Page 84 of Malicent


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“This is horrible!” I wheeze, wiping away tears. My eyes snag on wrinkles around my eyes and mouth as my skin pulls up from the force of my laugh. As I giggle, my own expression is so foreign that I forget about the braid for a moment and study my own face.

“Ithoughtyou said you’d look beautiful in any hairstyle? See, your sister is clearly a liar!” he declares triumphantly.

My eyes drift up from the mirror to Cage, who’s staring at me with an emotion I can’t quite place.

“It looks like shit,” he adds coldly.

I roll my eyes. “Wow, it’s a marvel you’re still single.”

Cage smirks as he steps closer. “Single by choice, but my bed is never cold, little witch.”

Behind me, Felix snorts and flops back on the couch. “You have no class. That’s why every woman you bed ends up a scorned lover, pining and cursing your name. I swear they pray for your downfall, Cage.”

Cage shrugs and comes to stand beside me, his gaze dropping to Felix.

“I’m not a coddling caregiver like you. I’m honest: lust is the only thing I offer. You romance them. I don’t. My appetite is…rougher.”

He flicks a side glance at me from the corner of his eyes when he catches me staring.

“I think our dear king needs his beauty rest,” he says, “and you need to return to your room.”

Felix is starting to pass out.

I rise, wobbling on legs that haven’t stood in hours, and that isn’t to mention the three bottles of wine. The unsteadiness makes me giggle along with the dancing room, right before large, strong hands grab my arms.

“Please tell me you can walk,” Cage says, clearly annoyed.

“No, I forgot how to use my legs; of course I can walk! Unhand me!” I demand, yanking my arms free—only to fall flat on my ass.

I cross my arms and lift my chin, determined to show no sign of defeat.

Felix snorts out a laugh. “No! She can totally walk! Matter of fact, I want to watch this.” He crosses his feet at the ankles and tucks his crossed arms under his head as he grins down at me.

“You are stupid and stubborn, and your braid makes you look as insane as you are,” Cage grumbles, bending down to scoop me up.

“Put me down before I obliterate you,” I warn as he pulls me against his chest. One of his arms hooks under my knees, and the other wraps around my shoulders.

“Oh, I’m shaking in fear,” he deadpans, carrying me out of Felix’s study.

His sarcasm flies over my head in my drunken haze, and I wave goodbye to Felix just as we exit. “As you should be. Many tremble in my presence.” I grin, glancing down the hall.

A strange part of me takes enjoyment in being carried. I know he loathes this, and that only makes it better. The thought makes me kick my feet in joy.A free ride to my room while simultaneously annoying Cage?Jackpot.

He casts a sideways glance at my casually kicking feet. “I will be the kinder one between us and resist making you shake,” he murmurs.

I frown and look up at him, confused. “I willnevertremble in fear of you.”

His voice dips into something low and dangerous, a husky promise of some dark, hidden desires. “Who said it would be out of fear?”

I shut my mouth, my drunk brain fumbling to process the suggestive words, and my feet cease their kicking. Agitation pricks, demanding I argue back, but confusion forces me to shut my mouth as my brain struggles to process why it sounds like he desires to touch me. I’m drunk and losing it. Heat blooms on my cheeks as my flustered state ultimately silences me. I huff and look back down the hall; he’s already covered a lot of ground. Being tallreally does get you places faster.

When we reach the private hall, he carries me into my room, ignoring my insistence I can walk. He drops me onto the bedwith little ceremony, and I bounce once, giggling too hard to be upset.

“You are dismissed now,” I say, waving him off as I pull back the covers.

I yelp in surprise when he grabs my ankle and pulls me flat onto my back. The sudden motion sends the room spinning.

“Hey!” I whine, starting to sit up, only for his hand to press just above my navel, pinning me in place. The muscles in my stomach all tense.