Prisoner of Chaos (Redemption Book #4)

Chapter 29

Kyla

"Did you enjoy your breakfast, Princess Kyla?" King Lionel asks from across the table, his gaze hasn't left me since I've sat down. I know he's trying to make me uncomfortable, but I tilt my chin up.

Rift loves me. I can live happily the rest of my life knowing this.

"There's something different about you," Sylvia comments, taking a bite of fish from her plate. "What do you suppose it is?"

I meet her gaze. "The truth is, I'm feeling much better. Your brother is a good man and I'm lucky for it."

"My brother only wants you for protection," Sylvia snorts and throws her napkin from her lap. "I bet it doesn't come as a surprise to you that I don't like this match."

"You're right, I'm not surprised," I say, dabbing my lips with my own napkin daintily. "But I'm sure you'll warm up to me." I let my eyes flash red for a moment with the word "warm" because I guess Rift is inspirational to me.

Sylvia huffs and stomps off. Wes enters the room, as if he's in a rush.

"Excuse me, I apologize for being late for breakfast," he says, tucking his shirt in as he sits down at the table. His blonde hair is tousled as if he'd just done something that included vigorous movement.

I cock my head at him, but I don't ask him what's going on. Did he already take a mistress since my declaration to him the other night? We hadn't seen each other much the days following our engagement celebration.

"Do you truly believe our people will ever accept you as a queen, Princess Kyla?" King Lionel asks, ignoring Wes' abrupt entry.

"What do you mean by that?" I ask him, taking another bite of the ridiculously over-cooked meat they've served me. My beast is not pleased with this. She wants something raw and bloody to tear into after giving birth.

"Wes, do you believe Kyla will make a good queen?" Lionel turns to his son.

"What?" Wes glances up, obviously distracted from what has been going on. His eyes don't meet mine, they go everywhere but to me.

He's guilty about something.

"I asked if you think Kyla will make a good queen?" Lionel repeats. He narrows his gaze at Wes and sets down his knife and fork.

"She'll make me a fine queen, everyone will fear her," Wes says dismissively. Suddenly his eyes meet mine and immediately I see shame there.

"I think I shall retire to my room, excuse me," I say, rising from my seat. "If you'd like to speak with me, my prince, just knock."

"Of course," Wes says, blinking at me once. His eyes go back down to his plate. I want to know what is going on with him. Maybe I made the wrong decision in being honest with him. Maybe he doesn't think I'm attracted to him and it hurts because I'd spent naked time with him and show no desire to explore that and I'd heard him suggest taking a mistress and hadn't acted jealous.

Or maybe he's simply embarrassed about all that has gone on between us.

Huh, with Rift, I never get an inclination of insecurity. His ego doesn't bruise, and he's not afraid of saying what he want to. Rift doesn't give a fuck that I have an immortal monster side to me, he talks to me how he wants.

I ponder whether in Wes' eyes I'm far too powerful to be honest about his feelings without fear of angering me.

I settle next to the window in my room to think of ways to win Wes back over. Why do I have to be so honest? Why can't I just con Wes into backing me up in this war?

I'm not a user, but as Rift and I once talked about, using Wes to accomplish something good for the kingdom basically rights my deception. Also, I haven't yet told Wes I'm not pregnant anymore.

Don't tell him about the egg, it's safe, away from all of this, my inner beast's desires are too strong to ignore, and she's right. I don't need to tell anyone about Rift and I's baby. If Rift decides to stick around and live, then we will leave all of this behind.

I'll take a tropical island over Erlund's icy mountains any day.

"How are you doing, Princess?"

I jump, my eyes burning red from instinct, and whirl around to find Rift stretched out on my bed, boots still on, and his eyes closed as if he might take a nap there.

"Rift, why can't you just pretend to be normal and knock?" I hiss, eyes still their Cursed red.

"If I did I wouldn't get to see those scarlet eyes flashing at me," Rift says, opening one eye at me with a grin. "So scary!"

"You son of a bitch," I mutter under my breath. Shaking my head at him.

"Language, language," Rift tsks. "And here I thought you'd be glad to see me."

My eyes cool, and I can't help a snort of laughter at him. "Actually, I am."

"Care to join me?" He asks, patting next to him on the bed.

I shrug and plop down next to him, but take a glance down at his boots, "you know, you should take off your shoes before--" the boots vanish.

"Alright, fine, anything else I should take off?" Rift says, turning on his side to face me with a suggestive twinkle in his eyes.

"No, you can leave everything else on," I say, grinning at him wickedly. "So what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to ask you how things went with Wes," Rift asks.

I go into every detail, not leaving out Wes' unusual behavior this morning and including my suspicions.

"You might be right," Rift says thoughtfully. "I do know he's intimidated by you. It's not impossible he feels a lack of manliness in your presence. Most lesser men do."

"You don't," I point out.

"That's because I've got you tamed and eating out of the palm of my hand," Rift says smugly.

I shiver at his implications, but give him an indignant shove. "Oh, you, psh!" It's all I manage in my frustration.

"Yes, the Princess can't even put together proper sentences when I'm around," Rift gloats, laughing at me.

"What have you been doing then?" I ask changing the subject with a red face.

"I know how I'm going to defeat the Dark Lord and live happily ever after with you," Rift states, his eyes alight with merriment.

"Care to share?" I ask.

"Simple, I'm giving him back his body," Rift says, his face utterly somber suddenly.