Such arrogance.
Queen Tiandra thought as she stared at the insolent figure that hadn't moved a muscle in deference from the moment she swept into the jail cell.
She frowned, there was a time and place to be arrogant.
As a fey ruler who possessed arrogance in a great deal of abundance she did not mind her underlings to have a bit but not to the degree where it could eclipse her own.
"Dayton, leave us," she ordered as walked further into the gloomy space. "Don't forget to listen for my call when I'm done."
"My queen, think about your safety," protested Commander Dayton. "I don't think that leaving you alone with such dangerous vermin is a good idea. He will —,"
"Ravish me? Don't be ridiculous. He is but a small bug in the face of my power that can be easily crushed under my feet," scoffed Queen Tiandra. "Lord Mulciber might be lacking in manners but he is not a total idiot. Now leave and close the door behind you."
Commander Dayton paused to glare at Andras in warning before politely turning to leave the room.
The door slammed shut behind the commander as if the hounds of Hades followed fast on his heels.
"Alone at last, now that you are back in my presence you wayward oaf do you think that you can get yourself together and show me the proper courtesy?" chastised the Summer Queen. "I heard when you were captured by Commander Dayton you burned some of my prized possessions in defiance of my most recent edict. Didn't your guardians teach you that such lowborn behavior is wasteful and irredeemable. You did not have to do that to get my attention or was that just your way of showing off your bravado to the populace."
Andras stared at the Queen in shock for a few seconds before his laughter filled the room.
Then he stood to his feet in a ceremonious fashion and gave a respectable deep bow to the Queen.
"Please pardon my manners. Good evening, Your Majesty," said Andras with great aplomb. "I'm sorry we started off on the wrong foot. It seems I've been hasty with my judgments. I thought you were just another power hungry monarch with no common sense. I'm fully aware based on my current surroundings how precarious my present situation is and would rather not do anything to cause you any further displeasure."
Queen Tiandra snorted in an unladylike manner befitting a queen as she moved in closer to get a better view of Lord Mulciber who remained in the corner of his cell.
Even though everything around him was dark and shrouded in shadows she could still make out the outline of a shirt that had probably been pristine white before he landed himself in the dungeon.
The next thing of importance was his size and girth, Mulciber was not small, in fact he was big and tall, very tall.
She knew that if he came closer he tower over her diminutive size but that did not stop her from commanding, "it's too dark in your corner of the room. Come closer so that I can inspect you."
"My Queen, I have not bathed since I've been tossed in this dungeon and left to rot. You are of a delicate temperament the last thing I would want is to appear undignified by assaulting your nostrils with my stench. Like I said before, the last thing I want is to cause offence."
Flippant mockery.
She should expect nothing less from the uncouth youth who she deliberately enticed into a trap.
He was pompous and had no respect for authority.
Even though his attitude grated on her last nerves this was precisely the reason she had chosen him for this task.
Still, if she was to remain in control of the situation Queen Tiandra must remind him of her authority and show that she had the upper hand at all times.
"I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing but I'm not such a weakling that I could not bear to see you punished for your impudence. No one had ever escaped this dungeon and I have seen braver men than you broken and reduced to nothingness. So if you're as smart as I think you are, do as I say. Step into the light and let me get a better look at you."
In an instant he was right in front of her, so fast she didn't see him move but by the heavens, he was handsome.
He had definitely gotten his mother's looks.
The dark skin of the winter court, thick brows that arched over deep-set dark eyes, and pale long silver hair sitting befitting a prince of hell.
Pert lips curved into a smirk appeared sensual in contrast to his high cheekbones that gave his cheeks a gaunt look.
Now the best part was his body, well strapped down there, tall and sleek with muscles bulging all over.
His greatest appeal was the way he moved like a finely honed machine, sultry animalistic grace that made her wet and stirred the senses.
Good looks were not needed for her purpose but she was glad this eye candy had it in abundance.
"I'm grateful that you do not really want to break me," replied Andras softly "So tell me the real reason you require my presence. What plan for me do you have up your sleeve?"
Queen Tiandra was forced to crane her neck to stare him in the eyes.
"You think too highly of yourself but you are not entirely wrong. If I wanted you dead for destroying my property Dayton could have easily accomplished that without my presence. I could easily make an example out of you to show the kinfolk that I do not tolerate piracy but I won't deny that I have another purpose for you. I could just as easily let that young man, what's his name, Malachi. Take the fall for your actions. I understand that as a ruler of Hell's Island you would want to protect all the inhabitants of your island. So if you wish to save him from death it would be prudent to listen to what I have to say and act accordingly. Do you understand?"
For a second it seemed like time stood still.
Andras became like a stone faced statue and anger radiated from his entire body.
His change in disposition from friendly to antagonistic in an instant forced her to rethink her actions and take a step back to put some space between them.
The Queen of Summer Court who rarely feared anything actually shivered in fear that moment.
To think she was actually afraid of him in the heat of the moment.
Her body felt alive as she long thought such sentiments dead and the knowledge that this man could intimidate her meant he was absolutely perfect for her purpose.
The fact that she could still feel fear meant that there was still hope for her as a ruler.
She had not grown to think of herself as untouchable which had been many a monarch's downfall.
Dangerous, Commander Dayton had labeled Mulciber earlier.
He was far more dangerous than the both of them were led to believe.
"Get on with it. Tell me what you want from me," Andras asked coldly.