𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter twenty-five

Emriana

"I'll join you guys later," I said as I carried the heavy buckets of paint down the hallway.

"See you later, Emri," Dana called from the chapel door. My steps were slow as I tried to balance the bucket so that no paint went onto the marble floor.

"Akira! Move away. You're going to make me fall," I stepped aside from the tiger when he walked right in front of me. The animal growled as he was glued to my hip.

"Please," I said, going diagonally across the hallway, trying not to fall over him. Akira gritted his teeth. I sighed.

"Having trouble, princess?" I practically broke my neck from how fast I turned around. My eyes went wide at Zeke, leaning against the hallway, a glass of whisky in hand. His crystal blue eyes danced with amusement as he watched me struggle with the animal.

I rolled my eyes, walking away once the initial shock of seeing him wore off. His low chuckle caught my ear, and I hated how it sent shivers down my spine.

My heart began to accelerate when I felt his presence on my left. I threw him a pressed-lip smile as I continued to walk.

"This is not the greeting I was expecting," he pointed out, and I smiled.

"Sorry to disappoint you,"

"You could never disappoint me, princess," he teased me, and I rolled my eyes, even if my face grew hot at his words.

He finished the last sip and threw the glass across the wall, and my mouth dropped open as he continued to walk as if nothing had happened.

"Zeke!" I exclaimed, noticing how the guards looked at us in horror.

Zeke turned around, almost skipping like a child.

"What, princess?"

"This," I motioned to the debris on the floor. "You can't do that. You have to clean it up,"

He narrowed his eyes at me as I lowered the paint buckets to the floor carefully, pushing them to the side of the hallway.

"Sorry to break it to you, but I don't clean," he shrugged arrogantly, and I sighed.

"Well, good thing there's a first time for everything," I said, grabbing his wrist and dragging him toward the utility closet I was heading toward. I ignored how he tensed when I touched him as I pulled him inside.

"Grab the broom and the dustpan," I ordered with narrowed eyes, crossing my arms over my chest.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Come on," I motioned with my chin, and he shook his head.

"Princess, I'm not going to do that," he chuckled.

"Why did you throw it then? Somebody has to clean it up now. This is your fault," I said, raising my voice and getting angry at his childishness.

"Who do you think you are telling me what to do? You can clean it yourself if you fucking want," I looked away from him, staying quiet rather than reacting to his outburst. I grabbed the broom and the dustpan and left the closet without saying a word.

His steps echoed behind me, but I spared him no looks as I headed back to the mess. I could feel his angry gaze burning into my side. I kneeled on the floor and began to gather the glass into a pile. Thankfully, the glass was easy to gather and I was able to sweep out the area.

His huge body let out a thud as he kneeled next to me, and I threw him an aggravated look. His icy blue eyes lingered on my face before he covered my hands with his own, stopping my movement.