Page 52 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER FIFTY

T he moment I step foot out of the iron gate, Roman’s tall figure moves into my path. I still feel lightheaded after what just happened.

“You won!” Roman shakes me by my shoulders, excitement pouring out of him in heaps. “That was a damn good show!”

I nod absentmindedly.

Scorpio, the Whisperer of Havoc.

I glance at the bow in my hand. It hums quietly, assuring me as I hold it. Finally, the missing pieces clicked. It accepts me and has given me its true name. In the weirdest sense, I feel…whole.

And I didn’t even know I wasn’t before.

“Hey, princess—are you okay?”

Roman’s excitement turns into worry when I barely respond to whatever he’s saying to me. I blink at him, trying to get my bearings.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I manage.

Two tall, broad bouncers approach us, their naked chests, arms, and necks tattooed so heavily that I can’t see a single patch of skin through the ink. Roman flashes them a smile without missing a beat.

He opens his mouth to say something, but doesn’t get a chance. Two hands clasp my arms, locking me in an iron grip, and they say, “You’re to go with us. Now.”

Roman tries to go with me, but one of the bouncers elbows him in the nose.

“Roman!” I scream, trying to tear away from their grip.

He’s cradling his nose, blood pouring down his face. The bouncers don’t stop, and soon the crowd hides Roman from me. I twist forwards, my heart racing.

This can’t be good.

We’re compromised.

The crowd parts for the bouncers and me in the middle, curious glances clinging to me like wet cloth.

I try to keep my face neutral and my breathing under control.

The two Caligos lead me deeper into the warehouse through a wide double door.

Once it shuts behind us and a long dark corridor opens up in front of us, all the noise from the crowd fades away.

So they’re not worried I’ll see where they’re taking me. That either means they’re about to kill me, or there’s simply no way out from where they’re taking me.

Despite that, I inspect every inch of the corridor as we walk, noticing every door, nook, and cranny. It’s quiet, cold, and dark here.

Finally, we reach the end of the corridor, where the bouncers take metal stairs up into the second floor. When we reach a narrow landing, there’s only one door in front of us.

The room we enter is empty.

There’s a large desk in the middle covered with papers and random knickknacks, but the large leather chair behind it is unoccupied. The bouncers seat me at one of the two empty chairs in front of the desk and finally let go of my arms.

The fingerprints they left will turn into nasty bruises in no time. I open up my senses and reach for them.

Nothing. Vast emptiness.

I close my senses off and sink into my chair. Fucking fae Decarios. Can I fight them by myself to escape?

Before I can decide, the door opens, and an elderly fae with salt-and-pepper hair and a long, flowy purple dress enters. Frowning, I watch her smile and then take a seat in the leather chair across from me.

We sit in silence while she appraises me with a raised eyebrow. Finally, she says, “You’ve put on quite a show there tonight, youngling.”

I blink at her. Youngling?

This fae looks faintly amused. I don’t think I’m in any immediate danger, so I play the part.

I settle more comfortably in my seat, then say, “You’re welcome. Is that how you treat those who have the potential to make you a lot of money around here?”

She laughs, the sound like wind chimes tinkling. “We don’t often extend an invitation to a private meeting for those who compete, but your performance was captivating, Miss?—”

“Calia.” The first fake name that popped into my mind.

“I’m Gloria Esclar,” the fae says.

I don’t recognize it. “Your name says very little to me,” I say. I want to see how much she’s willing to give. “But nice to meet you, Gloria. I hope you’re the one who’s gonna make sure I get paid for the performance you were so impressed by.”

Gloria smiles. “I see you’re new around here, Calia. I’m the head of the Esclar family. The family who not only runs this wonderful establishment, but also owns it.”

Quickly, I open up my senses and find nothing. Gloria’s a Decarios, too. I make a mental note to find out if Esclars are one of the Ezkai families once I’m out of here.

“Then you’re definitely the person who’s gonna pay me,” I tell her. “And once you do, you’ll be my favorite person.”

“I’m more than happy to pay for your gifts,” Gloria says.

From the first drawer of her desk, she fishes out a silver cigarette case.

When she opens it, she first offers it to me, and after I refuse, she lights up a slim cigarette herself.

“But before that, tell me what a young, gifted human Decarios like you is doing so far from home?”

I don’t look away from her curious gaze. “Looking to make ends meet. Let’s say I’m not welcome in Wetra anymore, so I have to find a new place to call home.”

“Unfortunate for you,” she says, but there isn’t any pity or empathy in her voice. “Fortunate for me, though.”

I smirk. “How so?”

“I like to collect talent,” she says, smoke streaming past her lips with each word. “I pay well for it, but I require utmost loyalty.”

My stomach churns. Is this how they recruit new Caligos? “I’m listening.”

Gloria flashes me a toothy smile. “The only reason I run an extremely profitable establishment is because I make sure the house always wins. Talent like yourself, Calia, is how I make sure the house always wins. You see, we take bets on various brawls and competitions every day, allowing anyone who wants to make some money or build a reputation participate. Some of those competitions are not controlled, which helps build the hope that anyone can win. But, of course, there must be balance. So I have a number of talented folks who make sure not too many strays walk out of here with my money.”

“I see. Smart business,” I say. “What’s my cut as your talent?”

“You keep a healthy twenty-five percent of the profit you make me.” When my eyebrows rise, she chuckles.

“Before you say it’s not worth it, consider that as your reputation grows, the money gamblers bet on you will rise.

In no time, your cut will earn you more than what you would win if you were entering random competitions around the country.

And you only have to work a couple of nights a week.

If that can even be called work for you when you’re naturally gifted. ”

She weaves the words with such conviction, I’m almost tempted to accept her offer for real.

“So, all I have to do is show up here for a couple of nights per week and win a few rounds?”

“That’s where we start, yes. If that’s enough for you, then it’s where we leave it. However, if you prove yourself here, and you’ve got the ambition for more, I’m always willing to support my best talent. But that’s a conversation for a later date.”

Pursing my lips, I nod. For a moment, I pretend I’m thinking over everything she told me.

Finally, I say, “You got yourself a deal if you pay after every competition.”

Gloria nods. “Absolutely, I do.”

She grabs a pouch from one of her drawers and tosses it at me. It’s heavy in my hands. “That’s the full amount you won today.” She winks. “Don’t spend it all in one go.”

I snort a laugh and tuck the money into the pocket of my leather pants. There’s a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Gloria calls. To me she says, “We need to sign a contract to make it official, and then you’re free to go.”

I nod, and just as the door opens, I turn.

A familiar face pops up.

Fuck me.

Frozen, I watch Leti approach the desk. “Gloria, we’re preparing for another round of Ani-ki-ga . You want me or?—”

Leti notices and immediately recognizes me. My heart sinks when her eyes narrow. “ You .”

Gloria’s gaze snaps to Leti at her right. “You know Calia?”

No, no, no.

Leti cocks her head to the side, a sneer curling her lip. “She’s the new pet Daegel keeps. One of his cadets at Ezkai Academy.”

The moment the word Ezkai leaves Leti’s mouth, the air in the room shifts. I sense the bouncers approach me from behind, and Gloria tenses.

“Ezkai cadet, you say?” Gloria asks Leti, but her eyes are on me.

“Yes,” Leti says. “A Phantom Ranger.” Leti jerks her chin at me. “Where’s Daegel, little pet? Did he already get bored of you and drop you?”

The malice that flickers in her gaze makes my blood boil with rage.

Gloria tsk-tsks, shaking her head. “Calia, Calia, Calia. We don’t like Ezkai snooping around, even cadets.”

“Must be part of their training or something. After they lost their trained soldiers last time, they probably sent in trainee spies instead,” Leti says.

“I’m not a spy,” I say firmly. “I’m not even a fucking cadet anymore at the academy. If you haven’t noticed, Ekiosh aren’t friendly to humans, let alone the Order of Ezkai. There’s no place for someone like me amongst the ranks of the Ezkai.”

It’s a bold lie, and the chances that they believe me are extremely low. But I can’t give up now, not when I’m so damn close.

If I die here, the identity of who runs this place dies with me.

Leti narrows her gaze again, as if she’s trying to drill a hole in my head and find the truth there. Thank fuck Decarios can’t read each other’s emotions. Otherwise, I’d be fucked right about now.

“Is that right?” Gloria says. “Then why lie about it?”

“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t mention it,” I say.

Before Gloria can reply, the door swings open. When my eyes land on Daegel, my heart leaps in my chest.

His attention is not on me, though.

There’s a storm raging in those dark eyes, and he pins Gloria with his gaze. “If you lay a single finger on her, we’ll have a serious problem, Gloria,” he says, voice full of threat.

Gloria picks up another cigarette and sighs. “You’re just as dramatic as your father, Daegel.”