Poison the Well

As we both appeared at the top of the stairs, the Court paused and clapped at our arrival. Xavier waved a hand and smiled—the way he could charm a room made my heart melt, and after the kiss we’d shared, it was even harder to resist him.

“Come, brother!” He winked and motioned for me to descend the stairs at his side.

Two steps and I was standing next to him. We continued in unison. There were more members of the Obsidian Shroud in attendance than either of us had expected, since we didn’t fit the typical twin mold. As we moved through the crowd, greeting our elders and keeping the daughters of the Shroud at bay, I saw Queen Hinata descending the stairs with her Lady-in-Waiting whispering at her side. Her eyes were fixed on me as she abruptly stopped, clenching her fists. What could possibly have her this heated?

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, I could tell she was headed right for us. I braced myself for whatever had pushed her over the edge this time.

“Happy birthday, Xavier, Ezra.” A smile had replaced her disdain. She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek first. Then she turned to me, and as her lips approached my cheek, her voice took on a sickening sweetness.

“Poison in my well? I think not!” she whispered in my ear. “Meet me in the parlour in ten minutes. If you are a second late, there will be hell to pay!”

What had I done? Poison the well? What was she talking about? Panic rose, and my back straightened. Why had I managed to upset Queen Hinata and receive a confession of love on the same night? I couldn't catch a break.

She pulled away, placing her hands on our shoulders, her gaze shifting from his eyes to mine. “I guess you’re both men now. Time to marry a daughter of the Shroud, and you both have your pick of the litter.” She turned abruptly and walked off.

Xavier faced me, placing his hand gently at my waist. “What did she say to you, Ezra?” His grip tightened, and he pulled my hips into his. “I want you thinking about nothing else this evening but us, our future, and the answer I know you’ll give. Only an hour and a half left, after all!” His lips were slightly parted, and his tongue caressed his bottom lip. He grinned and excused himself to toast the Shroud members who had approached from behind.

It had already been five minutes since Hinata had threatened me in secret, and I needed to make sure I was on time for our rendezvous. When I reached the parlour, I grabbed the door handle, a wave of stress washing over me. I twisted it and stepped inside.

“Early, I see—eager to converse, Ezra?” She was already sitting, legs crossed, black satin draping to her feet. Her long fingernails rapped on the arm of her chair, one eyebrow raised.

“My Queen.” I bowed to her and took a step forward. “I fear I know not what you would like to discuss. I hate to think that I have upset you,” I pleaded. “Please tell me how I have caused you grief.”

She stood abruptly and came within an inch of my face, grabbing my jaw tightly. “You ungrateful little slut! I took you in and gave you a home when your good-for-nothing mother died. I protected you and raised you as my own, and what thanks do I get?”

Her fingernails dug into my skin.

“You seduce my son, the true Prince of the Shroud! You lull him into comfort and convince him that you are more important to him than his bloodline! His real Family!” she hissed. “That’s right, Cynthia heard everything between you at the top of the stairs! You think you can hide things from me? I see and hear everything.”

She let go of my face, and I felt blood dripping onto my collar.

“You have until midnight, and not a moment later, to break his heart willingly, or I will make you both suffer. I will take from you the thing you hold most dear: his memory of loving you.”

Her smile made one thing clear: she meant every word. With the Obsidian Power she possessed, she could do it at will.

I knew it was pointless to try to convince her there was nothing going on. I also knew the risks associated with the obfuscation ritual she would use to remove Xavier’s memories. How could she threaten her own son with this when a simple misstep would leave him dead? I couldn’t stand to hear her speak so callously.

“How could you threaten us like that? Threaten him like that? You know the risks, Queen Hinata. If you love him, then would it not please you to see him happy? We aren’t related by blood, and if we ran away, no one would ever know. Your honour would remain intact. Besides, with your youth, you could birth a new prince—or, even better, a princess.”

I didn’t know how this had turned into me bargaining or making such rash claims.

Her laughter rang loudly in my ears. “I will hear no more! You presume to know what plans I have for the Obsidian Shroud? You know nothing, and you are nothing. You will never have my son if I have anything to say about it. You have one hour!”

She shoved me against the wall and exited the room, slamming the door behind her.

My legs shook as I used the sleeve of my jacket to wipe the blood from my face. How would I convince Xavier that my feelings for him weren’t real and that I had no desire to be with him? Nothing would make me happier than spending my life with him.

The door opened suddenly.

“Ezra!” Xavier rushed over to me, still standing by the wall. His warm lips, wet and soft, met mine with a deep hunger. I felt the need, the desire we had for one another, like a familiar electric pulse coursing beneath my skin. A tear ran down my face at the thought of never experiencing this again—or worse, knowing that Xavier might lose the memory of it forever. We gently parted, and our eyes met. He saw my tears, and concern flashed across his face.

“What’s wrong? I saw Mother leave just before I came in—what did she say?” His hands held my cheeks and in only a moment, I broke.

“She knows everything! Cynthia must have overheard your confession earlier and informed the Queen!” Panic crept into my voice, and I pushed him away. “We can’t be together, although there is nothing in this world I want more. She has threatened total obfuscation of your memories, Xavier. Your memories of me, of us.”

“That bitch!” Disgust and anger grew in his tone. “How dare she threaten you? Us? I have had enough of her bullshit, and I will not let her rule my life or decide who love! Now, you hear me, Ezra.” He pressed against me and held me tight in his arms. “I love you, I have always loved you, and I will never stop! I’ll die before I let her take you from me.”

He kissed me again, more passionately than before. His hands were all over me and a low growl filled the silence. It was like being devoured.

“Xavier, listen.” I tried to make him stop. “Please, just…!”

He kissed me harder.

“You asked for this!” I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. My palm stung where it connected. His head twisted away before snapping back. I could see that he was pissed. I don't think I have ever seen him this angry.

“I will not stand for this! You are mine!” Xavier clenched his fist, turned swiftly, and stormed out of the room. I heard his voice trailing off.

“Get ready, bitch, ’cause here I come!”