The Royal Reception Room was less a room and more a cathedral of gold, velvet, and intimidation. Jay stood between his mother and Leo, feeling like a sacrificial lamb dressed in designer cream.
The heavy oak doors swung open, and the Royal Family entered.
King Alaric led the pack. He was a mountain of a man, booming and dominant, radiating "I own everything" energy. Beside him was the Great Queen, the grandmother—a tiny, wrinkled woman with kind eyes that seemed out of place in this viper pit.
Then came the Queen Consort, Helena. She was beautiful in a sharp, frozen way. Her smile didn't reach her eyes. She hated Kael because he was the proof of the King's first love, and she wanted her son, Liam, on the throne.
Trailing behind was Princess Elara, a teenage brat glued to her phone, looking like being here was a violation of her human rights.
"So this is him," King Alaric boomed, stepping forward. He looked Jay up and down like he was inspecting a racehorse.
"The boy who will secure the South."
"He looks... delicate," Queen Helena said, her voice dripping with fake honey. "Are we sure he can handle the... stresses of Royal life? He looks like a gust of wind might shatter him."
"He is lovely, Helena, hush," the Great Queen said, hobbling forward to pat Jay's cheek.
"Look at those eyes. Grey as a winter storm. You are a beauty, child."
Jay kept his mouth shut. NPC Mode active, he thought. Just smile and wave, boys.
Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. The side doors opened.
Prince Kael walked in.
Jay's breath hitched. He hated himself for it immediately.
'Oh no,' Jay thought, panic rising.' He's hot. Like, criminally hot. Why does God give the best faces to the worst people? This is a scam.'
Kael didn't storm in. He glided. He wore a sharp black military suit that fit his broad shoulders like a second skin. He looked bored, cold, and utterly terrifying. He didn't bow to the King; he just gave a curt nod.
"I'm here," Kael said. His voice was deep—a subwoofer that vibrated in Jay's chest.
Kael turned his head and finally looked at his betrothed.
He stood ten feet away, hands in his pockets, and looked.
But it wasn't a polite look. It was a violation.
Kael's pitch-black eyes started at Jay's polished shoes, traveled up his slim legs, lingered on his waist, traced the line of his throat, and finally locked onto his face. It was clinical and carnal at the same time. Kael was mentally peeling that expensive cream suit off Jay's body, checking for bruises, imagining how he would look tied up, crying, and broken.
Jay was standing by the window, the sunlight hitting his messy brown hair, making his pale skin look translucent. He looked impossibly small in that suit, his grey eyes wide and unguarded for a split second. He didn't look like a business deal. He looked like an angel that had fallen into a pit of snakes.
Kael's boredom evaporated.
'Fuck,' Kael thought, his dark eyes narrowing. 'I should have gone to that restaurant that day.'
He had expected a burden. A chore. Instead, he was looking at the prettiest thing he had ever seen. But it wasn't a soft, romantic appreciation. It was the look a wolf gives a particularly fluffy rabbit.
'He's tiny,' Kael mused, his gaze dropping to Jay's slim waist again, then back up to those lips. 'I could snap him in half with one hand. '
Breaking him is going to be... entertaining.
"Sorry to Lin," Kael thought with a mental smirk. But this toy is an upgrade.
Look at that neck. I could bruise that so easily. And those eyes... he looks innocent. This is going to be fun.
Kael felt a flicker of annoyance that he'd skipped the date. 'I could have started playing with him yesterday. A waste.'
"This is Jay," the King announced proudly.
"Your future consort."
Kael smirked. It was a small, nasty thing. "He'll do"
'He'll do?' Jay thought indignantly.' Excuse me? I am a limited edition, you tall man'
Suddenly, the main doors burst open.
"I'm here! I'm sorry!"
Liam rushed in, looking flushed and irritated. He adjusted his tie, glaring at the room. "The traffic was a nightmare. I came as soon as—"
Liam stopped. He saw Jay.
Liam froze. He had agreed to this marriage weeks ago when the King first proposed it. He was ready to bite the bullet for the political power. He expected Jay to be average, maybe a bit dull.
But standing there, bathed in the morning light, Jay was breathtaking. Pretty, elegant, and glowing with a fragile beauty that made Liam's chest tighten.
Liam looked from Jay to Kael.
Kael was standing there, looking like he had just won the lottery and was already planning how to spend the money.
A wave of bitter, ugly jealousy crashed over Liam.
'It's not fair,' Liam thought, his hands clenching into fists. 'I was supposed to have him. I was the one who said yes first! Why does Kael always get the best things? First the Crown, now the prize?'
"You're late, Liam," Kael said smoothly, not even looking at his brother. His eyes were still glued to Jay, undressing him again. "As usual. You really lack the discipline for these matters."
"I was supposed to be part of this discussion," Liam snapped, stepping closer, his eyes hungry as he looked at Jay. "This was my arrangement originally."
"Was," Kael corrected, finally tearing his eyes away from Jay to give Liam a look of pure condescension. "But you hesitated. You were weighing the pros and cons. I took action. That's why I'm the Crown Prince, and you're just... the spare."
Queen Helena stiffened, her smile turning brittle.
"Besides," Kael added, glancing back at Jay with a dark, perverse glint in his eyes. "I think he suits my... tastes... much better."
Jay felt a shiver run down his spine that had nothing to do with his heart condition.
'He looks at me like I'm a snack he's saving for later,' Jay thought, swallowing hard. 'And not in a romantic way. In a 'National Geographic predator documentary' way. Note to self: Do not get eaten.'