Chapter 6: Death Wish

RIVER

“I am really sorry this is happening.” I heard the Queen say and my stomach twisted in fear. 

Immediately, Paloma and I rushed to hide behind a giant vase near the staircase. 

“I will make sure every single person is severely punished for trespassing your lands.” The Queen finished, coming into the living room and standing just a few feet away from where we hid. 

“I’m afraid that won’t be necessary.” A male voice answered, and instantly my eyes closed in bliss. It was a voice so soothing and seductive like a lover’s whisper, scratching my brain in all the right ways. “They are all dead.”

My eyes bulged wide open, not at the deadly message per sey but at the way he said it like he was amused or pleased in some way. Peeping through the small opening behind where we hid, I saw a man so tall, my neck craned up. 

He had his back to us, and he was dressed in clothes that did nothing to hide his small waist, buff legs and wide back. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. 

It was the fact that he had icy blonde hair so long it kissed his waist, and they were full and curly like a woman’s. 

Gods. I wonder what he looks like. 

“Holy fucking shit!” Paloma’s voice echoed in my head, catching my attention. “It’s one of the Whitegrove brothers! They rarely show their faces so if he’s here, there’s a big problem!”

I really looked at him again. Only one of the two brothers was said to have hair like that and his name was Angel. 

Angel Whitegrove also known as The King’s Wrath. 

“I am here as a courtesy warning.” Angel continued. “The King is fed up with people trying to cross our borders, so if we find one more person from your Kingdom, he’s going to sue you to the Court of Kings.”

The Luna Queen gasped subtly. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll get my Kingdom in order. It won’t happen again.”

“Thank you, Ruby.” Angel tilted his head slightly in what seemed to be a bow, then suddenly he turned, looking right through the hole at me and my breath caught.

Eyes like liquid gold, I never thought I could meet a person five times more good looking than Densmore but also five times as intimidating.  

Something about Angel reminded me of lost treasure that draws people in only for them to get eaten alive by the deadly dragon hiding beneath it.

Because that’s how he made me feel. 

Like he could eat me alive. 

I stayed rooted to the spot, his face carving itself into my mind. It was a face I will never forget. Angel was androgynous, looking both like a charming male and a gorgeous woman at the same time. 

It was nothing like I had ever seen and something about staring into those eyes made my skin flush and my privates pulse with need. 

Instantly, embarassment warmed my cheeks, making it feel absolutely wrong for a freak like me to even have a sexual desire for an angel like him.

With a wink, Angel smiled and went away and I was left stunned, wondering if that just really happened. 

Looking at Paloma, I found her watching me with that same hostile look again but this time mixed with confusion. 

“Why did he look at you like that?” Her voice hardened and my blood ran cold. 

Paloma didn’t use her inside voice. She had spoken out loud and before I could turn to see if the Queen heard her, my worst fear came true.

The Queen came around the vase and found us. 

Found me. 

“You again!” Her eyes turned red and before I knew it, her hand wrapped around my throat, lifting me in the air. “Seems like you have a death wish, River,” her voice turned animalistic. “and I will be happy to grant it!”