He nods slowly, and I see his skin glisten with sweat from the molten rock heating the room. I tense, looking up to check on the woman once more.
The mirrors above us let me see her from all angles, and my mate is starving.
I nod to Vann, who removes the cloth coverings from the diamonds. The prince inches forward, his eyes scanning the diamonds on the table. Then he reaches for them.
The woman gasps at the view of the glittering gems. The effect is instant, and I can hardly stand the pressure in my breeches nor the desire to be near her, to steal her away from these people that she may go to my bed and rest while I have Fira make her new clothes.
I inhale deeply and smell the metallic scent of blood on her skin. Some of it is sweet, like her. The other stinks of a giant.
Keksej scoffs. “These are smaller than the last ones.”
“Not so. Two of them are bigger. You may select one,” I say, trying to ignore the singing, making my skin turn to flames with the need to attack and run. To claim. To care for. I have a court to care for, too.
What is your name?I try again, desperate.
Nothing. I need to get her away from her masters, but there is one in the room and three outside. A considerable amount of raw, brute power, especially since a third of our people are currently sick.
“So, you tried to short-change us before?” Keksej counters, pulling me out of my thoughts. He is angry about the almost-altercation, so now he will make these discussions as difficult as possible.
“No, these were mined after your visit.” I don’t mention that the mining killed Sama’s parents. My voice is as cold as ice, trying to warn him not to push me further.
The giants do not care about casualties, they return even when we steal their slaves—they only want the diamonds. I loathe this incessant back and forth and accusations of cheating. I am finding it harder to focus than normal.
“This one is acceptable,” the prince says, pointing to the largest diamond shaped like a teardrop.
I nod, and Vann places it in a leather pouch. "The herbs are also acceptable. We will sign the contract now."
Vann spreads the scroll on the metal table, and I use the seal on my ring dipped in ash ink. Then, as the prince adds his own name to the paper, I can feel the woman's eyes on me. I try to ignore her, but it's impossible. Her gaze is like fire, making me painfully aware of her presence.
"Is there anything else before the feast?" the prince asks, his tone annoyed.
I shake my head. "No, this concludes our business."
He walks out of the room, nodding to his men as file out behind him.
“Enjoy your quarters. We will make sure that the feast is prepared on time,” I call.
The giant looks between me and the human and then, without a word, starts to climb out of the room. Crossing the threshold, he calls out, “Come, tiny flea.”
My mate hurries out of the room. I step forward and then stop when I see the faces of the Enduares under my care. I will need to think of another way to get her alone—one that won’t be dangerous. The weight of the realization makes me sag against the table while they fade from sight. We hold our breath, preserving the silence while everyone watches, and listens to them go.
“Tree vermin. I catch their ugly looks and short words. There are not so many. We could—” Vann pauses in the middle of his rant, finally looking back at me. “Shit. You really aren't well. Let me send for the healer.”
I look at Vann, and reach under my clothing to touch the crystal whose song is fading with each step of distance between me and the woman. My other hand tightens on the table and the metal groans and dents. I can hardly keep from bursting out of my skin, but I am careful not to direct my thoughts toward her in case she can hear me. After pulling the cloth at my neck to the side, his gaze falls on my throat, and his eyes widen. Confusion clouds his wonder.
“You see the problem.”
“Holy gods on their stony thrones,” he breathes.
I don't know how to do this without starting a war, but she will not leave this mountain.
1 One hundred and one, one hundred and two, one hundred and three…
2 One hundred and fourteen, one hundred and fifteen.
3 Hello?
4 Holy fuck.