Darkness and Beauty (The Fated Series, #1)

Chapter 12 - Fauna - Charles

Katarina - who I now have decided will be called Kat from here on out - left about ten minutes ago to do whatever it is she does in this castle. Darius hasn't come down yet, so I put my weapons back into their hidden slits in my suit and head up the stairs to his room. If I'm bored then I'm not doing my job, and I need to do my job.

I didn't do much other than lay upside down on one of the settees assuming that he'd be back when we were supposed to go see this cousin of his. Clearly, I was mistaken, and apparently, I have to fetch him like some sort of dog. I wouldn't have been surprised if he and his guard - who I now have decided will be called The Dozen just to make it easier - left without me. That is if I weren't so bored that I listened to every little whisper of noise that came from the hallway since the Dozen left.

I chuckled when their voices went from loud and boisterous to suddenly quiet as they passed my door.

Gods, their calves and thighs have to be in peak condition if they walk up these stairs daily. I nearly protested the idea of having to sleep on the way up here earlier, having to walk up seven flights just to reach my bed. Every floor would break off into a hallway we'd have to walk down before going up more stairs. Seven. Times.

And to think that I have to do this for Gods know how long.

My father's hundred step staircase from the lower levels to the House of Jade is torturous enough, but I rarely go down there anymore. If I want to train then I do so on the roof or in the garden or one of the abandoned factories in the western quarter of town.

I have no choice but to do so here. Though it makes sense as to why everyone in this damn castle is so thin. They have to trudge up and down stairs all day long.

By the time I reach his door another steep thirty stairs up, my thighs are near burning and I want to fall to the ground and take a nap. You'd think with all the training I do I'd be in a little bit more in shape to walk thirty steps.

Nope.

Two guards I don't recognize stand beside his double doors and look at me like they were expecting so much more from a Jade Assassin. Word travels fast if they aren't the least bit surprised to see The Ebony Nightingale approaching the Crown Prince's chambers.

"You two look like you're having a blast up here." They give me a dismissive glance, and I instantly know I'm about to have some fun. "So, I'm guessing this is where the real party is?"

No response. Fine.

"Do you two know where I could find his royal-crowned ass?" I point to the door between them. Their heads snap to me so quick you would've thought their necks had been snapped by a phantom wind.

"You dare call the Crown Prince of Vandaria an ass?"

I dramatically sigh in faked relief at the blue-eyed one. "Oh, thank the Gods, you do speak. I was worried you buzzards would be boring." I lean against the wall on my right, still standing down a step.

"Watch your mouth," The other guard warns through his teeth.

"That's physically impossible unless I'm looking in a mirror," I remark, feeling the familiar tingle of joyous teasing settling in my skin.

"Will she ever shut up?" The blue-eyed guard comments to the other.

"Only if she wants to," I reply evenly.

"So never?"

"Well I'd hate for our time together to be boring."

"Then why not make it fun in other ways?" The second guard prompts, giving me a lazy smile. He has dark brown eyes and matching hair from what I can see under his gold helmet.