Page 19 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A hand lands on my shoulder. Immediately, my eyes snap open.

I don’t breathe.

I don’t move.

Slowly, my hand inches under my pillow, where I’ve kept my favorite blade since the night Kata almost drowned me.

I knew she’d come back for more.

Just as my fingers wrap around the handle, there’s a whisper: “ Phoenix . Phoenix, wake up.”

It’s Roman’s voice.

With a sharp exhale, I let go of the blade and roll over.

Roman stands next to our bunk. He’s tall enough that we’re face-to-face without him having to stand on the edge of his bunk.

“What the fuck, Roman?” I whisper-yell at him.

He grins at me. “Come on, princess. Everyone’s headed to the burn rite. You can’t miss it.”

I frown, pushing myself up on my elbows. “Burn rite? What’s that?”

Roman grabs the corner of my blanket and tosses it aside. The cold of the night wraps tightly around my body, and I shiver.

“The burn rite is how Ezkai keep themselves entertained. Come on. You’re going.”

The last thing I want to do right now is go somewhere with my squad… It doesn’t look to me like I have a choice, though.

With a groan, I hop out of the bunk. Roman shoves my leather trousers into my hands.

“Believe me, you won’t regret it,” he says, giddy. I slide my pants over my hips and fasten the buttons. “You’ll thank me when you see all the shirtless Ezkai wresting in a ring.”

With a scoff, I slip into my leather jacket. Seriously? Half naked Ezkai rolling around in a fighting pit? That’s the last thing on my mind right now.

Before I can even finish lacing my boots, Roman is urging me out of the barracks and into the cold night. “Faster, princess. Before the show is over!”

“You’re unbearable,” I mutter, but dutifully follow him across the castle grounds.

Apparently this burn rite takes place in one of the bases on the other edge of the grounds, right next to the orchard.

Roman opens the door for me. For a second, I consider whether this is a trap. Whether Kata got Roman on board, and my fellow cadets are about to jump me.

But the familiar sweet and spicy scent makes my eyes water. And the sounds…the screams, shouts, and chants that reach my ears immediately perk me right up.

No way is this a trap for me.

We take the dark stairs down into the basement. With each step, the noise and the smell grow stronger.

It’s a bare-bones basement with stone floors and walls. In the middle of it is a makeshift round ring that’s been dug into the ground. Around the pit, a crowd of Ezkai watches the fight inside unfold.

“You want a drink?” Roman asks.

I follow his gaze to the makeshift bar on the left. Nothing but whiskey and ale line the shelves behind the lone bartender working real hard serving thirsty soldiers.

“Nah, I’m good,” I say.

“I need one. I’ll be back. Don’t get in trouble, okay?”

I scoff. “I know how to handle myself.”

The only answer I get is a smirk. Roman’s off, and I’m alone.

Alright. Let’s see who’s fighting inside that pit.

I recognize his back instantly. Daegel stands with his back facing me, his Ezkai tattoos sprawling the expanse of his shredded back. With every movement, the muscles ripple under his tan skin.

Roman was right. The sight alone is so worth getting out of bed.

I inch closer to the ring to get a better view.

Daegel moves like he owns the pit. Each step of his quick feet is measured, careful despite the thick light-orange liquid covering the floor. It reaches up to his bare ankles and sticks to his feet.

It hits me then. The familiar sweet and spicy scent that burns my eyes… Flaming honey.

The crowd roars as Daegel lands a brutal punch on his opponent’s jaw. It sends his head violently to the side. If he were a human or a dwarf, his jaw would have cracked.

“Damn, that must have hurt,” Roman says from behind me, startling me. “But I would let Ezkai Daegel punch me whenever he wants.”

I snort. “Seriously? You’re so quick to lose all of your self-respect?”

Roman’s smile is sharp. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t let him do ungodly things to you, princess.”

Before I can answer, Daegel’s opponent charges at him with a roar.

Roman and I stand shoulder to shoulder as we watch Daegel step out of the way just in time, despite the flaming honey making it hard for him to move. Daegel twists at the waist and smacks his elbow down onto his opponent’s back, right between the shoulder blades.

The fae soldier falls face down into the flaming honey.

Roman and I both sigh at the same time.

Yeah. The things I would let him do to me are ungodly.

I don’t say that to Roman of course. Instead, I scoff. “He’s so full of himself. Arrogant fae soldier. Big deal.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever makes you feel better, princess.”

“Shut up.” I elbow him in the side. “Better yet, tell me why the ring is full of flaming honey.”

Roman’s surprised. “How do you know about the flaming honey? You have fire bees in Wetra, too?”

“The furious, human-sized bees that shoot fire out of their stingers? Yeah, no,” I say. “They made us train in flaming honey back in Wetra, though. You didn’t pass unless you could fight through the burn.”

“Damn, that’s rough. I can barely stand the sting in my eyes from being close to it. I can’t imagine having to fight in it.”

I turn back to watch Daegel. “Yeah. Not fun.”

That barely describes what it truly feels to stand in flaming honey for hours on end. Not only is it gooey as fuck and sticks to everything it touches, but it burns as if hot tongues of flame are licking at your skin.

I would know.

Daegel’s opponent doesn’t get back up to fight. The major stands over the fallen fae, tall and powerful. A shiver goes down my spine when he looks up from his opponent and our eyes meet.

His face is ice. But his gaze is fire. And it burns through me, making my heart race.

I can’t stand it.

I look away first.

On our left, Kata’s red hair catches my eye. She stands close to the ring, Fern and Bloom flanking her. Tonight she wears a revealing spring-leaf-colored dress with a deep cut that reaches her hip and barely holds together on two thin straps.

Her body is beautiful, just like her face. Luminous skin, silky smooth. Not a single mark. Even my fingers itch to touch it, to savor that sensation.

I bite the inside of my cheek and look away. But then, an idea pops into my head.

This place is full of Ezkai and cadets. Every single pair of eyes is focused on the fight that takes place in the ring.

The way Ezkai pat Daegel on the shoulder and embrace him as they congratulate him on the win is beautiful. Their eyes are full of awe, full of admiration and respect.

This is the perfect place for me to prove my mettle.

I elbow Roman in the side to draw his attention. “How do I get into the ring for a fight?”

“Are you crazy? Princess?—”

“I didn’t ask what you think about it. I asked how I get to fight.”

Roman clicks his tongue. “You enter the ring and call forth the person you want to challenge. If they accept, you fight.”

“And if they don’t?”

Roman shrugs. “Never seen or heard of that happening before. Fae egos are too big for them to back down from a challenge.”

“Go figure.”

Roman frowns. “What are you going to do?”

I don’t answer. I’m already on the move, pushing my way through the bodies towards the pit. Once I’m on the edge, a tall fae who stands with Daegel looks over. He jerks his chin at me, and Daegel turns around.

I lift my chin. “I challenge Kata Nightingale to a brawl.”

Silence.

Kata’s gaze is burning. She purses her lips.

I smirk. “Not up for a fair sparring match, huh? Not surprised.” I tsk-tsk, shaking my head. “Only brave when my hands are tied and your little pets stand guard.”

That rouses the crowd. Snickers, whispers, and mocking laughs go through the people surrounding the pit.

A muscle in Kata’s jaw ticks. And then she steps forwards.

“Shoes off, ladies.” The fae man next to Daegel stands. “Fight lasts until one of you taps out. No weapons, just your fists.”

I nod and unlace my boots. Roman shows up just in time for me to hand them off to him before I jump down into the ring.

The moment my feet connect with the flaming honey, a shiver goes through me. Slowly, my feet sink into the thickness until it reaches my ankles.

Kata tosses her flat sandals to the side and jumps into the ring, too. Panic flashes in her gaze when her feet are devoured by the substance.

Just as I thought.

She has no experience with flaming honey.

For a heartbeat, we stand on opposite sides of the pit, our gazes locked. I smirk and curl my index finger at her.

With a sneer, Kata charges forwards. I can see the strain on her body from the flaming honey. Every muscle in her body works overtime as she stomps towards me.

I stand and wait.

When she sends a punch my way, I lean backwards and bend my back to avoid the fist without losing my balance.

Kata roars and swings again. She’s moving too fast, which is a good thing when the ground is solid and not working against you.

Not so much here.

I parry and block her punches, but she still gets in a few good ones to my face and one on my side as I slowly inch away from her. I don’t lift my feet from the honey. Instead, I press them flat again the floor and shuffle backwards.

Kata doesn’t notice it.

Or, rather, she notices it too late.

Just as she swings a fist at me, she loses balance. I’m just an inch too far away. Eyes wide, she swings her arms. To no avail.

The flaming honey keeps her feet stuck in place. She falls forwards on all fours.

“It burns!” Her voice is panicked when her palms sink deep.

It’s my time to strike.

Just as she looks up at me with a sneer, I punch her right in the face. The crack of bone as her nose fractures makes goose bumps rise all over my skin.

Blood pours down her face, onto the honey.

She’s trying to recover from the impact and get on her feet. I stomp forwards and kick her in the stomach.

The fury that surges inside me is cold as ice. Makes my whole body tremble. But I control it. When I kick her in the side, my breathing is steady. I don’t let rage rule me. I wield it like a weapon instead.

She groans and falls to her side.

I’m on her in an instant.

Fisting the hair at the back of her head, I slam her head into the flaming honey. That shit burns like a bitch. I know it firsthand.

I hold her face down in the honey the way she held my head underwater in that damn fountain. Her body thrashes, but she’s too far gone into the honey to get out of my grip or even swing a punch at me.

Yet it takes a lot of effort to keep her in place. And just as much effort to pull her face up before she chokes on the fucking honey.

I don’t want her dead. I only need her to learn a lesson.

“Tap out, Nightingale!” Daegel’s friend shouts.

She’s desperately trying to catch her breath. I bring my lips close to her ear. “I suggest you start sleeping with one eye open, too. I’m here to stay, and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”

“I tap out.” She chokes out the words.

I let go of her hair. Slowly, I rise to my feet.

First, I meet Daegel’s gaze. He watches me with an unreadable expression.

The rest…well, the rest of Ezkai and cadets watch me with mixed feelings in their eyes.

Awe.

Shock.

Caution.

Fear.

So be it. If I can’t have their respect, I’ll take fear instead.

I wanted revenge. I got it.

But as I climb out of the ring and take my boots from Roman, my heart feels heavier than ever.