The Serpent's Chains

Sabine

"She's not at your beck and call." Prince Cole stepped between me and the king.

"She is s salve in my palace. I want to see what magic she can perform. If she's an asset, I have the right to know," the king insisted.

My arm stung where the prince grabbed me. I could still feel the imprint of his fingers on my skin. I rubbed my arm and kept my eyes down. I wondered how long they'd continue to discuss me like I wasn't there.

"You can't make demands of my personal attendant. For that matter, my slave."

I winced each time Prince Cole emphasized 'my.' Yes, I belonged to him and I worked for him, realities I accepted. It was different to hear it stated so bluntly.

"I am the king and lord of this castle and country. Whatever I want, I can demand. And I want to see what she can do!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the king point at me. I lifted my gaze to watch the interaction between them.

"I'm not going to ask again, Son."

Prince Cole crossed his arms and stood rigidly. He was confident in refusing the king. I didn't think anyone could refuse the king. Prince Cole was the War Dragon. Perhaps it was him that no one refused.

"Then you'll be disappointed because my answer remains the same."

"Come now, Cole, you must understand the seriousness of this. After your report on your visit with King Verill, we need to know what resources we have at our disposal," King Talis insisted.

I tensed and took a half step back. What exactly did the king think I was capable of?

The prince bristled and all the tension from yesterday returned to his body. I could see his muscles strain against his shirt. The longer the king was around, the more irate he became. I doubted King Talis was ignorant of the prince's behaviors.

"It hasn't come to that yet, Father. And I will do everything in my power to prevent a war from coming to pass. You don't need to worry about military matters anymore, remember?"

The king scoffed. "Your refusal to produce an heir means that I will be sitting on the throne longer than I intended. I do need to worry about everything that happens in this country. If you really want the reigns, you'll have to prove it."

I could hear the prince grinding his teeth. The muscles on his neck popped out like thick ropes.

"I'm the War Dragon! I've seen more battles than you ever have and I know how to defend this country. Our current battlements are enough."

"For now. If an actual war breaks out, we will need more resources than you currently command."

"She's not a resource!" Prince Cole threw his arm out to the side.

Wincing, I tried to find something else in the garden to look at. Most of the conversation didn't make sense. I understood the words but the subtext was out of my grasp. Beyond the possibility of war with Stivalia, I didn't know enough about the Telasian military or their defenses to make sense of it.

It seemed like King Talis thought I was a resource for the military. That made no sense with the vast number of trained soldiers at his command, and the fearsome War Dragon. What could a slave offer?

The air rippled suddenly, and I felt the warmth of King Talis's heart magic. The feeling spread over me, pushed against my aura. It almost made me drowsy and my veins trembled with euphoria.

Prince Cole rolled his shoulders back and let loose a deep sigh.

"Why do you want to keep her a secret?" King Talis pressed.

"She's my personal attendant. It's hard enough to train a new one. I don't want to do that every couple of months."

"Think of your country, Cole. This is for a greater benefit than your own comfort."

The king's warm heart magic intensified. I pressed my hand against a nearby tree, letting it absorb my weight. The magic was so heavy. It wasn't directed at me, though. It was directed at Prince Cole. If I had access to my powers, I could have resisted but without them, I was ready to bend to the king's will. I couldn't imagine how I could resist it if it was directed at me.

How could the prince?

He tensed even more and I wondered if that irritable, tense side was a defense mechanism against his father's attempts to influence his feelings.

"Don't burn yourself out, father. The harder you push against me, the harder I push back. If it comes down to a battle of wills, I will win."

The king laughed. "If that's what you think, you haven't learned anything. Now, show me what I want to see. If you continue to refuse, I'll have to find another way to get your cooperation."

"Good luck with that," the prince snarked.

"Did you know your sister is hoping to marry a prince from Carsa? I haven't yet accepted the proposal. She'd be devastated if I didn't."

I clutched my chest. The king would threaten his own daughter's future to gain the prince's compliance? I straightened up and took a step toward the prince. Rosalie didn't have to suffer for his needless rebellion.

His eyes shot in my direction; the red flecks more noticeable against the green with his heightened emotions.

I had no right to ask a favor of him, but I nodded and whispered, "Please," as softly as I could. The princess was my friend and he knew it.

His eyes softened a moment and he looked back at his father. "Fine!" Prince Cole snapped.

He rounded on me, a surly scowl twisted his features and creased his brow. He motioned me over.

I braced myself against the king's powerful force and approached the prince. He grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of him. He stood so close behind me I could feel his breath on the back of my head.

My body stiffened. The king's magic suddenly felt very far away with the prince so close.

I stood perfectly still as his finger hooked around my loose hair and pulled it aside. His breath tickled the back of my neck and my stomach fluttered. A feverish wave of heat washed over me. My cheeks burned and I knew they had to be bright red.

He shifted, and I felt him lean in closer. "Do a simple spell. Nothing flashy. Nothing powerful." His whisper held all the strength of a prince's command.

I clenched my fists at my sides. Why should I obey? The king wanted to see my power and if meant he'd free me, I should show him what I could do. But the question still remained, why did he want to see my power? If it had to do with his war, then the reasons couldn't be good.

Another breath from the prince and the magical word released my collar. I sucked in a sharp breath and stumbled forward. Every flower in the garden suddenly looked brighter and more vibrant. New shades of color danced in front of my eyes.

I rubbed my fingers together, magic crackling along the digits, making my palms tingle. The king's heart magic barely touched me now. Prince Cole was right, he wasn't nearly as powerful as he pretended to be.

The King hadn't heard the prince's order. I could easily defy Prince Cole and show the king my power. He might free me, after all.

Then again, the prince would still be in a position of authority over me and he could punish me for disobeying an order.

"Come on, don't be shy," King Talis coaxed. "Show me a bit of your spark. I know you've got magic in you."

I nodded and went to the nearest rose bush. I summoned my magic and pressed my finger to a fully bloomed rose. Its color changed from deep red to a dark shade of purple, then black, then back to red.

"Hmm..." The king's eyelids drooped slightly and he sighed. "Well. That was something."

"Did you really think you'd find an all-powerful mage hidden among the slaves?" the prince jeered.

I sucked in a sharp breath and bowed my head. He knew I had power. I couldn't understand why the prince wanted to keep me shackled.

"I suppose it was a long shot," King Talis said dismissively. "Well, back to whatever it was you were doing." He sighed again and sauntered off through the gardens.

I turned to the prince. He wore a smug smirk on his lips and he nodded to me.

"Well done."

I gaped at him. "What kind of a game is this, Majesty?"

His smug look shifted to one of self-satisfaction and triumph. His eyes twinkled slightly and he shrugged. "That's not for you to concern yourself with, as long as the king loses interest."

"But it does concern me, doesn't it?"

His smile faded and he looked at me as though he just remembered I was there with him.

"All you need to know is that two mad kings are intent on fighting a war that could destroy both their nations. I'm the only one that seems reasonable enough to want to avoid it. Your little act helped accomplish that."

I bit back my remark. The prince was right. He didn't owe me any explanations. I had to listen and obey.