Nine Dragons Gold by Katy Haye

Author:Katy Haye [Haye, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Plumshine Books
Published: 2020-06-20T16:00:00+00:00

17 – Wise Advice

“Father, please join me.” I could hardly refuse to admit him, so best to appear as though we were united while the servants were observing. “Could you ask my maid to bring refreshments?” I threw at the guard. He inclined his head and walked away.

I opened the door and walked into my room, father stepping close at my back.

“Well?” He barely waited for the door to close. “Is it done?”

I turned to face him. Father stood with his hands on his hips, his bulk almost obscuring the door. My palms turned clammy. It had been easy to tell myself I was doing the right thing when I was with the prince. Now, it would have been much easier to have used the potion rather than confide a failure to my father.

I considered lying, telling him what he wanted to hear, but I feared the prince’s indifference to me would be easy to see at the evening’s meal. I straightened my shoulders and picked a story that wasn’t quite the truth, but held enough of it that it might appease him. “There was no chance to use the potion.”

“What?” His expression darkened. “What do you mean? This was the perfect occasion. You—”

“He didn’t eat or drink a thing.”

Father took a threatening step forward. “I saw a servant enter with drinks.”

He had been spying? I swallowed, remembering the prince facing me and drinking down his glass as though testing me. Father couldn’t possibly know that, though. “I asked for a drink when he offered nothing, but the prince took no refreshment himself.”

Father cursed, his hands tightening to fists. He took another step towards me. I held my ground while my knocking knees longed to run away. “I know you’re useless, but are you entirely witless, too?”

“No, indeed, I—”

His hand swung, his open palm smacking the side of my head. I staggered to the side, my ears ringing, shock slowing those wits. “You could have proposed a toast!” He roared. I saw his hand move but I was too clumsily slow to evade him and his other hand slammed into my other ear. “Must I think of everything?!”

I fell to the ground, my fingers clutching at the thick carpet as though I could pull myself away, out of his reach.

“It was the perfect opportunity and you have wasted it.”

A smack sounded and a sharp pain exploded in my chest. It took a second for my rattling brains to understand he had kicked me, his toe catching my ribs. “Do you know what I risked to get you this chance, and you have wasted it!” He loomed over me. I curled up, protecting myself.

He grabbed the front of my gown and hauled me to my feet. Dizzy with pain, ringing filling my head, I could find only one question. “What hold does Redmor have over you?”

Father’s lips twisted in a snarl. As though moving through water, I saw his hand lift for another strike. A whimper escaped my lips. Please, just let this be over.

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