Page 113 of A Warrior's Heart

“You’re mistaken.” James sighed and ran a finger along my jaw. “As much as I want your allegiance, I know you’ll never betray them. You’ll be my bargaining chip.” A smile crossed his face. “You said yourself that they’re your family. I wonder if they feel as strongly about you.”

“Bargain me how?”

“You for the trident.”

I shook my head. “You’ll be sorely disappointed. Lorcan is my brother, but he wouldneverhand over the trident in exchange for me. He knows what’s at stake if he does, not only the life of his father but the fate of his people.”

“I have no quarrel with your people,” James said. “I only want Triton. Dead. Once he’s gone, your people will be safe. You have my word.”

“Your word means nothing to me.” I leaned away from his hand. He dropped it back to his lap. “You gave your word when you signed the treaty for peace. Yet, you told the sirens to attack humans so you could say that our side broke the treaty first. It would make you look like the hero when you declared war on us.”

King James stared at me.

“You didn’t know,” I said as the truth became clear. “Ezra really is pulling all the strings… and you’re his puppet. I’d be careful if I were you. Once he’s gotten his way, he’ll cast you aside and hang you with those same strings he has imbedded in your skin.”

“Enough.” James swept a hand through his golden locks and got to his feet, his brow pulled together in the center. “I will hear no more of your lies.”

James wasn’t as sharp as Lorcan led me to believe. He had allowed Ezra to manipulate him.

“Can I ask you a question?” Though my muscles were still weak, I pushed to my feet, bracing myself on the post of the bed. “Why do you hate King Triton this much? We fought beside you and your men four years ago in Black Hallows. After the battle, men from both our armies tended to each other. Men from the land and sea stood together as equals. Friends. We were allies. Doesn’t honor mean anything to you, James?”

“You speak of honor when your king has deceived me too?” James backed me up until my ass hit the edge of the bed. “Now I’ll admit that, once upon a time, I wished to overthrow Triton and rule the sea. I grew up hearing stories of his ill temper and hatred of humans. So when I took the throne, I had it in my mind that we could never live together in peace. But the battle at Black Hallows showed me it was possible to be allies. I even fantasized about uniting our people even further by taking Prince Lorcan’s hand in marriage.”

“What changed?”

“I learned of the trident and what power it held,” he responded. “I also learned of a prophecy that stated that Triton would dethrone a human king and enslave that king’s people by using that very same trident.”

I chuckled. “You’ve been played for a fool. No such prophecy exists. Ezra is—” My words broke off into a scream as it felt like my entire body was being burned alive.

“I suggest you hold your tongue, archer, before I rip it from your head.” Ezra entered the room, his red eyes flashing purple as he used magic on me.

Once, when I was a young boy, I had touched a pot cooking over an open fire and burned my hand. I felt that same burning all over my skin and inside my veins as Ezra pinned me with a hard glare.

“Enough,” James said.

“He needs to learn his place.” Ezra released the spell on me, but his gaze was unwavering. “He thinks to drive a wedge between us by spewing lies.”

I whimpered and slunk down to the floor, my muscles weak.

James frowned at me. His expression cleared, though, and it reminded me of when Malik hid behind his mask, hiding his true emotions.

“Come, my king.” Ezra ran a finger down the side of James’ neck. “Take me to your bed.”

“I have a meeting with the council soon.” James threaded his fingers through Ezra’s silver hair, his eyes softening.

Ezra dropped to his knees and unhooked the king’s belt. “Then I’ll have you right here and be quick about it.”

I averted my eyes as Ezra took the king’s cock into his mouth. While they were distracted, I searched my surroundings for anything I could use to escape—anything sharp or blunt to use as a weapon. But every object had been moved from my reach.

After several minutes of wet slurping and breathy moans, I heard James grunt one final time. Clothes rustling reached my ears, and I looked over to see James tucking himself back into his trousers. Ezra wiped at his mouth, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips.

“Have I pleased my king?” Ezra asked.

“Indeed.” James caressed his cheek before walking toward the door. He stopped before reaching it and glanced over his shoulder. “Do not hit him again.”

Anger flared in Ezra’s eyes before he bowed his head. “Of course.”

James looked at me before leaving the room.