“We’re only about three days away from the sea,” the Reaper announces.
“The sea?” I ask, thinking of my dream with Kane.
If the beaches are full of golden sand and blue skies roll overhead, I’ll try my hardest to get him into the water. A wet Kane causes all sorts of feelings to rush through me and I let out an unladylike snort. The bewildered expression on his handsome face only causes me to laugh harder.
He looks at Willem with a quirked brow, but the Reaper only shrugs irritably. “Yes, the sea. It’s our only way of reaching Archech.”
Kane’s eyes flood with black for a second before returning to normal. “There’s a village nearby.”
I watch him with obvious admiration. Did he use his powers to enhance his vision? With so much power already in hand, why does he need the crown? I want to ask him these questions but each time we gravitate towards one another, Willem shoots us a look of disapproval. Though I now know what the journey is for, I still don't have even the slightest understanding as to what role I play in all of this. Kane is still vague when I ask or some other threat against our lives drives us out of one of the territories.
But a village means people and people usually means an inn where I can take a bath. I close my eyes and groan at the thought of scrubbing the dirt, grime, blood, and ash from my body. When Kane smelled my hair the other night, I thought I would die of embarrassment, but the man seems unfazed by it.
Following Kane’s lead, we make it to the village before noon. The sky is lighter here than other areas of the underworld, more like a shade of yellow than orange and purple more than crimson, but beautiful, nevertheless. We ride through the streets as people glare up at us. They’re even so bold as to cut through Kane’s path.
I open my mouth to ask Willem, but his glare shuts me down. Kane grabs my hand and explains the sudden hostility. “The village is far from the capital. I doubt they hold the same loyalties as those in the city. It’s likely they don’t even recognize me as their king.”
“But you’re more than a king, you’re a god,” I argue.
Kane flashes another wink in my direction and I fight the urge to fan my blazing cheeks. Three guards appear in armor that’s different than what the castle guards wear. They obstruct our path, but seem more polite than the villagers themselves.“Welcome to Phaendar, strangers. Our leader requests to see all newcomers who pass through town before allowing them to roam freely.”
I expect Kane to protest, but he gives a curt nod instead. The shock of it nearly causes me to fall from the saddle. Phaendar guards lead us to the stables where three young boys wait to tend to the horses. Kane walks ahead with Willem and once again I am left to trail behind them like a lost pup. We enter some sort of council room. A beautiful woman stands at the center. Six robed men surround her. I feel the warmth of a fire and smell the wood burning, but there’s no hearth in sight. Magic. My hackles rise when the woman sashays over to Kane.
She practically licks him with her eyes and I feel the strange need to bury my dagger into her sockets until blood spills from between my fingers. Such violent urges have never crossed my mind before. I move to stand beside my betrothed as the woman offers her hand. There’s something about her that strikes me as familiar. She smiles broadly and I see fangs. The darkness of her eyes confirm my suspicions. Vampire.
“I am Elluine. Phaendar is under my protection,” the woman says. Seduction wraps around her words.
Suddenly I can feel the dirt on my skin and overwhelming insecurities cause me to lower my gaze. Kane kisses the back of the woman’s hand and introduces himself. “Kane Enfer of the line of the Gods. This is quite an establishment you have here.”
Elluine bows at the waist, showing a respect to her king that the others failed to do. Her guards and the others in the room follow suit. I wait patiently for Kane to introduce me, but he does not. He even fails to notice Willem.
“Please stay here for the night,” Elluine offers. “It would be our pleasure. Freshen up and get a good night’s rest and in the morning, I can help you arrange provisions for the rest of your journey.”
I look on in silence as Kane talks to the beautiful village leader. They discuss everything from vampire taboos to the mundane tasks of leading a people. These are things I can’t hope to compete with. Willem is right. As a princess, I’m practically useless even in my own kingdom. And since arriving in the underworld I have yet to do a single act of any value.
After a while, Kane and I follow a servant upstairs. They leave us alone in the room and I feel his gaze on me once more, but I shake it off.
A warm bath sits in the corner. Without thinking, I strip out of my clothes and sink into the fragrant waters. Kane stands in the center of the room watching me, his eyes roving over my curves. I push away the explosion of heat it causes, and keep a simple gaze, staring away from him.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks gruffly.
I watch the droplets of water roll down my hand. “Nothing.”
He sighs deeply and continues to watch me. I am not budging from my stance. I’m tired of beautiful women, of jealousy, of dirt. I need
