained sound of my voice. It was hard enough to control myself around Jovan when we were both dressed.

The bed dips behind me and I listen, tense as Jovan’s boots thud against the ground, followed by the sound of fabric moving over skin. He lays down and shuffles around until he’s a solid presence at my back. One of his arms rests on top of the furs wrapped around me, only a thin layer away from resting on my naked skin. Veni! He throws one of his legs over the blanket on my thighs.

I observe this process before asking. “What are you doing?”

He nestles his face into my hair, breathing deeply. “It’s been a shitty day. I just want to be here with you,” he says.

The request for him to leave catches in my throat. “It has been a shitty day,” I say instead.

“Mm-mm.” He kisses the side of my neck. “I don’t like fighting with you. Makes everything worse.”

I think on his words. Is that why I’ve been so out of sorts today? I tilt my head up so he can’t access my neck. “Your stubble tickles,” I scold. He chuckles against my back.

“The Outer Rings were bad,” I ask. I remember the first time I walked through them. The moment is seared into my memory.

“I’ve never seen such…” he searches for the right word.

“Carnage?” I offer. He makes a noise of agreement.

“Things are going to change,” he says in a hard voice.

I extract one of my hands and grasp the hand lying over my hip. He twines our fingers together.

“This may be a good time to tell you I arranged self-defense classes for the whores in the Second Sector. Classes start in a week,” I admit. “If it proves helpful, I believe it would be a worthwhile investment for the other sectors.”