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“I want you to say what you just said to the Princess again,” Rook said, baring his teeth. “I want to see just how many words you can get out before I lay open that useless fucking throat of yours.”

“Rook, don’t!” I shook my head as Rook’s eyes met mine. “Please.”

Caedmon’s expression shifted from fear to a sickening grin. “Oh, I see now,” he said, chortling. His eyes turned to the side, towards Rook. “Taken up with a Fae, have we, Norahi? I heard their cunts taste like sweetest honey, is that true?”

Rook growled and pressed the dagger harder against Caedmon’s throat. “You’re a fucking disgrace.”

“Iam a disgrace, am I?” Caedmon tilted his head slightly, giving Rook a strained sideways glance. “You killed my son when he was just a boy.”

I gasped a little, and Rook’s blazing eyes widened. “Your son was as evil as you are,” Rook snarled into Caedmon’s ear.

“ROOK.” Theron strode towards us, his wings stretched out beside him. “What is the meaning of this?”

Rook turned his gaze to Theron, his eyes glowing bright blue. “This reptilian sack of refuse insulted your royal guest, and I will not have it in your court.”

Theron crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Caedmon. “What did you say?”

Caedmon laughed, his hands still held up as Rook’s grasp remained firm. “The Princess and I were merely having a small joke. And then her lover took issue with it.”

I couldn’t help the look of dismay on my face as Theron’s eyes flashed to mine. His lips curled into a grin for a split second, before he focused back on the scene unfolding before us.

“Rook, please unhand His Grace,” Theron said slowly.

Rook’s gaze was lethal, but he withdrew the dagger and stepped back from the dragon.

“What did you say?” Theron asked again.

“He said as long as my cunt wasn’t mutilated I’d still be of use to someone,” I said. A few courtiers gasped, and Rook’s eyes flamed again.

Caedmon’s mouth fell open into a rasping laugh, and he turned to Theron. “See? A mere jo-“

Theron’s hand moved so fast it made me jump. Caedmon’s head snapped to the side as Theron’s fist connected with his cheek, and he stumbled a few steps before losing his balance and collapsing to his knees.

“How dare you,” Theron hissed. The ballroom had fallen almost completely silent by this point, all eyes turned to us. “How dare you speak to a Princess in this manner.”

Caedmon rubbed his jaw as he looked up at Theron, attempting a smile. “Sire, I -”

“You came here to seek my good grace,” Theron interjected, towering over the dragon who remained on the ground. “You came here to make some pathetic attempt to snivel your way into gaining back more power, calling yourself my ally, and then you make accusations against a man I consider a friend and insult my guest in such a way?”

Caedmon’s face dropped, and he scrambled to his feet. He bowed to Theron. “Your Majesty, you are my King, and I am forever your ally, you have no need to ever question my loyalty.”

“You come into my house and speak so to a Princess?” Theron scoffed. “You will apologize to Her Highness and then you will remove yourself from the palace immediately, and go back to your lands to think how you may attempt to make amends with me.”

If Caedmon wanted to protest he did not show it, instead dropping into a bow directed at me immediately. “Your Highness, please accept my sincerest apologies, my behavior was deplorable and it will never happen again.”

Theron looked at me. “Do you accept this apology?”

“No.”

My response brought a gasp from the room, and Rook’s face settled into a satisfied smile.

“No?” Theron asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“Words are meaningless,” I went on. “His Grace is only apologizing because he wishes to please you, My Lord. It has nothing to do with me.” I glared at Caedmon. “This is the kind of man who will say whatever he pleases to a woman so long as no one is around to hear it, and I have no interest in accepting an apology from an odious creature like that.”

Theron turned his head to Rook, who was still smiling as he shrugged. “She’s right,” Rook said. “I told Your Majesty the dragons were bad news.”

Theron nodded. “You did, my friend. You were right, as always.” He fixed his green eyes back on Caedmon. “You will leave my house this instant.” With a wave of his hand, two guards rushed forward and escorted a trembling Caedmon from the room. The courtiers didn’t know where to look.