“Shocking.”Grabbing the knife, sheswingsit around a bit, testing its weight.Her nimble fingers move it in every direction, impressing me more than I’llever admit.
“Now where would a good brownie learn that?”
Stilling the blade, she lowersit to her side.Her eyes bouncingbetween us,her voice grows small.“I taught myself.”
Jace whistles.“I’d like to see you on the training field.”
Her eyeslightup as bright as beambugs before dulling into a hard, suspicious line.“You can’t buy me that easily.”
I smile in amusement.“You’re assuming you’re worth buying?Cute.”
Had Jace not stepped between us and grabbed her arm, she would’ve tried to stab me.“I’ll take that back, thank you very much,” hesays, relievingher ofherweapon.Turning to me, he shovesmetowards my desk.“Go get on with your boring paperwork.I’ve a protégéto train and a goddess to convince to marry me.”
If hewasanyone else, I wouldhave fired him a long time ago.
Instead, Idoas he requests.Settling in my chair, I watch the door close behind them.Then I turn my attention to the agreement in front of me.Picking up the thick stack of paper, I check over all the terms and conditionsthe Vylian king wants me to agree to.My mind staysfocused.Sharp.Itdoesn’twander to a certain brownie getting dressed on the floor below me.
Itdoesn’twish I could see through the wood beneath my feet.
And it most certainlydoesn’timagine the dresses sliding down herbody, then pooling on the mosaic floor.
Fuck.
As my newest pen snaps, I can almost hear Jace laughing out in the hall.
Fourteen
A good browniealways strives for peace.
Especially in times of war.- Arienna
“So does your brother like being pegged?”
Nicholas coughsinto hiscup, his drink spraying out of his mouth andnose.“What –Where –”
“In his ass.”I tilt my head as I stare at myself in the three full-length mirrorsin front of me.They follow the curve of the pedestal, allowing me to see myself from many angles.
Swaying side to side,I makemy wedding dress swoosh.“Normally, anyway,”I say.“But I guess it could go in his mouth.”I wince.“I don’t want to know about the urethra.”Though I’mcertain someone somewhere hastried it.
Shuddering, Irunmy hands down myskirt, smoothing thedarksilky material.
“No.”Hecoughssome more.“I know what… pegging is.”His eyes refuse to meet mine inany ofthe mirrors.“I mean, wheredid that come from?”
“Fabiasaysall fairies like being pegged.She researched all about you for her books.I’ve never done it though, so if you have any pointers –”
“Ajax!”Nicholas hollers.“Bring over another dress.”
“What?Why?”I ask, trying not to sound irritated.“I like this one.”
I look down at the gods-awful dress.Dirt coloured, it bunchesat my waist and sagsover my boobs.But Idon’tcare anymore.I’mtired of trying on dresses.I’mtired of being poked and prodded.I’ve never been inside a tree before.I want to explore the castle.I want to find Fabia.I want to accidentally run into Richard and see if he hasa semi.
“No fucking duh,” Ajax answersas hecomesstriding over with a dress in his hands.“That one is hideous.”He shootsme a look of pity.“You look like you have the chest of a man.”Glancing at Nicholas, headds, “And you are not picking any more.”
“I know my brother’s tastes.”
“Your brother doesn’t have any taste.Wearing black armour with pockets is not taste.This” –heholdsup the dress in his hands– “is taste.”
And oh baby,doI agree.Feather white with black-and-silver embroidered thorns snaking up the hem, the dresstakesmy breath away.The bodiceismade up ofdozens offeathers arcing from the waistline to over the breasts.Ihaveno idea how it’llpossibly stay up asIdon’tseeany straps, but it falling down in front of Richardwillbe no bad thing…
