Page 37 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
T hree days.
For three fucking days, Ezkai Gavriel keeps me and Kata inside the solitary confinement.
Three days of fasting, not speaking with a single soul, sleeping curled up on the hard stone floor and pissing in the copper chamber pot with no dignity.
When the door to my cell opens and Ezkai Gavriel’s shape appears in the doorway, I’m so relieved, I’m almost tempted to kiss his feet.
My only consolation is that Kata looks just as rough as I feel as we follow the instructor back to the academy. Though I suspect Kata hates me even more after this.
So much for trying to get her on my side…
Nobody—not even Roman—asks any questions or offers snide remarks when we return to the barracks. I head to the shower first thing to scrub the dirt and the dread off me before heading to breakfast.
Food has never tasted as good as it does this morning.
I keep my head down for the rest of the day, going to the emotional-manipulation lecture and focusing all my attention on mastering my skill.
When the end of the day finally comes, all I want to do is curl up under the blanket in my bunk and sleep until the end of time.
But the moment I climb onto my bed, a rolled-up parchment draws my attention. Slowly, I break the wax seal and unwrap the note. It’s a permission slip to visit the city with a note from Daegel to meet him for training.
Training is the last thing I want to do right now. But stretching my muscles and blowing off some steam might be exactly what I need. Also, the craving to be close to Daegel, to feel his presence next to me, his hands on my flesh and lips on my skin is overwhelming.
So I strap my knives back into their places, toss my bow and the quiver over my shoulder, and head out.
The address Daegel gives me is a residential estate in Yursus. His residential estate.
I’m surprised when I find out Daegel doesn’t live with his family but rather has his own property on the edge of Yursus. Daegel’s estate rests right next to a massive pine forest.
At the front gate, two Ezkai stand guard.
I don’t bother approaching through the main entrance.
Instead, I follow the high stone wall all the way to the back of the property, where it meets the edge of the forest. The darkness between tall trees looms behind my back as I quickly climb the wall.
Once I’m at the top, I drop one leg over and pause.
The view from up here is phenomenal.
Daegel’s estate is just as large as I expected. The gravel pathways lining the property are neat, and every bush and flower in his gardens is manicured to perfection. Damn , Ezkai do get paid well for their service.
My feet are quiet when they reach the ground. I make my way towards the main building, shrouded in shadows. I don’t even need to guess where in the house he is—the only windows with flickering light from a fireplace show the same room.
I approach the eight-panel glass door and give it a little push. Not locked. Quietly, I slide it open and sneak inside before sliding it back shut.
The room is stunning.
Tall, dark wood shelves line the walls from top to bottom, and every inch is stuffed with the most gorgeous tomes. In front of the fireplace, there are two deep-red leather armchairs. Daegel sits in one of them, his long legs stretched on top of an ottoman.
When I approach, I can see a book in his lap. War Strategies.
It’s a dangerous situation he just put himself in. What if I were an enemy and not a friend? I could kill him with ease, and his guards wouldn’t even know. Why does an Ezkai Major need two guards at his gate ?
Slowly, I pull out the small yet sharp blade hidden in my boot. Each step I take is calculated. I make no sound as I approach him from behind and lean forwards.
Daegel doesn’t flinch when I press the blade against his throat and whisper into his ear. “The two Ezkai at the front of your property are there for decoration only, huh?”
“Don’t worry about me, princess. I don’t need protection.”
He’s just as swift as I am.
Daegel’s fingers wrap around my wrist before I can act and twist it. I loosen my grip on the blade and yelp. Daegel doesn’t let go of me. He pulls me onto his lap. We’re face-to-face, so close that we share a breath.
My heart races in my chest. A laugh tears through my lips, but it dies quickly.
Daegel runs a finger over my jawline and down my neck.
Goose bumps skitter all over my skin. “Is that the type of foreplay you enjoy?” A corner of his mouth lifts.
“A little knife play? The threat of drawing blood, huh? Vicious princess. I’m definitely open to exploring whatever your heart desires. ”
Heat surges to my cheeks. The desire that zips through me is hard to tame. I press my thighs together to control the throbbing in my core.
“I’m glad to hear you’re so open and…flexible. I bet it’ll come in handy.”
Before his wandering fingers can reach intimate places on my body and I completely lose control, I get on my feet. I turn my back to Daegel and take in the beautiful surroundings.
His eyes follow me as I move around the room.
My fingers trace random objects in my way—the leather-bound tomes on the dark oak shelves and the bronze statues depicting the greatest soldiers from the past and their lovers on the windowsills.
I love the tension that builds between us in this silence. It makes me feel alive.
When I reach the mantel above the fireplace, I face him. Daegel is still lounging in the armchair, all casual. Yet the way he looks at me is anything but.
His dark gaze roams over my face, down to my breasts, and even lower down to my waist, my hips, and my long legs. I wear leathers, and not a single inch of my skin is showing beneath my neck, but I feel the caress of his gaze on my skin as if I were completely naked.
I love the way he looks at me. The lust and admiration make me feel…powerful. My whole body tingles with pleasure.
“Why didn’t you use the front door? You’ve got the permission slip,” he says.
“It’s your personal estate. I want as few people knowing about this visit as possible,” I say. “Just in case.”
“My men are loyal. Nobody will say a word.”
I wave my hand around the room. “Do all Ezkai have estates like this one? And personal guards?”
A corner of his mouth lifts, and he shakes his head.
“What a bummer,” I say with a sigh. “Here I was, daydreaming of my future in an estate like this one, and you ruined it all.”
Daegel’s laugh fills the space around us. It’s rich, deep, and dark. Like the smoothest aged whiskey. It tickles something deep in my belly. I want to make him laugh again just so I can hear that sound again.
Mischief and dark desire dance in his eyes. My legs feel weak all of a sudden.
“I’m sorry. Didn’t meant to burst your bubble.
” He leans forwards in his seat. The muscles under his white shirt shift, straining against the fabric.
It’s hard to look away. “While not every Ezkai has an estate like this one, it doesn’t mean you can’t have one.
You have great potential within you, Phoenix.
And if things don’t pan out the way you want them to, you can always visit mine and pretend it’s yours. ”
I scoff lightly. He winks.
When I don’t say anything else for a long moment, he says, “I heard about the incident with Nightingale during Ezkai Gavriel’s lecture. He shouldn’t have administered such a harsh punishment to cadets. Solitary confinement can be tough on the mind and the soul. How are you holding up?”
I bite the inside of my cheek and shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
The understanding that shines in his gaze twists something in my chest. “Come here, Phoenix.”