The Viper's Curse (The Viper's Den #1)

Chapter 8

"Excuse me?" Mohini spluttered.

"Did you think I would not recognize you?" The prince said as he sneered at her.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"What I mean is, you were at the market yesterday with that singer girl weren't you?"

"No, Mirza, I was not at the market," Mohini said quickly.

" Are you sure, darling?" The prince raised an eyebrow.

"Yes Mirza, I was resting, filled with fatigue from my travels."

The prince stared down at her. Then he walked across his chamber to sit on the khatta that was placed in the corner of his chambers.

"Come here, Mohini." The prince ordered.

Taking a small breath Mohini slowly made her way up to him.

"Why are you really here?"

Mohini stayed silent, pondering. Should she...

"I am here to serve you, Mirza, I will do whatever you ask me to do," Mohini said as she trailed her hand up his arm.

The prince looked at her hand as it trailed up his bicep before grabbing it and pulling her forward. Their faces were only an inch apart.

Mohini gulped as she stared into his gray eyes. If she thought he was handsome from a distance, Mohini thought he was devastatingly beautiful closeup. It was as if Lord Brahma himself personally took his time crafting this face, each part complimenting another. The only blemish, his scar, somehow made him more attractive.

"You will do anything I ask?"

"Yes, anything."

"Then strip."

Mohini's eyes widened as she looked at the prince.

"Excuse me, Mirza, did you just ask me to strip?"

"Yes, I did, you're a courtesan are you not? You are here to serve and satisfy me. The faster I use you, the faster I can get rid of you, he said with a dismissive wave.

Irritation flared to life in her chest. It wasn't new that courtesans were looked down upon in society. However, treating them as if they weren't humans always angered Mohini.

Glaring at the prince, Mohini took a step back and started to undo the knots. As the dress slid down her shoulder, she held it to her chest, trying to protect her modesty.

"When I say strip, I say strip. You don't need to be modest. That doesn't exist for your kind."

"My kind? What exactly is my kind, Mirza?"

"Courtesans. Modesty, dignity, and creatures like you do not go hand in hand."

The annoyance turned into anger. Accusations were something, but degradation was quite another.

She pulled her dress back up and started to redo the knots.

"Forgive me Mirza, but this courtesan has both modesty and dignity, and she will not give it up for men who insult her."

The prince looked back at her testily.

"Insult? I was merely stating the obvious. How can anyone who sells her body every night have dignity or modesty?"

Mohini closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. Calming herself, she looked at the prince who returned her gaze.

"Mirza, desperate times call for desperate measures."

With that, Mohini bowed her head, and left the room. As soon as the door shut, she ran all the way back to her chambers and burst through the door, panting.

All eyes turned to her. Fatima took her hand and brought her to the secrecy of their room.

"Well didi, were you successful?"

"I wasn't even able to get him into his bed." Mohini said as she flopped down on her cot.

"Didi! This was probably the only chance you had to get close to the prince!"

"You think I don't know that? I tried. But it's not my fault the prince is a spoiled and insufferable person."

"Didi! Be careful with what you say!"

"Oh really?" Mohini sat up and narrated all that had happened in the prince's chamber.

"I still think you could have used this opportunity. I am sure you have encountered more irritating figures while on your previous hunts. Why should this one be any different?"

"You're right. I think my personal dislike towards the emperor is clouding my judgment."

"Well, then get over it soon. We are only here for a week. Before we leave you must be successful."

Mohini sighed and laid back on the bed, "Don't worry, I will be successful."

Fatima laid down next to her, "I hope that holds true sister."

Mohini stared up at the ceiling, thinking about what to do next. Standard seduction obviously did not work on the prince. He was too closed off and intelligent to easily be swayed. Mohini had realized that she had to play with the prince emotionally and intellectually rather than physically. She had to find a way to make the prince come to her. But that was easier said than done. How was she to do that?

It suddenly struck her that the prince was a curious man. When they had met in the market, he had wanted to know the true reason behind her dislike towards the emperor. Earlier, when she was with the prince in his chambers, he was constantly questioning her intentions.

"Fatima! I think I got it." Mohini said as she rolled onto her side to face her friend.

"The prince cannot help but be curious. If he finds anything suspicious he cannot help but investigate. If I start acting a little suspicious, I am sure to get his full attention. I can use this to get close to him."

"Are you sure this will work?"

"I do not know, but I have to try. The prince does not rely on physical connections. From what I have gathered he likes to have a more intellectual connection. If I play the game he wants to play, I can make him play my game."

"All I can say is be careful, if the prince figures out what you are doing, you will be as good as dead."

"Fatima, do not worry about me, I will be careful. I promise."

Fatima gave Mohini a small smile and got up, pulling Mohini up.

"You are the only one who made all of us welcome, it will be nearly impossible to not worry about you," she turned Mohini around and started undoing the knots.

As she helped Mohini out of her dance costume and into more comfortable clothing, Mohini could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of love and protection. These girls were her reason to live, and making sure they were safe and protected was what made Mohini go on so many of her hunts. This one was no different; If the prince's downfall ensured the safety of her sisters, then there was nothing that would stop her.