Shadow Princess

Chapter Twelve: Cruel Prince

Julius slides into the tavern, the Fae murmuring to each other, their whispers full of talk about Jacob and the human girl. Jamie is in the back, talking quietly to a Fae male. Julius notices with humor, it is the male she slept with to push Jacob away. Mason turns his head and greets the other male with a hint of anger. The Fae male clenches his jaw, knowing who he is looking watching his words. Jamie senses his discomfort and looks up, meeting Julius's eyes. Her orange coloring darkens, losing the usual spark.

"Not what you were expecting, huh?" she growls, flinging Mason's hand off her arm as she prowls closer to him. The other male rolls his eyes and stalks outside, leaving Julius with the pissed off Fae.

"You told me the truth, but held a detail," he snipes back, "that she is married."

Jamie smirks, stopping her movement to him. "Business arrangement. The Chief needs an heir and a male beside her. You know the laws."

Julius frowns, leaning against the door way leading to the bedrooms above them. "Leilani wasn't supposed to become Chief." he spits, "She is the first female Chief in Silver City."

Jamie's eyes burn bright as the sun, anger a constant storm. "And for the first two years, this village and city rioted. She put the city back together, only to have your father declare war."

He bares his teeth, his fangs sliding out gracefully. "You cannot put his mistakes on me, Jamie. I had no business to try and stop him. The king does as he pleases."

"He shouldn't even be king!" she snaps, thunder boiling above them as her emotions get the best of her. Her orange eyes brighten like a flame.

"I am the Heir, Miss Nadolski." He replies in a calmer voice.

Her face twists with anger and she takes a threatening step towards him. Both of them knew each other's strengths and who would win if it came down to it. "You have the right as any Heir to challenge him for the title."

"And I would lose." he breathes, his jaw tight and painful as he mutters the words, "He is powerful, Jamie. And I need time to train and become better."

Her eyes die to their normal dim orange color as she acknowledges his defeat. The room quiets, the Fae dispersed while they argued. The crackle of the fireplace washes over him as he puts his head against the wall. The next question rises to the tip of his tongue and he tries to drown the curiosity that burns him when it comes to her.

"Anneth isn't five years old." The words left his mouth and her eyes meet his again when he tips his head up to gather her reaction.

Jamie sighs, the sound long and exasperated. "No. She is seven."

Anger darkens the room as his heart speeds up. "So, what was I?" he hisses between clenched teeth, "A distraction? Adultery?"

Jamie shrugs, a foul smile on her lips as she starts to wipe down the counter. "I do not know. The child is Jamal's. They've been put against each other for ten years now." she explains, "Jamal was the one Gabriel was apprenticing."

Julius holds in a flinch as the information sits in. The sky is lightening as the sun starts to reach it's peak. Leilani's face emerges and he reaches to scrub his face in distress. Sighing, he changes the subject. "Where did Jacob and Callista go?"

"He took the human girl on a tour of Silver City." Jamie growls, her voice dark. "Your king is on very dangerous ice by taking a human child, Julius."

A pinch of jealousy rises within him, but he shoves it down. Callista is a human girl his father is interested in and nothing more. He rolls his eyes at Jamie, making her face flush with anger. "Of course, he did. Such a gentlemen." he drawls, hoping to hide the jealousy that rises within.