Page 33

Lucienne sucked in a quick breath. Even in the midst of battle, he still had that effect on her. Not wanting him to know he dazed her, Lucienne swept her glance over the rest of the islanders. The farm couple had sat up, still in each other’s arms. The man’s thumb gentlywiped the blood off his wife’s split lips, but the wife was more concerned with her husband’s injuries. The redhead was with them.

Vladimir, now standing by Lucienne’s side, snarled. Lucienne followed his line of sight. The blond prince was watching her with a strange blend of hatred, fascination, and lust. “You, blond boy!” Vladimir yelled viciously. “Keep your ugly eyes on the ground!”

The prince fixed his eyes on the ground a few inches from his feet.

Lucienne shook her head. She had dealt with Vladimir’s possessiveness, but now he wouldn’t allow other males to even look at her? But then, the prince had coveted her.

The queen’s Spanish drew Lucienne’s attention back to the king. “I’m queen and Priestess Isis, the gods’ messenger.” The queen’s lips trembled. “The gods will strike you down if you harm King Henry!”

“Will the gods strike me with lightning or fire if I do this?” Lucienne replied in Spanish and pressed her foot on the king’s throat, sending his eyes rolling back. His chunky face reddened, and then turned purple from lack of oxygen.

“Stop!” the queen cried. “We’ll give you whatever you want. The kingdom can’t survive without a king.”

“You have me, Mother,” the prince said.

“The gods are on my side now, not yours.” Lucienne released the pressure of her foot to let the king breathe.

“You’ve conquered us,” the queen said in defeat. “Name your price.”

“What can you offer me?” Lucienne asked.

“I’d rather die than hand you my throne!” the king choked.

“My king!” the queen cried. “This is the darkest day in our kingdom, but we must live up to the gods’ test!”

“I have no desire for your crown,” Lucienne said.

The king and the queen held their breath, staring at Lucienne.

“Must I keep telling you I’m only interested in the weather here?” Lucienne sighed.

“Then you have my permission to . . . investigate.” The king let out a harsh breath. “Under the condition you depart my land as soon as you finish your affair.”

“Your permission, really?” Lucienne laughed.

“You can let the king go, miss,” the queen said.

Lucienne tilted her head, a thin smile of irony tugging the corner of her mouth.

“Please.” The queen’s tone turned into a soft plea. “Please let my husband go.”

“That’s more like it,” Lucienne said. “I don’t intend to take prisoners. That’d cost the tax payers money.” She bent and hit a point on the left side of the king’s neck. “There are more powerful kingdoms than yours, Mr. King,” she chided before releasing him. “And there’s always someone stronger and faster than you. Bear that in mind next time you try to beat someone smaller, especially your own people.”

The king shut his eyes so they wouldn’t betray his hatred. Lucienne stood up, straightened her leather pants, and turned to the farm couple. “If you need medical attention, my men can help.”

The couple shook their heads vehemently and shrank back from her in fear.

The king got up, yelling at the couple in a dialect that Lucienne couldn’t place. She spun around, facing the king. “Do not disturb me again.” Looking down at him icily, she asked, “Have any of you touched the gate?”

“Touch that gate? This forbidden place is cursed! We’ll never touch it,” the prince shouted. “We would never have come if the unruly Ashburn Fury hadn’t led us here.”

“Shut up, Felix!” the king reproached, staring hard at his son. Lucienne read the king’s nasty thoughts. He was angry at the prince for telling her about the curse. The king wanted her to touch the gate and be cursed. A relaxed smile sparked in Lucienne’s eyes—the Eye was safe.

“You kidnapped me and told Ash if he wanted to find me alive, he must go to Hell Gate,” the redhead blurted. “You tricked him, and then you brought the king here to seize Ash, so the king can throw him to the wilderness. You snake!”

“Only the lowest of servant girls with bastard blood would fancy Ashburn the Extra, Violet,” Prince Felix said.

“I’m not that lowly.” Violet smiled viciously. “I share half-blood with you.”