A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Four*¬*

      Kneeling before her, I catch Althea as she tips forward her face aiming for the carpeted floor. Holding her to my chest, I brush the hair from her face and shush her when she tries to speak, her voice soft and garbled by the fabric of my shirt. She reaches up and brushes a lock of hair out of my face. The movement causes me to still. Causes my heart to hammer in my chest but still I whisper, "I'm here." Her eyes roll back into her head and Thea passes out. Her body relaxes as sleep takes her away. I see the faint ring of bruises that appear on her throat, fading quickly thanks to her Fae healing, but not fast enough to erase what he did here. A replica of the markings my mother had when my father would go into raging fits and hurt her. He did horrible, sexually violent things to my mother but since I was a child I couldn't do anything to stop them. I had to sit there and watch as she put up with it.

I was afraid my father influenced Augustus, I was afraid that he could have ended up like him; that either of us could. Now I see that one of my fears came true.

Her lips are swollen, flecks of blood staining her lower lip almost as if she'd bitten him. I hope she did. Mu fury is a thunderclap in my chest.

"Arrow!" I shout for her, needing her to be here. To help me with Thea and to ensure that no one comes in here while I am away.

Arrow arrives shortly, bowing her head, "Yes sir?"

"I need you to stay with Miss Althea. To ensure no unwanted guests come crawling in here." When she sees Althea lying prone in my arms, her eyes widen.

"What happened to her?"

I snarl, "My brother." Pinching the bridge of my nose, I inhale to settle myself. Feeling the murderous edge begin to wear off I say, "I, unfortunately, must proceed with the small rounds of dates planned for this evening. But when I return, I will be having words with my sibling." Arrow nods, her eyes filled with worry.

"I will guard her with my life." Nodding, I scoop Thea up and place her upon the bed, settling the blankets around her before gently brushing the hair from her face. Turning towards the door I storm out of the room, knowing that I won't be able to focus on the dates and it'll be a battle of wills not to murder my brother. But the murdering can wait, at least for a few hours.

⤗

         I find my brother pacing in his room hours later.

"What the hell did you do!?" I snapped upon entering his chambers. Augustus pauses before the roaring fire in his room, laying a hand on the mantle and staring into the flames, "Why are you taking her side?" His voice is low, but the anger rumbling through it causes my fists to clench.

"I'm not taking her side. She's here as my guest, as are the other females. You are to treat them equally with respect while they're here. That is how it's always been." But he keeps staring at the fire, staring and staring into it.

He raises his injured hand and hisses, "Do you not see what she did to me?" Then he peels his lips back and shows me his tongue. The angry welt that's blossomed on it.

She did bite him. Good. Shrugging I snarl, "You deserved that. Both of them. You have a bad habit of touching what isn't yours."

Augustus snorts, "Touching what isn't mine? She's not yours either Kaz. I don't get what your obsession with her is." I feel defensive. Protective of her.

"I'm not obsessed with Thea. I've just never seen someone stand up to you before and not want to shit themselves."

Augustus snarls, "Yeah and if she ever does that again, I will kill her."
A violent chill ripples down my spine. The force of my fury leaves the dust in the room quaking. "You will do no such thing." Augustus turns to me now, leaving the warmth of the flame in his peripheral, "Oh... I get it now."