I turned to look at Gothel as the crowd reacted to the sight of him stepping into the ring. She rose from her seat and Rapunzel rolled her eyes behind her back. My mouth tugged up at the corner and my gaze lingered on her for several seconds longer before Gothel snared my attention again.
“My son has been gifted beauty from the Sorcerer of Jahalus. He’s now a fine suitor for a fine Princess, wouldn’t you agree ladies and gentleman of Osaria?”
The noblemen and women applauded, but some muttered under their breath. My heart ticked a little faster as Gothel gazed around at them, her brows pinching before she returned to her seat.
A smug smile captured my mouth.
My people don’t much care for magic, Gothel.
Kahn defeated Lord Darell in a drawn out bout where Gothel's son played with his food. Darell was strong but he was defeated the moment he stepped into the ring. Kahn used him like a human punching bag, allowing him to gain his feet again and again as he showed off his power. My stomach turned as Kahn received a rosette from the Princess, his eyes wandering over her with all the hunger of a starving man.
I didn't want Aladdin to win this, but Kahn claiming Rapunzel was perhaps an even more abhorrent idea.
This huge sack of shit cannot be the new emperor.
If I managed to expose Gothel before the winner was announced, perhaps I could stop the wedding from coming to fruition. The Emperor would regain his senses. He'd outlaw the pageant like he'd been planning to do before Gothel's arrival.
My hands curled into fists as I stood helplessly on the sidelines, awaiting the next brawl.
The demonic-looking Count Cartoum lost to the pubescent teen Prince Gurvine in less than five minutes. The prince had muscles of iron and was a frighteningly good fighter. He aimed for Cartoum’s head repeatedly and with an agility that made my neck prickle. Aladdin wouldn’t take him easily if he faced him tomorrow. Despite Count Cartoum’s fierce efforts, he hadn’t withstood a final punch to the temple. He was carried out of the ring on a cushioned stretcher and I had slight concerns he wasn't going to recover.
The prince took his rosette from Rapunzel and I watched her closely the entire time, my pulse thumping in my ears. She looked dejected and I wondered what thoughts were running through her mind.
The final fight took place between the Cartlanna Captain and Prince Jah-fal of Ageisha. Captain Hariot fought with the strength of two men, battering the older man with more skill than I'd expected. My brows rose I watched him play out the same tactic several times. Skirt around, aim for the backs of the knees. I tucked that nugget of information away for Aladdin if he had to face him in his next brawl. Hariot finally succeeded in bringing his opponent to the ground and Jah-fal was out of the running.
I needed more time. I just had to pray luck was on my side and Aladdin would be able to bring down whoever he faced next. There was no chance of him beating Kahn, but from what I’d seen of Captain Hariot and the Prince of Laverna, Aladdin was good enough to pose a challenge to them.
The royals were escorted away and white petals were scattered over them as they went. I waited for them to depart as was customary before taking my turn to head back to the palace.
Someone nudged me as I walked along and I spotted Kahn beside me, stroking the emerald rosette on his breast. I was kind of disgusted with what Gothel had done to him, turning him into a beautiful vision despite the fact that he was nothing but an air-headed cretin. My stomach coiled as I realised he was about to engage me.
“Who trained your liege?” he asked bluntly and I decided I needed to try and scare him.
“He was trained by a band of warriors in his youth. Then he served in the royal battalion for four years before they had to remove him.”
“Remove him?” Kahn's pale blue eyes narrowed, his overly long lashes shadowing them.
“He spilled enough blood in one battle to stain a hundred miles of sand red. Though his skills were greatly admired, they feared his bloodlust was growing too keen and it frightened the men he fought alongside.”
Kahn ran a hand through his auburn locks, his face twisting with concern.
I slapped him on the back then hurried away through the crowd with a smile growing on my lips.
Now you're thief and a liar, Cassian.
Oh shit.
I forced away my discomfort at how far down the road of sin I'd come and made my way to Aladdin's chambers. The sinking sun cast amber light through the windows and Aladdin was bathing in it, sitting on the floor with his right leg outstretched. Kyra sat next to him, cooing over his injury. A red and blue bruise was shining across the bone and Aladdin was lapping up every one of the genie's soothing words.
I rolled my eyes, kicking the door shut to grab their attention.
“Just wish it better,” I said, shaking my head.
“I was just about to, mate,” Aladdin said with a slanted grin. “Kyra, I wish my leg didn't hurt. Keep the bruise though, just in case anyone sees it.”
Kyra nodded keenly, shutting her eyes a moment and then Aladdin sighed, getting to his feet with a word of thanks.
“We were sent this.” Aladdin thrust a letter at me.
“What does it say?” I asked.
“I can't read,” he grunted, gesturing for me to open it.
Of course he can't. Orphans don't go to school in Osaria. Another thing the Emperor had been about to change.
I ignored the pity in my chest as I tore open the letter and scanned the page. My heart sunk as I read it and worries flickered in my heart. “Shit.” I crushed the letter in my palm.
“What is it?” Kyra asked keenly.
“You're invited to a formal dinner tonight alongside the other victors.”
“Ohh am I?” Kyra asked brightly.
“Er, no. Aladdin is,” I said with a snort of amusement.
“Of course he didn't mean you,” Kyra muttered to herself.
“And?” Aladdin questioned me with a shrug.
“And it's going to be done to the traditions of the twelve kingdoms. Meaning each course will hold the customs of each land.”
“So?” Aladdin shrugged again and I ground my teeth.
“Do you know the customs of every kingdom, Count Nazari? Do you even know the customs of your own supposed kingdom?”
“Obviously not,” he said. “But you can teach me, right?”
I turned to the clock on the wall. There was only half and hour until the feast began. That wasn't nearly enough time to teach him everything he needed to know. And what if he messed it up and gave away the fact he wasn't a real Count?
“He can't,” Kyra breathed. “His expression says he can't. Look at his face.” She pointed at me and Aladdin frowned.
“Is that true?” he demanded.
“There's not enough time. I didn't realise this would be required or I would have been teaching you for days.” Anxiety burrowed into my chest. I couldn't risk Aladdin screwing up now.
“Shit...maybe I can say I'm too injured to attend?” Aladdin suggested but I shook my head.
“Tomorrow they will see how well you are and assume you lied,” I growled, running a hand over my head.
“Well I suppose you'll just have to go,” Kyra said to me.
“What?” I balked.
“I'll just make you look like Aladdin,” she said with a grin, then her smile suddenly fell away. “Oh is that a bad idea? I suppose you wouldn't want to look that ugly, Cassian. It might make you very upset. Look how upset Aladdin is about it.” She gestured to him and his jaw ticked with rage at her words.
I released a laugh and Aladdin turned to Kyra, taking in a deep breath. “Firstly, I'm not ugly. You've got things all mixed up. And secondly...” His eyes suddenly glimmered and a smile hooked up his mouth. “That's a genius idea.”
“Yes! I am a genie-us,” she said and Aladdin chuckled.
I didn't. Because this idea was absolute insanity. I shook my head fiercely. “I'm not fit to attend such a thing,” I said firmly
.
“Oh but I am?” Aladdin blew out a breath of amusement. “You're highborn, Cassian. That's good enough.”
“It's not.” My heart thumped against my ribcage as I shook my head once more.
Aladdin slammed a hand down on my shoulder. “You'll do fine. You just need a few pointers from me.”
I scowled. “I don't need any such thing.”
“Oh yeah? Well if you don't act like me they're going to figure out something's up,” Aladdin pressed.
I released a low growl, unsure of any other way around this.
I'm going to the royal feast. And I'm going to lie to my own rulers.
“Fine,” I agreed at last, sealing my fate.
Anticipation trickled into my chest. By Osaria, what's gotten into me?
“You better do me justice, mate. I want the Princess still drooling over me tomorrow,” Aladdin said, his eyes scraping down me. “Hm, you're too stiff. Loosen up.” He shook my shoulders and I tried to relax my rigid limbs. “Better,” he said brightly, slapping my cheek in that way that made me want to rip his throat out. As we were on a tight time limit, I thought better of it.
“You'll get the seat beside the Princess, no matter what.” He shoved a finger in my face and I knocked it away.
“There will be a seating plan-”
“Screw the seating plan. You'll do this, Cassian. Because it's what I'd do,” Aladdin insisted.
I released a slow breath to keep my anger in check. “Fine.”
“Good. Kyra, I wish for Cassian to look like me,” he said.
Kyra looked to me. “Do you agree?”
I nodded, trepidation flowing through my chest as her power hit me. My body changed as her magic ran over me, heating and cooling my skin simultaneously.
A dark lock of hair fell into my eyes and I pushed it back before gazing at my hands.
Aladdin stared at me in adoration. “Wow, I knew I was hot but seeing it like this is really humbling.”
I rolled my eyes. “Just get on with it.” I froze as my voice wasn't mine anymore. It was his.
I don't like this one bit.
Kyra fashioned an elaborate cream shirt onto my body with golden buttons running up the middle. The pants she created to match them were tighter than I'd normally wear and I shifted uncertainly as I grew used to my new body within them.
I’m going to see the Princess. Up close.
Shit.
“I don't think I can teach you well enough,” Aladdin sighed. “Just try not to talk too much and please, for the love of all the treasure in the world, don't embarrass me.”
I pursed my lips. “I might only be a royal guard, but I know how to treat women.”
“That's the problem,” he huffed. “You don't know shit. You can't treat them like they’re the apple of your eye or whatever other bullshit is circling through your repressed brain right now. You've got to be cool. Don't give her too much attention. If her attendants are there you need to give them at least twice as many compliments as you do the Princess.”
I clenched my jaw. “That's not appropriate.”
“Women don't like appropriate, Cassian. Have you ever even screwed a girl? Because I imagine you had to ask her to remove the stick from your ass first.”
I glowered at him, my hands curling into fists. “That's none of your business and I do not have a stick up my ass.”
“You do, it was surgically inserted by the kingdom,” Aladdin said with a chuckle.
I folded my arms, done with this conversation.
“That sounds painful,” Kyra breathed. “Would you like Aladdin to wish it out for you?”
My jaw ticked and I refused to respond to her suggestion as Aladdin laughed.
So maybe I hadn't had that many women. But I hadn't exactly had time with my duties as a royal guard. And the few times I had given in to my desires, I'd not exactly been behaving to the kingdom's standards – and neither had they for that matter. The women I'd bedded had been just like me. Employed by the palace, rule-abiders ninety nine percent of the time. None of us were allowed to cavort with one another. So the pleasure we'd taken from each other's flesh had been brief, breathy and full of a promise that neither counterpart would ever speak of it again. But the Princess deserved better than that. I wasn't going to act like I wanted her for one night. In all honesty, if I'd been anywhere near worthy enough to be a suitor, I would have courted her like I wanted her for eternity.
But you're not a suitor and you never will be, idiot.
“Stop it,” Aladdin growled. “I know what you're thinking, but forget your morals tonight. I don't have any and the Princess has been lapping that up until now. If you ruin this for me Cassian, so help me I will beat your ass.”
I nodded stiffly, mildly irritated that Rapunzel drank in the cockiness of this lech. But if that's what she liked, I supposed I had to try...
“Tick-tock,” Kyra said. “Better get going.”
I headed to the door, my heart pounding as I stepped into the corridor with Aladdin's voice calling after me, “Don't screw this up!”
I shut the door, spotting a servant across the hall, his eyebrows nearly jumping into his hairline at what he'd heard. “Apologies, my guard is berating my maid.”
He nodded, bowing his head low and I hurried away from him, cursing Aladdin under my breath.
I headed down a spiralling staircase and followed the sound of a string quartet towards the ballroom.
The guards on duty bowed low to me and I couldn't fight a grin at being on the receiving end of the respect I'd dished out over all my years in their position.
This actually feels pretty damn good.
I stepped into the grand hall where a huge table stretched through the centre of the space, set with a golden runner along the heart of it. Arching windows lined one side of the room and a set of doors led out to a sweeping balcony washed in moonlight.
I was the last to arrive despite the fact that I was right on time. But the rest of the suitors were clearly eager to get as much out of their time with the Princess as possible.
Kahn, Captain Hariot and Prince Gurvine sat opposite the Princess and on either side of her were two of her attendants, Zira and Jacinda.
The Princess made my heart stall as she rose abruptly to her feet and turned to me. She was dressed in a flowing blue gown that made her amber eyes stand out and her skin seem to shimmer. A lump grew in my throat as her gaze floated down me approvingly. Her attendants quickly stood too and the victors rose from their chairs, obviously feeling compelled to.
I fought the wave of jealousy that accompanied her drinking me in. Because it wasn't me. It was Aladdin she was admiring.
“Good evening,” I said formally, bowing low and Rapunzel dipped her head before dropping into her seat with a shy smile.
I moved across the room, taking the remaining seat beside Kahn as a guard pulled it out for me. Aladdin's instructions rang in my head but I couldn't very well turf one of Rapunzel's attendants out of their chairs for myself.
The musicians were out of sight behind a curtain, offering the group of us some semblance of privacy – not from the guards who stood in every corner though. I wondered what they'd think of me now if they knew who was really sitting at this table with the Princess. A smug smile crept onto my lips at the thought.
Kahn took the lead of the conversation, replaying every detail of his brawl with Count Darell until the Princess looked so bored, her eyes glazed over.
I settled on remaining quiet as Aladdin had advised, but Kahn's rambling soon grew too much to bear and I elbowed him in the ribs to shut him up. He rounded on me with a glare.
“Woops,” I said dryly, trying out one of Aladdin's smirks but not sure I managed it.
Rapunzel chuckled and my heart glowed with the sound.
Wine was poured for us in silver chalices and I lifted mine under my nose as everyone did the same, swirling the cup as I breathed in the crisp scent of Cartlanna honey wine.
“Praise
Cartlanna and its bountiful fields,” Rapunzel said, starting the formal feast with the first custom.
The rest of us responded in unison with the scripted words I knew from watching a thousand of these feasts from the shadows where my fellow guards stood now. “May the grass grow tall, the sun fall upon their crops, the rain moisten the earth, and may their bounty always be plentiful.”
I sipped my wine in time with the others. This was a dance. Our movements synchronised and though I'd never done them before, my hands knew it as well as if I had. I'd committed it all to memory as I’d watched from the sidelines, marvelling in the perfect rhythm of the feast of the twelve kingdoms.
The wine rolled over my tongue and I took a larger gulp than necessary, figuring Aladdin probably would have done so. And besides, I needed the courage this nectar could give me tonight.
My eyes kept straying to the Princess's face and every time I looked at her her cheeks flushed with colour.
Heat rose in my blood, the idea of her desiring me too exciting to ignore. Even though I knew it wasn't me she wanted at all. But tonight, I would know what it felt like to be someone she craved.
I’m a fox in a rabbit warren and I really like it.
The first course was served; a dainty dish of three sprigs of asparagus dipped in the famed sauce of Ageisha.
“May the wind fall at the backs of the mighty Ageishans,” Rapunzel said, her tone flat.
We spoke the response in unison and I cut into the tiny meal, picking up the knife and fork allocated for this course from the array of cutlery beside my plate.
I'd always wanted to try that sauce and as it hit my tongue, I released a groan that caused Rapunzel to raise her brows.
I grabbed my wine, taking another long swig as I waited for her eyes to fall away from me. She was so beautiful it burned a mark into my heart. A mark that had been there even since I'd first seen her.
I made it through the twelve tiny courses without saying much at all and by the end of our Laverna dessert, Prince Gurvine was filling the silence by describing the hall of fine wines he owned.
I rested back in my seat, draining yet another chalice as my head started swimming.
Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series Page 22