King of the Unsightly (Tempting Trickery #1)

A Fool’s Game

I held my tongue as Kaschel took the needle and thread out.

My eyes squeezed shut, I attempted to think of anything but the needle piercing my skin.

My thundering pulse betrayed me and let Kaschel know how much this affected my nerves.

Something cold touched me and I flinched hard and squeaked all at once.

Then nothing.

I slowly blinked, and Kaschel perked up one eyebrow, humored by my cowardliness.

The needle was far from my skin. All he had done was disinfect the area. I laughed awkwardly and swallowed.

“Are you going to continue to squirm and make this difficult?” Kaschel asked in a low voice as he kept my hand in place.

“Probably.” I wasn’t going to lie again.

I loathed getting stitches, and without numbing it? Even more terrified. How did I managed to inflict this wound on myself?

Adrenaline was one hell of a drug.

I looked down at the needle, and the enormous size caught me off guard and I gasped.

The fact that it only took one look to sober me up immediately terrified the heck out of me.

“Okay. Okay. Okay. Do it. Do it now,” I said before all my confidence left my body. I scrunched my face, purposely avoiding his moving hands. The needle poked through my skin, and I threw my head back. “FUCK. Couldn’t you warn me?”

The needle weaved in and out of my wrist as the thread dragged behind it. My head spun as the queasiness of the needle puncturing my skin over and over again made me want to throw up or pass out, I couldn’t tell which one.

Kaschel mumbled Almost done as he yanked on the thread.

I yelped, reacting to the tinge of pain.

I wanted to smack the living hell out of this man as his lip twitched when he finished tying the knot.

Kaschel leaned away and grabbed the gauze from the dresser, all without letting go of my hand.

“Why are you so accustomed to this? It doesn’t seem typical for a royal.”

He wrapped my freshly stitched skin, not lifting his concentration to meet my curious gaze. “I have many enemies who wish to see me falter. Showing weakness was a luxury I could not afford. Flaws got you killed. So, concealing injuries is mere child’s play.”

“Oh . . .”

“Are you feeling pity for me now, little flea? I’d have to advise you that stroking my ego would be a much more effective way into my pants. I am a fae full of vanity after all,” he said mockingly as he tipped his head back; his eyes shimmered in the dim lighting as they wandered down to my lips.

“And you’re deflecting.” My mouth curved into a grin. “Have you become easier to read, or have you lowered your guard? Both would be gross errors on your part. You should start worrying about your lapse of judgment, old man.”

“Are you threatening me?” His smile intensified, exposing his puckish disposition as he leaned closer, his chest slightly pressed against mine. His head tilted sideways as he attentively watched my lips. “How presumptive of you. Maybe ... I find your reactions amusing.” He moved his hand to my cheek, brushed my bottom lip, and placed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Do you wish to find out if I'm easy?”

I almost lost my breath when his rough hand caressed my skin but we had been here before.

He was either testing or teasing me.

He wouldn’t play me for a sap again.

I turned my cheek and pried Kaschel’s hand away.

We locked eyes as I leaned more into his body. “Thank you for stitching me up but”—I looked down at his full lips and lowered my head to his ear so he could feel my breath against his skin and rested one hand on his shoulder—“I think we’re done here.”

Kaschel didn’t really want me, nor did I want him to.

He wanted to toy with me like everyone else in my life, and I was done playing the fool.

Two could play this dangerous game.