Amid Clouds and Bones

by Ella Fields

I cared only about carving the prince’s pretty eyeballs from his obnoxiously evil head and stomping on them while he screamed.

“A beast who wants to kiss your pretty mouth until it bleeds.” “Why?” The question both betrayed and assisted me, a little breathless as it fled between my tingling lips. Wrapped in silk and delivered with slowness, his answer wasn’t what the foolish part of me longed to hear. “So I can lick it clean until you heal, only to kiss your lips raw again.” A rumbled noise coated his harsh exhale. “And again.”

“Phineus. Your betrothed’s cousin.” Atakan informed, “Second cousin.” Phineus smiled. “He’s fond of semantics.” “I’m also fond of stabbing things that irritate me.”

“How many times have you threatened Princess Mildred since her arrival?” Intrigue dripped from the question. “I’d wager at least five.” “I’d wager you should’ve stayed trapped in your mother’s womb to rot with her corpse.”

“Well…” Atakan stood, fluid and brushing crumbs from his belle-sleeved tunic. “I’m quite done tolerating the lot of you.”

“So what have you decided?” At his silence, I reminded him, “Are you disappointed that I still breathe?”

“She’s a viper, but her heart is pudding.” He paused, true fear entering his voice. “Don’t tell her I said that.”

His presence was a flare of heat at my back, and his voice low and scathing. “Remove your hands, or I’ll remove them from your body and make you eat them.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be seen with me.” “And I thought you valued your insignificant life.”

The way he stared as if he were trying to ascertain what to do with me. He proved my assumption true when he murmured, “I can’t decide if looking at your body makes me happier than the thought of watching you die.” “Good morning to you, too.”

“I don’t like this.” “I don’t like you.” “You liked me enough to wait naked in my bed.” “Oh,” I laughed out. “You thought I did that for you?”

“If you so much as think about playing with anyone but me, I will tie you to this bed with their entrails and paint you in their blood while I fuck you.”

“What isn’t fair is your existence,” Atakan seethed, his mouth leaving my forehead and moving closer to mine. “The way you make me crave and loathe you in equal measure.”

“Can you lift your arms?” “Can you run away from this castle already?”

“How bad was it?” I breathed, gently tracing the purple smudge. His brows were furrowed when I glanced up at his eyes. Emerald had nearly swallowed the bronze whole. “None of your business.” My lips twitched. “Of course.” I leaned in, my mouth skimming the bruise, and whispered, “But whether we like it or not, you are my business, and I asked you a question.” His fingers stole my chin, his glower so severe, I half feared he’d shove me away and storm out into the gardens. But it softened the longer he looked down at me, and disappeared entirely when he murmured, “Enough to make me miss the creature I loathe the most.”

“I want you. I want you as much as I loathe you—so much, it feels like I can’t breathe.” His parted lips dragged across my cheek, his whisper scathing near my ear. “Give me back my fucking breath.”

“Fuck.” I concurred but for a different reason.

I didn’t much care about the wedding. My interests stalked elsewhere. But they did include the prince who’d fucked me in a crusty garden shed.

“If it’s any comfort, I don’t believe there’s much to gain from your death.”

Perhaps it was the longing to feel secure. To keep carving space for myself until I might fit.

“You speak as if you do not want me to even try to steal it.” I thought it best not to give that a response.

“How did it feel, Princess?” “How did what feel, King?” “Taking the cock of a male who’d rather die than admit he cares for you.”

After ten or maybe eleven threatened to send me teetering, she thankfully stopped. “Just a few of my favorites.” “Just a few,” I repeated, scarcely able to see her over the stack precariously balanced within my arms. Another chuckle came from Cerwin. “They’re all very steamy,” Daylia whispered. “If you know what I mean.” “She’s winking,” her mate informed dryly. “Just in case you can’t see past the pile of damsels in distress in your arms.”

“Stripes,” he scoffed. “An insult.” “She has black stripes in her fur.” “And you have the darkest green eyes I’ve ever seen, but I don’t call you seaweed.”

My teeth clenched. Colorful cusses formed over my tongue. I didn’t set them free. I couldn’t because I needed to stop reacting and because how dare he desire to sleep in his own bed, in his own rooms, in his own castle… I’d grown comfortable in here during his absence. Far too comfortable, it seemed.

Meadow returned to the king’s chambers after lunch. She nudged open the door I’d left cracked, and pranced toward me with a dead rodent between her teeth. Plopping it before my feet, she then sat, tufted tail swishing as she gazed up at me with rounded gold eyes. I peered over the book I’d been reading. “Would you like a reward?” She blinked.

“Could you do it?” I called. “No.” I huffed and returned to my meal. “So much for earning my love.” Vane gave that no response.

Daylia when she spoke as she refilled her goblet. “Males are all the same. Unaware that love means more than an obsession with humping someone.” Unable to help it, I laughed. Cerwin licked his lips. “I’m sensing I should keep my mouth shut.” “Should you wish to hump me any time soon, then that would be wise.”

So not only was I being forced to fall in love with this king and then deal with the repercussions, but I had to fall in love with someone awaiting a divinely gifted mate.

“When you laugh, I remember what joy feels like.”

Morona broke the silence. “You’re no halfling.” She raised her goblet to me, then said before she sipped, “You are far more faerie than mortal, darling.”

I let myself grieve. I let myself fall into sharp pieces in the arms of the monster who’d broken me. And I let him believe I didn’t know.

“There are very few creatures I know well, including myself.” “I disagree with that last one.” She straightened from the table, amusement ashine in her eyes. “You’re a survivor, Mildred Nephryn. A wolf too accustomed to hunting alone to trust in any pack.”

“Smelling much better.” I squinted at him, ready to remind him that it hadn’t been my fault I’d been trapped in a cell, but he stalked into his bedchamber ahead of me. “Less like something you’re not.” I frowned at his back. “Dirty? Compliments aren’t your usual—” “His.” I blinked.

“Did he fuck you?” “That’s hardly relevant.” “Perhaps not, but it is imperative that I know.” “Why?” I taunted. “So I know which part of him to mutilate first.” Iced water dripped into my chest. He was utterly serious. I couldn’t let the trickle of fear keep me from playing. “I would start with his lips.” He growled. “Mildred.” “Then his tongue.” He pressed his nose against mine. “You’re doing a very poor job of bartering.”

Cordenya cleared her throat delicately. Pholly snorted while continuing to eat. Amused, Phineus said, “The scents in here are…” “Overpowering, yes,” Cordenya intervened. “They did such a lovely job with the chicken. I’ll be sure to pass on the compliment to Herwen and his new apprentice.” “Indeed.” Phineus carved into his meal. “So warm and…” He said around a mouthful, “Moist.” Pholly spat wine back into her goblet, her laughter choked.

I selected a chicken breast and focused on slicing it open. Watching the steam rise, I pondered if the heat in my body was worse than that of the dead bird.

“Better run, dread. If I reach you before you make it to my chambers, I’ll take your surrender wherever I find you.” I didn’t ask any questions nor linger. Victorious, I smiled as I stood. And then I ran.

“What in the skies have you done?” “You did this.” He grunted, then trembled when my fingernails dug into his smooth back. “And there’s no changing it. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

His fingers crept to my mouth, then inside it. Feral delight shone in his eyes. Twin emerald jewels. They held me hostage as he pounded into me. As he pried my mouth open with his fingers and growled into it, “Mine.”

“Atakan.” My voice croaked. “Tell me what really happened.” He halted before the door. Without looking at me, he dragged his hand through his hair, pushing it back over his head as he exhaled roughly. “We mated.”

Phineus disobeyed his sister and said, thick with amusement, “Anyone else unable to ignore how different the princess smells?” Elion nudged him. “I’m right here,” I needlessly drawled. “You can’t smell it.” Phineus said to the others, “You must admit the way it screams is distracting.” That was true. I failed to notice anything different about my scent. Beside me, Pholly sighed, kicking at a cream rock. It skittered over the cobblestone into the shadowy doorstep of a jeweler. “Only males get a rise out of such archaic nonsense.” “Don’t worry, Phol.” Elion’s smirk was bright in the dark. “You’ll eventually find a mate who can put up with your gloomy ways.”

Her smirk brought some shine back to her eyes. “Egg hunt first. Treason later.”

“Unless you wish to wear your entrails as a crown when I chain you in iron and bury you alive, remove yourself from my bed and my mate.”

I unfolded the parchment to find Bernie’s perfect handwriting. Butter, you are loved.

“I am aware of the incredible honor, my prince, I’m merely—” “Then kindly breathe elsewhere or cease doing so.”

“I’m not your lover.” “Fated foe, then.” At that, I looked up to find him grinning wolfishly. I glared.

“You’re right. You’re not my lover. You’re now my wife, yet that doesn’t seem quite enough either.” I nearly swayed when I rose, and he went on. “What do you call the only creature you want to watch and touch endlessly?”

“Are we going to talk about how you tricked me, then?” “Oh, you mean how you knew exactly what was happening but went along with it anyway?”

“And when do you plan on telling your loyal court what you’ve done?” “That I saved my mate?” He lifted his hand when I glared, amending, “Apologies, my wife, from being murdered?” He turned on his heel. “I’ll go spread the good word right now if it will appease your conscience.”