Chapter Twenty-Seven

***REMI***

The steam rises from the bath, floats to the atmosphere, and then hits the brutal and merciless wall of King Kieran’s wards.

Not that I’m ungrateful for them tonight.

With the flecks of snow shimmering against the stars, the mounds of ice surrounding us from yesterday’s winter storm.

The wards are a blessing, really. A protection from the world beyond.

Although I doubt Kieran ever gets much recognition.

And I’m not just talking about his sacrifice for the wards.

The weight of the twins watching me is heavy. Possessive. One is sharp like blades, and the other, equally brute, and all-assessing, is more warrior than spymaster. More kind, and protective.

They think I don’t know that they’re talking about me. Or, more accurately, what Xaden did to me.

But I’m aware of it, I can feel it. Almost like a sixth sense.

When you grow up with sisters who hate you, you learn these things. When someone is talking about you, when someone wants you to leave a room.

My hand mindlessly travels to where Xaden drank from me. When someone wants you dead.

I had sensed that too, unfortunately, in the dining room overlooking the city.

Xaden had wanted to drink from me until I was dead.

And it fucking terrified me.

Shaking my head, I swim to the edge of the pool and prop my elbows on the stone edge. I much prefer the view below to the one of the city. Instead of people’s homes and shops and various modes of transport, the view is a mountain valley. Between two rows of jagged peaks lay a wide-mouth river.

I can tell the river is powerful even from all the way up here, wild, uncharted, rushing towards a distant ocean.

I on the other hand am not free. Not wild.

Water sloshes as I rise from the bath. When I wrap myself quickly, Kallias looks disappointed.

“I’ll get you some clothes,” he says. They don’t think I notice that they're talking about me in their minds. If I concentrate, I can almost hear what they are saying. Still, about Xaden biting me, no doubt.

I’m here against my will, a prisoner. The twins are to make me feel safe, like less of a helpless victim, before I am to be prepped and primed tomorrow to die for them to live.

I’m not sure if I want to cry or laugh.

Despite what I did in the dining room with Kallias, his brother, and Kieran, I’m not in control of my life. Not in control of anything.

My path is set for me, and my horizons are charted by others.

Offering, Sacrifice. Or as my sisters labeled me, weak, stupid, hopeless.

When Kallias handed me his shirt, I realized an unsettling truth. I’m caged and chained, as I have been all my life.

And in some sick irony, the only difference?

The Fates have traded me three sisters for three brothers.

“Remi,” the sternness in Rhodes’ voice suggests he’s called me at least twice.

I look up a foot and a half to the two dark brothers. Four glowing, bright purple eyes that remind me of nebulae.

I put my hand to my neck. Maybe it’s something about Xaden biting me that’s making me see clearly for the first time. They’re something out of a nightmare. A twisted, dark, horror story.

But so, fucking, unbelievably, handsome.

Rhodes has the prettier face. Slightly bigger lips.

But Kallias, his jaw is slightly squarer. More brute.

My thighs clench at the memory of taking them both in my mouth.

If this is a cage, I hope they never break out.

Kallias is looking at me the way my father used to when I was a girl. “Pick a bed,” he says gently, and that’s when I notice.

I’m traumatized. In shock.

Not here on this planet.

I barely noticed.

“Who’s who’s?” I ask them, noting the two beds.

Kallias smirks, Rhodes laughs. Then at the same exact time they both say, “Take a guess.”

Creepy. Definitely creepy.

For the first time since entering the room, I truly take in the space.

The room is…ginormous.

On one side, there’s a bedroom space with star charts and a telescope, and on the other, there’s one with weaponry. Endless amount of blades.

“No pressure, darling,” Rhodes says, leaning back against one of the many black marble pillars in the middle of the space, “but whichever bed you pick is the one of us you’re sleeping with.”

I raise a brow. “And do I sense…competition?”

They both know my implication. That one of them will be jealous.

The twins exchange a glance. A serious one. Obviously, they have some sort of ground rule about this situation, one woman wanting them to fight each other for her. It can’t be the first time they’ve been in it.

Rhodes speaks first, clearly the authority on this matter. “A long time ago, my twin decided that we only share women.”

I glance at Kallias, he stares back.

They unified on this boundary, then.

“Jealousy is a game my twin and I don’t care to play with each other,” Rhodes continues. “Our bond is sacred, everything to us, and we only allow people in who respect that.”

I twirl a piece of my hair. “Why’s that?”

Kallias answers in a tone that makes me think they’ve definitely dealt with this question. “We share everything,” he shrugs.

“Except for a bed,” I point out.

Rhodes rolls his eyes and scratches the back of his. “Just fucking pick, Darling. You have a big day ahead of you.”

Ugh. Asshole.

“Stars or swords,” Kallias adds.

I turn back to the two beds. Obviously, the one with the blades is Rhodes, and as pretty as he is, I’d much rather spend the evening with Kallias. The brother I trust.

“Stars.” I finally answered.

The twins shift. Coins jingle in one of their pockets, then a bright ding rings through the room as Kallias flings a reluctant gold circle to Rhodes.

“What is it?” I ask, the twins just smile at one another.
I take one step towards the warrior. He’s disappointed. I want to fix that.

“Did you lose a bet?”

Kallias stops in his tracks and turns around and grabs my hand. His skin is warm, and the contact sends tingles down my whole body.

I picked the right bed. I’m going to sleep wrapped in his arms tonight.

“Come on, Remi,” none of the boys say my name quite like Kallias does. It makes me wet.

“Let me tuck you into my brother’s bed.”
The Midnight King
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