Forbidden Fairytales- The Complete Series
Page 28
“No,” he growled. “We made a plan, now stick to it.”
“She’s the Queen! We can’t just expect this to blow over,” Cassian protested.
“Just shut up and have a drink,” Aladdin said firmly, taking his own advice as he poured the contents of the bottle into his mouth.
“Okay,” I agreed, drinking the glass he’d given me before placing it down. His eyes drifted to mine for a moment and I realised he’d been talking to Cassian, not me.
Idiot.
Cassian seemed to want to protest but he lifted his glass all the same, draining it in one long gulp. Aladdin refilled it and pushed it towards his lips in a silent order. Cassian’s jaw ticked and he drank it again.
“One more,” Aladdin demanded, filling Cassian’s glass until it spilled over the rim. He lifted the glass again, drinking deeply without complaint.
“Do you really think we can just get away with this by pretending we were never involved? Kahn saw me there - no, he saw you.”
“Well that’s just brilliant, mate. I give you my face for one night and you go and implicate me in the murder of the Queen.” Aladdin chewed his lip for a moment. “He wasn’t there when I really arrived though, what did he see?”
“He saw me chained to that damn stone table and left me alone with his mother.”
“But he saw the potions too, right? He knows she’s a witch?” I asked.
Cassian’s gaze slid to me like he’d only just remembered I was here but his eyes widened as if I’d said something interesting.
“You’re right, if he tried to incriminate you he’d have to admit what he’d done.” Cassian’s gaze moved back to Aladdin. “He attacked a Count, chained you, delivered you to a witch. He can’t admit to any of it. But if he figures out that you must have been responsible for his mother’s death then I’ve no doubt that he’ll try to kill you if you end up facing him in the next bout.”
“Pfft, let him try,” Aladdin replied dismissively and I had the feeling that I was more afraid of that idea then he was. “No one else saw you, right?”
“There was one other but he’s hardly going to be going to the law about it,” Cassian admitted.
“Who?” Aladdin demanded.
“Before you turned up, a man came along the river on a rowing boat. He delivered a child to Gothel for sacrifice and he saw me while I was chained on the table.”
“Well one random scumbag isn’t likely to be a problem, as you say he’s not going to be going to the guards about us,” Aladdin said dismissively but Cassian’s jaw ticked and I could tell he hadn’t revealed all of it.
“What is it?” I asked him softly and his eyes flickered to me.
“It’s just that, I got the impression he knew who I was. I mean, who Aladdin was.”
Aladdin stared at him in horror. “What did he look like?” he demanded.
“His face was covered, I could only see his eyes. But he was a big bastard and he made no attempt to help me even when I asked,” Cassian muttered.
“For Osaria’s sake. This is so much worse than I could have imagined.” Aladdin started pacing, tipping more wine down his throat as he pushed his hand through his hair, messing it up in a way that made my stomach feel all knotty.
“Worse than us murdering the Queen?” Cassian scoffed in disbelief.
Aladdin rounded on him with something flashing in his eyes which could have been rage but felt like fear.
“Yes it’s worse than that,” he growled. “Because in all likelihood that guy you saw was one of The Forty which means as we speak he could be delivering Egos a juicy little nugget of information which would suggest that I am very much alive.”
Cassian’s mouth dropped open and he shook his head. “I can’t believe that this has actually gotten worse,” he muttered.
“That’s it,” Aladdin said suddenly, whirling to face me. “I’m out. Time to cut and run, we can go and start up somewhere else; a new kingdom. A far away kingdom. Maybe I’ll find out what Carubai is truly like and-”
“We can’t just disappear!” Cassian barked, rising to his feet. “If you run now then they’ll know for sure that you had a hand in the Queen’s death. Every guard in this kingdom and all the rest will be searching for your pretty face.”
“I could give you a new face,” I offered. “Then you won’t have to be so ugly anymore.”
Perfect moment to insult him, bravo.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Aladdin said, holding a hand up to warn me off. “I am not changing my face.”
“That’s what you’re most concerned about?” Cassian asked incredulously.
“Give me a second. I need to think.” Aladdin kept pacing and drinking and Cassian sank back into his chair.
I crossed the room and started pacing behind my master, shadowing his footsteps as he walked. He turned back suddenly and almost walked straight into me.
“Shit Kyra,” he breathed. “What are you doing?”
“I thought maybe this was helping,” I shrugged.
How would following him along like a lost puppy help anyone? I’m mortified for you as I’m sure you won’t be for yourself.
Aladdin released a breath of laughter. “Having you close always helps.”
“See, he likes it,” I told myself smugly.
Aladdin’s gaze roamed over me for a moment and he released a heavy breath.
“Okay, we’ll stay. At least until this shit with Gothel blows over and we can be sure they don’t suspect us. Egos would be hard pushed to get to us while we’re in the palace anyway and if the thief saw you, or me I guess, tied to a table by that bitch then chances are they think I’m dead again now anyway. Yeah, that can work.”
“It can,” I agreed and we both turned to Cassian expectantly.
“You really think we can hide our involvement in this?” Cassian asked, a hint of desperation in his tone.
“As far as anyone else is concerned, I came straight back here from the feast and the three of us spent the remainder of this evening here overindulging in wine,” Aladdin said confidently, emptying the bottle down his throat.
“What does that mean?” I asked curiously.
“That we should get drunk and release our inhibitions,” Aladdin said with a smirk.
“Should we get naked then?” I asked excitedly.
“Yes!” Aladdin replied enthusiastically as Cassian said “No!” just as loudly.
I hesitated for a moment, wanting to please my master but his eyes sparkled in a way that made me think he’d been teasing.
“Do you wish it?” I asked hesitantly, wrapping my fingers around the strap which held my dress over my shoulder in preparation to drop it if he asked.
Aladdin’s eyes flickered to the inch of flesh I’d already revealed and I could see a hunger in them before he cleared his throat and shook his head.
“No, Kyra, I’d never force you to do that. You should only ever take your clothes off in front of a man if you want to.” Aladdin dropped down onto the couch, turning away from me as Cassian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Nice to see you have some morals,” he muttered.
“Well I’m sure I could convince her that she wanted to take them off for me given half the chance,” Aladdin replied low enough that I didn’t think he’d intended for me to hear it.
“You can,” I agreed. “Just say that’s what you want and I’ll do anything to please you-”
Just stop talking, you’re humiliating yourself. If he wants you to take your clothes off he should have to beg for it not just demand it because he’s your master.
“But he is my master,” I breathed. “He can do anything he wants with me.”
Well he shouldn’t be able to do that.
My inner voice was so aggressive in that belief that I didn’t reply. I had the strangest feeling that she was right about it though.
“No, I can’t Kyra,” Aladdin said firmly, keeping his gaze fixed on the bottle in his hands. “And I would never force you to do an
ything like that with me.”
Cassian looked up at me with concern in his eyes. “Come and sit with us,” he said softly. “And maybe you should just take wishes involving your nudity or your flesh off of the table. Your body should remain your own to control.”
“Yes,” Aladdin agreed, finally looking at me as I moved to perch on the couch. “Don’t give me that power over you. I don’t want it. In fact, I wish for you to have complete control over your own body and what you choose to do with it.”
“But...” I began to protest. My life wasn’t my own. It was his. I couldn’t just grant wishes for myself-
“Do you agree?” Aladdin asked firmly.
Yes!
I chewed my lip, wondering if my magic could even work on me like that but the look in his dark eyes was fierce. He meant it. He desired this and it was my duty to grant his wishes.
“Okay,” I agreed.
My magic wrapped around me in a way I’d never experienced before and I took a sharp breath as the strongest sense of self grounded me to the spot. I felt centred. More in control of my own destiny than I’d been in far longer than I’d ever remembered. And it felt good.
Okay, maybe I’m beginning to like him just a bit.
I lifted a hand, brushing it across my own face and my skin felt more present beneath my touch than I remembered. Goosebumps raised along my arms as I explored them with my fingertips too and I ran my hands down the length of my body, delighting in the sensations that danced back to me from my skin.
Cassian cleared his throat uncomfortably as I swept my hands over my breasts and I looked up to find the two men watching me. Cassian seemed to want me to stop but Aladdin’s gaze was filled with undisguised fascination and for a moment I wondered what his touch would feel like against my skin now.
Woah! Hold your horses there, you’ve only just got your body back! No need to go offering it to the first pretty face you look upon.
“But he’s not pretty, he’s ug-”
“I swear on all that is holy, if you call me ugly right now I’m gonna self-combust,” Aladdin interrupted, his jaw ticking.
Cassian released a dark chuckle and reached for the bottle of wine, refilling his glass.
“Well she saw Gothel’s true face and knew her to be a witch,” Cassian commented. “Maybe it’s your soul that’s ugly and that’s what she can see.”
Aladdin glowered at him but I could tell the remark bothered him.
“It’s not that,” I insisted. “I think Master has a good soul. He’s kind and forgiving and he accepts me for who I am even though I’m broken and twisted up inside and my own soul is a dark, empty thing...”
“No it isn’t, Kyra,” Aladdin murmured, frowning at me. “You have the sweetest, purest soul of anyone I’ve ever met.”
He doesn’t know you very well then does he?
“I killed an Emperor,” I reminded him. “I stabbed him more times than I can remember. He deserved it. And I liked it.” I didn’t know why I didn’t want to let Aladdin believe the best of me but somehow it felt important that he knew the worst too. I was the kind of person who had stabbed a man while he slept and enjoyed the feeling of his warm blood spilling over my hands. I could barely remember the sister I’d loved so much to kill for but I hadn’t forgotten a second of the act itself. The smell of his blood in the air. The way his screams had rung in my ears, filling me with a sick sense of satisfaction and, as much as I may have wanted to deny it... pleasure.
“Well I’ll admit that I rather enjoyed killing that witch tonight,” Aladdin replied with a shrug. “So maybe we’re the same brand of twisted.”
The idea of that brought a smile to my face and I bit my lip in an attempt to hold it in.
Great thing to bond over; a mutual enjoyment of violence and murder. Perfect. I wonder if you could make a hobby of killing for sport together? And then when the guards catch up to you, you can swing from the gallows side by side.
“Do you mind if I ask why you killed an Emperor?” Cassian asked and I could tell he wasn’t as comfortable with that fact as Aladdin had been as he drained another glass of wine. I wondered if he was upset about killing the witch too.
“He wanted my sister for...” I frowned, trying to remember.
He wanted her for a bride. My inner voice practically snarled.
“Oh yes, for his bride.”
“And you were jealous?” Cassian guessed. “You wanted to marry the Emperor yourself?”
I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “No! He was a cruel man. He was big and strong and mean. No one loved him but he took anything he pleased no matter what. Even my sister...”
I wrapped my arms around myself, marvelling in the feeling of my hands against my skin again. My skin. It belonged to me. Just as I realised it should. And it felt so nice and soft, like silk beneath my fingertips...
“You were talking about your sister?” Cassian prompted when the silence stretched.
Master crossed the room and returned with three more bottles of wine. He offered me one but I shook my head and he tossed two into Cassian’s lap as he uncorked one for himself. Cassian hesitated before following Aladdin’s lead and drinking from the bottle himself. It was nice to see him loosening up, he was far too worried about what we’d done.
You’re supposed to be telling them about your sister. She was already married. Remember that? And the children? It’s the whole reason we’re stuck like this!
“My sister... was married and happy,” I said, realising the truth of the words as I spoke them. “She had children too, three girls... but she was beautiful. So beautiful that when the Emperor saw her, he demanded she be his. And when she said no, he took her anyway.” A tear slid from my eye, followed by another and another as if my body remembered the pain of her loss even though my mind was struggling to recall it. “He forced her to be his for a whole week and after he’d taken all the pleasure he wanted from her body and broken her soul... he cut her throat and sent her body back to her family.”
Aladdin and Cassian stared at me in undisguised horror and pity.
You shouldn’t let them see your pain like this. They’ll only use it against you later.
I hastily wiped the tears from my cheeks and sprung up before either of them could say anything in response to my story.
“Anyway, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, I killed him for it. So that was that.” I turned away quickly and crossed the room until I made it to the windowsill I’d perched in earlier when Aladdin had touched me. I hopped up into the patch of moonlight the window allowed in and turned my gaze to the sky.
“Kyra,” Aladdin began slowly.
“I’d rather not talk about it anymore,” I said firmly, surprising myself as I dared to speak to my master that way but he didn’t berate me for it.
Cassian let out a heavy breath. “I was wrong to worry about your intentions, Kyra,” he murmured as he got to his feet, drinking more of the wine. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“That’s okay. We weren’t friends then,” I reminded him. It was nice to have friends. I hadn’t had anyone in so, so long and it warmed my soul to know I wasn’t alone anymore.
Don’t get too used to it.
Cassian crossed the room, stumbling as he went and I couldn’t help but giggle.
“You’re drunk,” Aladdin accused.
“No,” he replied firmly. “Cassian Lazar doesn’t get drunk. But Count Aladdin Nazari does apparently. And tonight I was him.”
Aladdin released a laugh.“Cassian Lazar has gotten drunk twice since I met him and you look about ready to pass out just like last time too,” he reminded him.
“Liar! You’re a liar Aladdin. It’s all you ever do... and I was you and I’m one too...” He suddenly looked very sorry for himself.
“On the note of you not being me anymore, you need your disguise back and I suppose we should get rid of those wounds too. If you don’t mind, Kyra?” Aladdin asked, not seeming to care that Cassian had called him a liar.
“Yes, please,” he said, touching his fingers to the bloody wound on the back of his head with a grimace.
My magic slipped over him, relieving him of his wounds and returning the disguise which made sure no one but us would be able to recognise him.
“Thank you,” Cassian breathed and I smiled warmly as he drank his wine.
Aladdin’s gaze caught mine and I couldn’t help but lift my hand to brush it against the same cheek he’d touched earlier. Something in his eyes made me think he was remembering it too and I smiled a little.
You should watch out for him. He’ll chew you up and spit you back out before you’ve even realised what’s happened.
The smile slipped from my face to be replaced by a frown. I hoped I was wrong about that. Because whenever I was in my master’s presence I felt a warmth which had nothing to do with our bond. And I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to be away from it again.
I clawed a hand through my hair as I chewed over our predicament. Aladdin dropped down onto the couch with a wide yawn, plucking another bottle of wine off of the oak side table and tipping it into his mouth.
Kyra floated toward him and anxiety built in my chest as Aladdin smiled lazily at her.
“How can you be so calm?” I demanded. “We just killed the Queen.”
“Shhh.” He waved a hand. “You're acting like you've never disposed of a dead body before.” He sorted a laugh and I scowled.
I stalked forward, my hands curling into tight fists. By Osaria, I will have two dead bodies on my hands in a minute if he doesn't start listening to me.
“Relax, have another drink.” Aladdin held the bottle out to me and I folded my arms, shaking my head.
“Don't be angry, Cassian.” Kyra turned to me with wide eyes, seeming slightly afraid. I released a sigh, letting the tension drop out of my posture.
“Apologies,” I muttered, but I couldn't just let this go. As much as I'd wanted Gothel gone, this wasn't exactly what I had planned. And by holding our tongues we were placing ourselves in a risky position. “Besides Kahn and the thief, what if someone else saw us?” I growled.