Here, it was unifying.
“Your Highness, it is so wonderful to see you back home once more.” The female who spoke, her voice deep and soothing, was standing directly ahead of us.
She wore a sky blue gown that traveled tightly down her body, highlighting her every curve, the train at least five feet long. It was the type of extravagance one might see at a ball rather than casually walking through a corridor. Her hair was a blonde so light it was almost white, eyes nearly the shade of honey. They reminded me of Sipho’s. Yet on this demon, they held anger rather than curiosity. Like revenge left to boil, her golden eyes stirred with heat.
“Revanche, how are you?” Bellamy responded, his voice curt. I noted the way this female eyed Bellamy, as if she might kiss him—or perhaps eat him.
A far cry from how her eyes scrutinized me. Her thoughts, somehow both loud and flat, projected my way.
Who does this little tart think she is, walking into the palace on Prince Bellamy’s arm? She is not even pretty. Look at her ragged hair. Probably found her in a brothel and cannot shake her.
I simply could not help myself.
“Actually, Ree—can I call you Ree? Who am I kidding, of course I can. Anyways, Ree, he found me in a palace. Though a brothel does sound fabulous right about now. In fact, Prince Bellamy and I were just discussing exhibitionism. I am known to be quite shy, but for you, lovely Ree, I can make an exception,” I said, voice of sugar and ice.
The female blanched, but I did not see what she did after that because I turned and pulled Bell down by his tunic, bringing our lips together.
Either Bellamy was not fond of Revanche, or he simply did not care, because he met my kiss with full force. His tongue was on mine for mere moments before he began tracing his way down my neck with his lips, hand holding my chin up. Still, I managed a quick wink to the now raging female before us.
Bellamy stopped his slow torture, bringing his mouth to my ear, whispering to me in a voice of gravel and lust, “I am not done with you, wicked creature.”
I looked at him, truly taking him in. His dark waves were exceptionally unruly from the ride here but also from my hands finding their way into them. His cheeks were tinted red, from excitement or embarrassment I did not know. But it was the adoration I saw in his face that made me feel like the only female in existence, leaving me too stunned to speak.
“Where is the king, Revanche?” he asked the female, his eyes never leaving mine.
For a moment, I could have sworn a bit of black swirled in his irises, like ink spilling into blue waters. With a blink it was gone, and I was suddenly not sure I had seen it at all.
“King Adbeel is away. If that was where you were headed, it might be best to think of something else to do. Father needed his help in Andreia,” she responded, still seething. Then she looked my way, a smirk on her face. “My father is Judson Garnier, Lord of Andreia.”
Her pride at her father’s title truly rounded out her character, telling me everything I needed to know about her. I desperately wanted to tell her that I was a princess, that I was The Manipulator, that I was Bellamy’s lover. Anything to rile her. Instead, I nodded, smiling.
“Well, that is fine. It gives me time to show Ash around,” Bellamy said with a broad, dimpled smile on his face. “If you will excuse us, Revanche.”
“Wait!” she exclaimed, putting her hand on his chest to stop him. I quietly raged at the sight of her hands on him. Touching what was so clearly mine. “I have missed you, Bellamy. I see you have brought a friend, but what of me? What of the time we spent together? Does the agreement between our fathers mean nothing to you?”
At that, Bellamy’s eyes widened, peering my way in a panic. He looked as if he might take me and run or beg on his knees. I rolled my eyes, pressing past Bellamy’s simmering wall of fire and into his mind. Where he was obviously expecting me to be.
I am not some jealous fool, Bellamy. I do not care that you slept with this female, though I am interested in this agreement. But for the love of Eternity, put the poor thing out of her misery.
“Revanche, this is Asher. She is not a mere friend. She is the love of my life and the female I plan on spending the rest of my existence with. There will be no other, regardless of our fathers’ desire for us to be wed someday. Now, if you will excuse us, I would like to show Asher the palace I grew up in. Please do not disturb us again.”
With that, Bellamy grabbed my hand and began walking us down the corridor. One final look at Revanche had me nearly bursting into laughter. Her jaw was practically hanging on the floor, eyes bulging and tan skin flushed. She had her hands balled into tight fists at her sides, and there was a murderous tone to her thoughts. I smirked, turning away from her.
“That was incredibly sexy, Elemental,” I said, poking him in the ribs as we wove through the palace.
He laughed, tugging my body to his. One arm was wrapped casually around my shoulders, and I found myself subconsciously reaching my hand up to hold his at my shoulder.
Strange and unsettling, that was what this peace and comfort was. Never had I felt this carefree, and I wondered when it would all come crashing down. Though, in truth, I knew when.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, trying to shake the awful thought from my mind. There was no use in ruminating on what would be. That only served to steal away the small piece of happiness I had cultivated.
Bellamy’s smile grew infinitely wider, his excitement seeping from him. He was practically bouncing as we continued down the many halls, the sun creeping down the sky, casting a vibrant yellow-orange hue to the white walls.
“Somewhere you will love,” he responded.
I scoffed, hating not knowing. My power pressed out, testing his mental shield to see if it was still purposefully weakened. Sadly, it was not, the black flames nearly lighting fire to my mind.
Just as I was considering ways I might force the information out of him, we paused in front of a set of blue double doors, the demon sigil proudly etched into them in their signature colors.
