Immortal Sins: A Fantasy Academy Romance by Cosgrove Anya J

Author:Cosgrove, Anya J
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anya J Cosgrove
Published: 2023-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

19

INDECENT PROPOSAL

Golden tapestries blur at the edge of my vision, and the palace’s walls close in on me as I bolt out of the throne room. Vertical stripes in the stained glass windows scintillate under the red Fae sun, royal prison bars meant to mesmerize the weak. The opulence of the decor suffocates me.

I wish I could remember the quickest way to a balcony, because I’m simply gasping for air.

“Jules!” Cole shouts, but I ignore him.

Fire magic writhes beneath my palms, begging to be set loose.

He chases after me. “Jules, stop!”

This time, his plea jolts me back to reality. The acrid scent of burnt clothes stings my nose, my control over the magic slipping. Cinders pepper the tunic I’m wearing, and the blaze will soon scorch my skin.

I spin around. “What was Oz talking about?”

Cole’s bare feet squeak against the checkered hallway as he comes to an abrupt stop. “Oz babbles.”

“No. Answer me.” I dig my fingers into his lower arm.

“Infernal magic.”

“Short answers won’t cut it. Elaborate, your Highness,” I clip.

He moves to tuck a curl behind my ear, but I slide back a few feet, daring him to try again. If he thinks he can sweet talk me into submission, he’s got a fireball coming for his face.

His hand hangs awkwardly in the air before he scratches the back of his neck. “Oz implied that I married you for your powers. He wanted to drive a wedge between us.”

“Half an hour ago, I felt fine—perfect even—but now…” I bring a hand to my chest, my breathing still ragged. Fire builds below my emerald pendant, oblivious to my commands. “That throne room is enchanted or cursed—or enchanted to feel like a curse.”

Every time I step within these gold-plated walls, I feel small and insignificant. My nerves hammer at my insecurities as delicately as a troll with a stone club.

Cole averts his gaze. “Yes. It’s Fae magic at its finest. An insidious spell that escalates negative emotions and anxieties about ones-self. Even I am not totally immune.”

The ache in my ribs eases. My witchy-instincts were right, and I’m not entirely to blame for the treacherous doubts that invaded my mind.

“Funny how you forgot to mention it yesterday,” I growl.

“We never got around to it.”

I huff and escape to a nearby interior courtyard, the fire still raging inside me.

A fountain spurts translucent water out into the air, and the breeze blows a soothing mist on my face. A mermaid statue with her breasts bare and a crown of rainbow fishes at her brow stalks us quietly. We’re nowhere close to Cole’s quarters, and the seaweed and foam colors of this wing remind me of Brie’s scales.

I pause. “Where are we?”

“In the Sea Queen apartments.” He forges ahead of me. “Don’t listen to Oz. His Faerie portal spit you out near Unseelie territory. He must know how precarious our borders truly are and how important a power like yours could become in the war against them.”

He stands next to the fountain and plays with one of the water jets.

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