I held the loose pants and shirt out in front of me. “Not the most practical colour for rolling about in the dirt and getting splattered with blood, is it?” I asked her, catching her eye despite the fact she was trying not to look at me.
“Umm...” she hesitated, clearly not wanting to disagree with me while not wanting to insult the traditional garment either. “I’m sure it will look very fetching on you, sire.”
“Most things do,” I agreed and a faint blush rose in her cheeks.
“That will be all, thank you,” Cassian said firmly and the servants scampered away, bringing the cart with them before pulling the door closed behind them. “Stop flirting with every female you see,” he snapped, pointing at me.
“I’ll try, Cassian. But honestly that’s like telling me to stop breathing.” I dropped down before the feast and filled a plate with a bit of everything on offer.
“If you eat too much you may get a cramp during the brawl and-”
“Where I come from, you don’t ever turn your nose up at free food,” I interrupted before he wasted any more energy trying to warn me off of filling my stomach. “You never know for sure when you’ll get to eat again.”
Cassian sighed and started on his own food too. “Fine, but don’t come crying to me if it happens.”
“I’m sure the Princess will be more than happy to console me while she’s wiping the blood of my opponent from my flesh.”
“Don’t get cocky, you haven’t won yet,” he reminded me.
“I was born cocky, mate. That’s like telling the sky not to be blue.”
“Would you like the sky to be orange instead?” Kyra asked, raising a hand like she was about to change it.
“No!” Cassian and I said at the same time and I smirked at him.
We finished our food quickly and I changed into the outfit required for the brawl. It fit me well and I couldn’t help but run my hands over the expensive material appreciatively.
Kyra changed her dress into a deep red with silver gems glittering around the hem. She gave Cassian new clothes too and the three of us looked like a group of highborn assholes who I definitely would have taken pleasure in robbing blind.
Cassian led the way from our chambers through the palace and out into the sweeping decorative gardens. The sun was beating down as usual and we took a twisting path between raised flower beds and arching pergolas covered in flowering vines. Eventually a fighting ring cordoned off with red and white silk sashes appeared at the foot of a long lawn.
A row of wooden stands were raised beyond it where around a hundred highborn men and women sat waiting for the show to begin. To the right of the ring, a stage had been erected with a silk awning providing shade above three intricately carved wooden chairs.
Lord Kalaviv arrived ahead of me, surrounded by an entourage of twenty guards. He waved to the crowd and they cheered him on as he pranced back and forth before them, hopping up and down like some weird bird.
“What’s he doing?” Kyra asked in confusion.
“Warming up for the bout,” Cassian murmured. “I suggest you do the same,” he added to me.
“Not really my style. He looks like a damn idiot. Besides, it’s already plenty warm enough out here for me,” I replied dismissively.
A huge cheer went up from the crowd and I looked around as Emperor Fasil, Queen Gothel and Princess Rapunzel approached from the rear of the stage. They climbed up and took their seats, smiling at their subjects as they acknowledged the praise.
Rapunzel’s eyes glimmered with unease as so many people looked upon the face that had been hidden for eighteen years and I felt a surge of pity for her. I wondered if she was even enjoying any of this?
Cassian stilled beside me, staring at her face with his lips parted and a look in his eyes that said she was all he could ever want in a woman. My gaze raked over her again and I could definitely see the appeal but I wasn’t sure the drool was entirely called for.
“Kyra?” I asked, turning away from the Princess to look at her. “What’s that flower that only blooms once every ten years on that cactus that only grows in the heart of the desert?”
“An Alorian Bloom,” Cassian responded. “No one’s seen one for the last few years as far as I understand. Though there are many pictures depicting the beauty of-”
“I’ll have one of those please, Kyra. And make it subtle,” I interrupted.
The genie smiled at me conspiratorially as she cupped her hands together to create the flower before handing it to me. It was as big as the palm of my hand and I eyed the layers of mauve and pink petals with interest for a moment as I muttered a thanks.
I slipped the flower beneath my sleeve as we headed down to the ring. A smattering of applause came as the crowd noticed our arrival but I didn’t care that Lord Kalaviv had gotten a bigger cheer than me. They’d be screaming my name once I had him pinned in the dirt. And for the moment there was only one person here I was interested in impressing.
I moved beyond the ring and headed straight for the stage, my gaze fixed firmly on the Princess.
Her lips parted in surprise as I skirted the guards who stood before the stage, hopping up onto it before any of them realised I’d gotten by.
The crowd hushed in surprise and I was vaguely aware of Gothel frowning at me as I dropped to my knees before the Princess, keeping my eyes fixed on hers the whole time.
“I got you a gift dear wife,” I said, giving her my best smile.
“A gift?” she asked curiously.
“Yes, but you have to close your eyes first,” I instructed.
She hesitated a moment before letting her eyes fall shut.
I reached out and caught her hand, placing the flower into it as she gasped and the whole crowd fell completely silent.
I brushed my fingers over her wrist slowly, smirking at the blush which found her cheeks before I let go.
“Is that an Alorian Bloom?” Gothel asked in unveiled shock.
“Only the best for my love,” I murmured, throwing Rapunzel a wink before getting to my feet again and taking a running jump from the stage. I soared over the heads of the guards and rolled as I landed in the ring, regaining my feet quickly.
Lord Kalaviv stared at me in surprise from the opposite side of the ring as the crowd all broke into applause and I flashed my dimples at them. It looked like they’d changed their mind about who to root for.
A guard stepped into the centre of the ring, beckoning both of us closer and I forced myself to walk towards him in the stick-up-my-ass way that Cassian had shown me.
My eyes slipped over the captain who had arrested me outside the Countess’s house and my heart leapt but my smile didn’t waver. His gaze slid over me then away before snapping back again as recognition hit him. But he couldn’t work out why, I could see it in his eyes. I turned my gaze to my opponent instead of him, dismissing him as if he was irrelevant and not a possible threat to my cover. Aladdin the thief was nowhere near as polished and well dressed as Aladdin the Count and I’d never given my name when I was arrested so I was confident that I could front him out.
“Count Nazari, Lord Kalaviv, are you ready to begin?” Captain Marik asked formally, seeming to dismiss the idea that he knew me so that I could release the tension coiling in my gut.
I fought back the cocky response which sprang to my lips and nodded firmly instead.
“Then please bow to your opponent.”
I held Kalaviv’s eye as the two of us fell into a formal bow and the guard retreated, leaving us alone in the ring. I stood upright again, waiting for the command to begin as my heart pounded with anticipation and excitement coiled in my gut. I was at home here. Fighting in the ring had been a daily occurrence in the den and I knew this peacock didn’t stand a chance against me, no matter how many war accolades he’d claimed.
Kalaviv’s bright eyes glimmered with confidence but that was okay. No one liked an easy opponent.
“And... commence!” Captain Marik shouted and Kala
viv leapt at me.
I ducked aside, resisting the urge to trip him as I aimed a punch for his face. He took the blow, following it with one of his own which collided with my shoulder as the crowd cried out in excitement.
We fell into a dance, matching blow for blow as I fought against my instincts time and again, trying to play this part and missing more and more opportunities to land the kind of hit it would take for me to win.
Kalaviv lunged at me, his knuckles colliding with my jaw and I snarled angrily, grabbing his arm and twisting it sharply behind his back. Cassian caught my eye from the front of the crowd and I cursed as I twisted my grip on Kalaviv’s arm and launched him away from me instead of trying to break it. Fighting honourably was no fun at all.
Kalaviv shook his arm out as he maintained his distance from me and the crowd hummed with anticipation as we slowly began circling each other.
I wished I had a rock which I could launch at his pompous face to distract him long enough to place a knife in his gut but as we weren’t allowed to fight with weapons, I guessed none of that counted as honourable either.
I abruptly stopped circling, refusing to keep up this pretty game.
Kalaviv eyed me and my lip pulled back as I ran at him, not subtle, but it would sure as hell get the job done.
He lurched aside before I could collide with him, his foot somehow catching mine and sending me tumbling to the sandy floor of the ring. Before I could right myself, the Lord was upon me, throwing fists as I fought to buck him off of me.
I threw my weight sideways before Captain Marik could start counting and Kalaviv rolled away from me before I could follow him with my own attack, springing to his feet with a smirk.
I closed the distance between us without bothering to assess his next move, swinging for his head so that he was forced to retreat. My attacks grew wilder and I knew I was beginning to slip across the line Cassian had drawn for me but this bastard was really starting to get on my nerves and I wanted to wipe the smile from his face. He kept retreating and I kept advancing, the crowd egging me on with their excited cheers.
Finally, I slammed a fist into Kalaviv’s gut and he stumbled back, allowing me to trip him. He crashed to the ground and I fell on top of him, throwing my fist into his face. He was pinned beneath me as I hit him again and Captain Marik started counting.
“One! Two! Three-”
Kalaviv swore like a common street thug and threw a punch straight at my throat.
That’s more like it.
I grinned at the dirty tactic as I lurched backwards and he grabbed the material of my shirt, yanking me back towards him as he rolled me beneath him.
He slammed a fist into my jaw and I cursed at the injury to my face as the guard started counting again.
Kalaviv didn’t release his grip on my shirt and I snarled in anger as the stupid garment was used against me and no one did anything about the violation of the rules.
“-Three! Four-”
I threw myself forward, slamming my forehead into the bridge of his nose and hearing bone break as blood flew and he was knocked off of me, crying out in pain.
I leapt to my feet, ripping my shirt off as he clutched his face, his eyes simmering with rage. But there were no rules against head butting and I smirked at him as I prepared to finish this once and for all.
My heart pounded. His blood coated my skin.
He wasn’t making this easy for me but I refused to back down. Everything I’d come here for depended on me winning this fight and I wasn’t going to leave this ring as anything less than victorious. But to do that I was pretty sure I’d need to bend a few of Cassian’s new rules on my fighting technique. And after Kalaviv’s dirty trick with my shirt, I refused to play by the rules anymore. If it was alright for the nobility to fight dirty then it was sure as hell okay for me.
It’s time to show this Princess exactly what her husband can really do.
I watched the brawl with so much tension writhing through my body that I almost crushed Aladdin's gift in my hand. The flower was the rarest in the twelve kingdoms. We'd once had the cactus in the gardens but even that had failed to flower for several years despite the gardeners' best efforts and then the thing had died. Where the hell did he get it?
Aladdin was fast becoming the most mysterious person I'd ever encountered. Not that I'd met that many people in my life. Not up close anyway. And when he got up close, it was like the air crackled with energy. He gave off the sort of aura that said he owned everything and everyone in the vicinity. I didn't know how much I liked that. There were plenty of people in this world willing to own me, and he was definitely one of them. But still...there was something intriguing about him.
Aladdin threw a bone-cracking punch to Kalaviv's jaw and the crowd sucked in air. My heart stumbled and adrenaline surged.
I'd never felt so alive. The scent of blood and sweat hung heavily in the air. How is this deemed proper?
I liked that it was feral, I liked the way the audience held their breath and all eyes were locked on the fierce match instead of me for once. I relished the heat flooding my veins, the dryness of my mouth, the fear and excitement tangling into one illuminated being inside my chest.
This is what living is and I want more of it. More more more.
Aladdin started moving in a way that was anything but formal. I'd visited the guards' training grounds on occasion out of duty and seen them train but this was nothing like that. He was becoming more animal with every punch, every kick. Kalaviv couldn't keep up. Perhaps the Lord's muscles were more for show than landing hits. Maybe his heroic reputation had been bullshit after all.
They're all liars and creeps. But Aladdin is completely authentic. And I've swallowed so much falsity in my life it feels good to meet someone who doesn't pretend to be something he's not.
As Aladdin landed another blow to Kalaviv's chest, I found myself rising from my seat. My attendants hurried to mimic me and I shared a brief look with Zira, her eyes alight with anticipation. Kalaviv aimed a harsh kick at Aladdin’s chest and he hit the ground. The lord didn’t slow as he lunged forward and stamped on Aladdin’s calf. I winced as the Count rolled and leapt upright, hissing through his teeth. It only urged him on though and suddenly he turned into nothing but a lion bringing down his prey.
The crowd cooed and gasped as Aladdin leapt onto the lord’s shoulders. My heart hammered as he knocked Kalaviv to the ground, managing to propel himself on top of him.
“One – two- three-!” Captain Marik called out and my heart started singing a tune I didn't know.
Why am I happy about any of them winning? I don't want to be bought!
But this is so thrilling I just can't help myself.
“Four – five!”
The audience roared so loudly it hurt my ears. A grin took over my features, so wide that I couldn't remember the last time I'd smiled like that. Aladdin scrambled upright, raising his arms into the air, drinking in his victory.
I frowned as he strode away from Kalaviv without offering him a hand to get up. Asshole.
Aladdin strode up to the stage with a swagger that made my smile fall away. He hid the limp in his leg damn well but I could tell it was paining him.
The closer he got, the more my lungs refused to let in air.
He wants to own you. Don't forget that.
I took the green rosette from Zira, my hands trembling as I readied to pin it onto the winner.
I dragged in a slow breath, encouraging my heart to return to a normal pace as Aladdin approached. He bowed to my father then knelt before me with a smirk.
“You won,” I said, my eyes narrowing as I scrutinised him.
He can see your face, remember!
“Sure did,” he said with a shrug.
I plastered a smile onto my face instead and he gave me a wink – a wink! In front of the entire royal gathering!
Gothel released a noise of disapproval and a small laugh escaped my throat because damn it felt good to know this man
didn't give two shits about pleasing that bitch.
I recalled the words I was expected to say to each winner, stepping closer to him as I gazed at his bare chest, wondering where the hell I was supposed to pin this rosette. His crotch?
A blush hit my cheeks and I dragged my eyes back up from his gleaming torso and found him smiling like a child. Light shone from his eyes that spoke of a life well-lived. One where he was free and always would be. Where he got to throw money at anyone he liked, buy anything he wanted. And I was next on his list.
But I wanted to own something of his too. I wanted to own that look in his eyes and brand it on my soul. Holy shit I wanted that more than anything.
What does it feel like to really live?
“Count Aladdin Nazari, I proudly present this rosette to you in honour of winning your first match. May luck stay on your side and offer you more victories in the pageant.” I fumbled with the rosette. Where am I going to pin the damn thing?
“I'm the luckiest man in the twelve kingdoms,” Aladdin said, his arrogance clearly knowing no bounds.
I fought an eye-roll, closing the gap between us. His scent rolled over me. All man. Perspiration, blood and freedom.
“You didn't get away unscathed. If you're limping in tomorrow's fight I doubt you'll do so well.” I relished the small ounce of power I took back from him, watching his face fall for half a second before that cocky expression returned.
“Pfft. I'm not limping.”
I frowned at his arrogance. Did he really think I hadn’t noticed?
Gothel suddenly lunged forward and snatched the rosette from my hand. She surveyed Aladdin with no pretence of hiding her dislike for him. Which only made me like him a little more in response.
She roughly pinned the rosette to his waistband and ushered him away. Before he left, he snatched my hand and stamped his lips to the back of it. The flower was crushed in my fist and the petals scattered down to the ground between us. The heat of his mouth remained imprinted on my skin as he stood upright. “I'll get you another one.” He pointed to the petals and I released a bemused laugh.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 20