Page 88 of The Chains You Defy

But ignoring certain truths became more complicated because I couldn’t deny I came alive under Dion’s touch, no matter how much this scared me shitless.

There were too many reasons why us being physical was a bad idea and not enough arguments why giving in to the attraction would be a splendid plan. Insane chemistry and allure weren’t sufficient to cancel out all the negative aspects.

“Woman. Come.” Dion called from the antechamber, and the earlier playfulness and desire were absent from his voice.

My airways tightened as I left the bedroom, doom on my mind, and I crossed the space to where Dion towered. His former larger-than-life attitude was firmly back in place, including a bored and arrogant expression on his face, and he’d latched his gaze on two male fae standing in the open door. Their livery bore a vague similarity tothe steward’s, but since the garments weren’t quite as fancy as Fainic’s, I concluded they must be his lackeys.

“Finally. There you are. Come on, you’ll accompany me to His Royal Majesty, High King Galrach Folus Iadrann of Galanta. And you’d better mind your manners.”

Anxiety exploded in my guts. Dion had been so convinced that his grandfather would summon him alone, at least this early on, and I hadn’t mentally prepared myself enough for a royal confrontation yet.

Why hadn’t he taught me about how I was supposed to act in front of the High King of the fae? Which would have been a much better idea than making out.

And now there wasn’t any time left for essential lessons concerning etiquette since Dion was already prowling down the corridor like a menace, the two fae in livery and me in tow.

Keeping my mouth shut, I quickened my step to stay close to the male, who was worlds apart from the playful, pushy bastard he’d been before trouble had appeared at our doorstep.

I wondered, and not for the first time, if I’d ever seen Dion without some sort of mask.

Gods, as if there weren’t more important issues to dwell on. The meeting with Galrach was inevitable, and no matter how much I lied to myself that he wouldn’t harm me, my stomach was in painful knots, pushing burning acid up my throat.

My mood, already not the best when the day had started, morphed into something with almost a mind of its own, seething right under the surface, and the tiniest spark would be enough to incinerate everything around me. The explosive mixture bubbling inside my veins was composed of various elements.

First, me being summoned like a criminal, with a fucking escort and not a single minute to prepare, had me outraged.

Second, that my fucking grandfather insisted I’d bring Nayana with me to what indeed couldend as an interrogation, if not one of thewonderfulpunishing sessions I’d missed so very much.

Not.

And lastly, I didn’t care who he was—and even if he were channeling the godsdamned Triad all at once into his body—no one was allowed to disturb Nayana and me, especially not when we were tearing down more of the walls between us. Or well, I’d been tearing, and she’d clung to a few remaining pieces of rubble.

Her resistance would be cute if the constant battle weren’t so frustrating. But just now, we’d been making progress. And instead of enjoying her this very instant, I was forced to deal with His Royal Majesty, Fucking High King Asshole of Shitville.

Even though she walked half behind me, I was tuned in to her every move. No flinching, no tensed muscle, no twitching in fear could escape my vigilant observation. She was too pale despite the makeup emphasizing the beautiful shine in her eyes and the fullness of her lips.

And her fucking scent.

Gods, my soap mixed with the smell of her skin was divine. Especially when wisps of her desire snuck into the perfume surrounding her like bait designed only for me.

Lucky for the entire population of Alaiann Palace, the notes of her arousal had vanished. The remnants were overpowered by the fear clinging to her. Not that I’d prefer that, but at least I didn’t have to kill anyone in her honor. The argument arising after eliminating one or a thousand threats—I mean, who counted?—wouldn’t be a pleasant one, and she wasn’t yet at a point where she’d agree that a scent was a valid reason for murder.

After all, Nayana was human and had only learned about me being fae a little over a month ago. Most of that time she’d spent in captivity or recovery. She’d need another week or two to learn more about my people before she’d be able to understand and empathize with me and my motives.

My grandfather’s chamberlains—Fainic’s lackeys—who were tight-lipped about where the audience would be conducted, led us in the direction of the throne room.

Of course, he’d chosen the most ostentatious hall in the entire fucking palace. How else could he possibly flaunt his power over me?

If only I weren’t so fucking helpless to every single one of his whims, or if there were any way to break the chokehold he had me in. But in almost three hundred fifty winters, I hadn’t found a solution for this fucking conundrum.

Only one plot to overthrow the king had almost been successful, and the ringleader was dead. A searing phantom pain flared up in the back of my head for a mere second, as usual when I lingered too long on certain memories.

One day, I’d have to come clean with what had transpired during the winters after my parents’ murder, and deep inside, I was more than aware that the time to confess would dawn on me soon. Antas and his lectures about facing my demons—

My spiraling was interrupted as the grand doors to the throne room opened—I’d been so far down in my own mind, I hadn’t even noticed we’d already arrived—and a herald, the one with the unpleasant screech in his voice, spouted all the nonsense Idespised.

“His Royal Highness Dionadair Dorchadas Coroin De’An Scriosta, Scion of High King Galrach Folus Iadrann, Crown Prince of Galanta, Heir to the Eternal Throne of Alaiann, and Field Marshal of the Endless Legions.”

How I loathed my full name. And even more, this never-ending trail of hollow titles. Then, to add insult to injury, the blatant disrespect toward Nayana. It wasn’t as if I’d expected otherwise. Still, the impertinence irked me to no end.