Page 19 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
The box hit down, shattering on impact and splintering into jagged shards as icy water exploded around me. The sensation of it smacking against my skin was like a thousand tiny needles stabbing into me. I gasped involuntarily against the sharp, merciless cold of the water searing into my skin, choking on the bitter tang of salt and lake muck.
Gods, it was so cold.
I was nothing but flailing legs and thrashing arms as I searched for the surface, my thoughts little more than fragmented flashes of panic.
Up. Air. Move.
My leg slid across a splintered shard of the wooden box and the point of it sliced through my calf in a violent rush. I screamed, the water swallowing the sound, as I grasped onto my wounded leg.
The water around me turned red as blood bloomed around me.
Eventually, even the pain from the wound faded as the icy chill of the water took over every one of my thoughts. I couldn’t think of anything, couldn’t feel anything, but the cold and the way it sunk into every one of my bones. My fingers burned. My toes went numb. I was hollow, being drug down by the chill.
I kicked again, but my movements were sluggish now, uncoordinated. Useless.
This was it.
This was the moment where I would end.
It really would be that easy to kill me.
“You’re back again.”
Hyrax sat at his dining table, Caldrius lounging in the seat at his side, looking far too relaxed with his hands crossed behind his dark head of hair. A modest spread of food lay before them, untouched, their focus entirely on each other—until I appeared, dripping wet and gasping for air.
“I didn’t want to be back!” I snapped, chest heaving. I wasn’t sure if I was more irritated with him or myself.
Caldrius chuckled softly, running a hand over his sharp jawline in a poor attempt to hide his amusement. My gaze snapped to him, hands planting on my hips as a flush of anger rolled through me.
“Do you find something amusing about this situation?” I hissed.
“Very much so.” His eyes traced over me, slow and unhurried like he wasn’t just looking at me, but memorizing me, seeing through me. Heat crawled up my spine as I glanced down at myself in confusion only to see that the water had left my silk nightgown practically transparent. I rushed to cover myself with an arm but Caldrius just kept staring, not even having the decency to attempt to hide where his attention was focused.
Hyrax, who had yet to acknowledge me, finally followed Caldrius’ gaze. His eyes widened in horror, and he turned abruptly. With a wave of his hand, a thick black robe lined with plush fur appeared on my shoulders, heavy and warm.
“My dear,” Hyrax chided, voice dry and sharp. “That is hardly appropriate attire.”
“Well, it’s not like I planned this little visit,” I shot back, wrapping the robe tighter around me.
He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath, “No, of course not.”
“She thinks she’s dying,” Caldrius mused, his lips curving slightly. “Again.” He didn’t look at Hyrax when he said it. His focus stayed on me, unwavering. “Either you enjoy our company, or you have a terrible sense of self-preservation.”
Gods, the way he looked at me. His attention was completely absolute, filled with more than just lust. Caldrius looked at me like he knew me. Like he had every right to study me, memorize every inch, as if I belonged to him in some way I didn’t yet understand.
Hyrax laughed suddenly, snapping my attention back to him. “Haven’t we been here before?”
I crossed my arms, glaring. “I’m not sure I understand your meaning.”
“You came here the last time you thought you were dying,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “You didn’t need me then and you don’t need me now. Return to your realm, Theadora. You’re more than capable of managing this silly trial.”
I scoffed, somehow… offended at being dismissed by him. It’s not like I wanted to stay in this realm any longer, but he’d never actually dismissed me before. And it stung in a way I hadn’t quite expected.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my words. “Were you two busy?”
“Yes, actually.” Hyrax’s tone cut like a whip. “In case you’ve forgotten, I have other demands on my attention beyond you. I also have a wife who needs my care, an entire realm to oversee, and a meeting to conclude with my Supreme Lieutenant.”
Supreme Lieutenant. I almost laughed aloud. What a ridiculous name for a position of authority.
