Glint (The Plated Prisoner, #2)

by Raven Kennedy

I’m surrounded by wealth that holds no value to me.

I’ve worn a crown my entire life, but I’m finally going to wield it.

Time changes with torment. It stretches on, lengthening seconds, extending minutes. I’ve learned that pain and fear have a way of prolonging. And as if that weren’t cruel enough, our minds make sure we relive those moments again and again and again, long after they’ve passed. What a bastard, time is.

But no matter how long I stood there on the pedestal for them to look, no one really saw me. If they did, they’d know I’m just a girl with jagged rips and pitted holes inside of her, with golden skin hiding a broken heart.

Either the commander really wouldn’t give me permission to see the saddles and she’s breaking the rules, or... Oh, great Divine. She’s going to murder me.

My escort is forcing me into thiefdom. Probably not the best circumstance for me, considering I’m already their prisoner. Bright side? At least she’s not murdering me. I’m just an accomplice to a crime.

I’m here. With a woman I know nothing about, other than the fact that Hojat seemed a little scared of her and she likes to steal barrels in her free time.

Alright, I’ll take you to your saddles now. But this wine barrel thing? Never happened,” she tells me sternly, pointing at my face. “I’m not joking.” “I never joke about wine,” I reply. “Good. Let’s go.”

everyone here has earned their place, whether they have a cock or a cunt.

“I bet it’s not even true,” I spit. “You made Hojat tell me that, didn’t you?” “Powerful as I am, I don’t have enough bribes in the world to make Hojat lie. My mender is infuriatingly honest at times.”

You want to know what I think?” he asks quietly. “No.” “Well, I’m going to tell you anyway.” I sneer. “Goody.”

Their bare chests are riddled with the marks they’ve sustained, cheeks pink from the cold, lips swollen from punches. But they grin. Actually grin, like tearing each other apart is fun for them. I think this army needs a new hobby.

“Thanks for thinking you were protecting me...but can you not do that again? They’re gonna give me shit for this for weeks.”

He knows. He kissed me. He knows. He kissed me. He knows what I did, and yet...he still kissed me.

Stop getting hit.” Really helpful stuff.

It’s been ingrained into me.” “Well, un-ingrain it!” Osrik barks out. See? Really helpful.

Commander, I must insist that you don’t touch King Midas’s favored.” “I must insist that you shut the fuck up,” Osrik drawls.

If you don’t worry, you’re either a fool or you’ve been fooled. I watch him from my peripheral. At least he’s a pretty fool who knows how to use his cock.