“Leave,” I say sharply to the two guards as I rise to my feet. They nod before they’re backing out of the room and closing the doors behind them.
Kofu’s burning gaze turns to me now, the only target left in the room. “Aphaedra, someone needs to put an end to this.”
“It’s nothing, and it's certainly not enough for you to speak to Gerald and Magnus that way over,” I snap at him as my fists ball.
“It's not nothing, Aphaedra,” He shouts as he takes a step toward me.
I back away and glare at him. “Leave it alone.” This has been the one thing we’ve always argued about in our relationship. He doesn’t appreciate the way I’m treated, but I know no matter how many times I speak up, nothing will be done.
I’m nothing but a bastard after all. I’m barely any better than the servants.
“We need to speak with your brother and your father.”
“No,” I say sharply. He knows just as well as I do that my father is no better than those women. While my brother has always treated me better than my father has, there’s always been a line of how far he’d stick his neck out for me. His mother Diana, the queen, is more likely to protect me. Not that it’d actually help.
“Fine, if you won’t do anything about it, I will.” Kofu spins on his heel, heading for the door.
I shake my head as I watch him. “I said leave it alone.” My words crack through the air like a whip as a sharp breeze flows across the room. I take a breath and the breeze goes away. “Kofu,” I say softly. “Please, leave it alone.”
He turns and watches me, those beautiful eyes are full of disappointment and it's hard to see, but I won’t budge, we both know it.
“Aphaedra.” This time when he takes a step toward me, I don’t move away. His big hand drags the shoulder of my dress down as he surveys the damage. He shakes his head as he stares at it. “Why do you take this?” he questions.
“Because I’m strong, and I know that things won’t be like this forever.”
“Your powers,” he says lightly and I nod.
My powers are untameable, uncontrollable and the only reason I haven’t gone nuclear yet is because of the high-end scientist that my father keeps. Sure, they poke and prod at me, but they keep me from accidentally wiping out an entire kingdom, they keep me tame. If I were to rebel or leave, I’d lose the chance to be normal, to be in control of my powers. The only downside is until that happens not only will I have to deal with the bullying from the others, but I’ll be someone else's weapon.
It's the only reason my father took in his illegitimate daughter, because she had powers that could take out his enemies, that could wipe out another kingdom if he needed. It wasn’t because he loved me or because he wanted to get to know me. It was because at the age of four I lost control of my powers and killed everyone around me.
Just think of what she could do if she were in control, they were the first words I’d ever heard spoken from my father. Not, nice to meet you, I’m your father. Not, I’ve been searching for you. And certainly not, I love you.
He’d still never said those words and, in my heart, I knew he never would.
Tempests are known for their powers of the storm, but no one had power as strong as mine, at least that’s what everyone continued to say. Not even my brother’s power could rival mine and he’s next in line for the throne.
“It won’t be like this forever,” I repeat. I place my hand on top of Kofu’s where it still rests on my shoulder and my eyes meet his. “I just need to bide my time and then we can leave. We can head to one of the outer kingdoms and make a home for ourselves, make a family of our own.”
As soon as I gain complete control of my powers we won’t have to deal with this anymore.
For now, I’m the crown’s weapon and there’s not a thing I can do about it.
Chapter Four
I only allow myself another half an hour before I’m back on my feet. I change again, this time into a plain, white shirt without sleeves that melds to my body, firm. I pull on a pair of black pants made of thick leather and find my heavy, black boots, sliding them onto my feet.
A princess has no time to mope.
Not to mention that if I don’t show up to my duties, my father will undoubtedly send someone to find me and figure out why.
Kofu left ten minutes ago, saying that my brother was preparing to leave for a short meeting and he was to be a part of his guard detail.
With a sigh, I move to the door and lay my head against it, taking a deep breath.
You won’t always be in this situation, but for now you need to pull it together long enough to not bring any unwanted attention onto yourself. Stay strong and keep moving.
With a sigh, I pull the door open. Gerald is standing just across the hall and when he sees me, his eyes widen slightly. “Princess.” He moves forward, keeping his voice low. “Your husband told us that you weren’t to leave the room for the rest of the day.”
I tilt my head at that, glaring at Gerald as I ball my fists up. I may not be the toughest woman around, but I surely don’t appreciate the sentiment that I need a man to make my decisions for me. “Gerald. I am the princess and your boss, not Kofu,” technically my father is
