“Words, Daisy.”
“No,” I mumble, utterly flustered.
He smirks, tongue gliding along his bottom lip as his gaze drops to my now exposed breasts. “Simply exquisite,” he murmurs.
“I… I think it’s time to rinse the conditioner out now,” I stutter, doing anything I can to break the indescribable tensionthat sits between us. He chuckles softly, telling me to turn around.
When I wake up again,Korithax is gone.
The room is quiet, still bathed in the ever-present dusky glow of the realm. The strange clock on the wall now reads nine a.m.. I honestly don’t know how I managed to fall back to sleep this morning. Korithax had climbed into bed beside me after once again drying my hair, no chattering teeth needed this time. However, instead of wrapping me in his arms, he simply said goodnight and turned over, leaving me to stare at his large, tattooed back, his wings vanishing once more. I studied him for a while, not being able to drift off easily after the way he had kissed me in the shower. The second we left the bathroom, it was like everything went back to normal, like he was barely tolerating my existence. His constant personality flips had me thinking I’d agreed to marry Hell’s version of Dr Jekyll.
I laid awake for what felt like hours, wondering if his body filled with butterflies the moments our lips touched like mine did, or if he was simply just showing me how it felt to truly be kissed.
A soft knocktaps against the door.
“Yes?” I call gently, sitting up in the large bed, pulling the covers up to my chin.
The door pushes open, and a tall, willowy woman enters, her skin a pale silver hue, kissed with violet undertones. Her long dark hair sits braided with threads of glowing crystal strands. Her eyes are utterly mesmerising, flickering like candlelighttrapped in glass. She’s wearing a robe of midnight blue, the fabric billowing like mist as she bows her head politely.
“I’m Serya, one of Lord Kaelith’s chambermaidens. I have been asked to assist you in preparing for your next journey.”
I blink at her, enthralled by how ethereal she is. She’s as captivating as the sky outside. Her aura radiates in a soft green glow around her. I wasn’t entirely self-conscious about my looks, but the women in these realms were of a whole other level. I looked as plain as paper compared to them all. Hopefully, immortality makes me look slightly more interesting.
She steps further into the room, smiling softly at me. “Lord Korithax asked me to inform you that he is awaiting you in the throne room with King Kaelith. I believe you have your outfit in your pack, yes?”
“Right,” I murmur, brushing the sleep from my eyes. “Let me just go get it.”
Serya helps me dress,and I can’t help but be flawed yet again by Lyvia’s choices. The outfit is absolutely stunning.
A sundress in gold and soft yellow, milkmaid style, cinched at the waist with a corset bodice and straps over my shoulders lined with sunstone crystals. The skirt ends just above my knees, swaying as I move. Tiny golden vines twine along my calves, all the way up to my thighs, attached to the golden shoes on my feet—simple, yet beautiful. Serya carefully braids my hair into two long French plaits, weaving delicate golden threads through them to accentuate my already sunshine coloured hair. My eyes are dusted with shimmering gold eyeshadow, and my lips painted with a luminous, clear gloss that has specks of gold leaf in. She slides a metal cuff up my arm to sit in the middle of my bicep. The piece is gold, vines poking from the band in all directions before meeting in the middle with Korithax’s sigil.
This is the most I’ve looked like myself since agreeing to be queen, yet at the same time, so far from myself that it makes my head ache. These were the types of dresses I would wear in summer, and the yellows and golds screamed Daisy Sandoval. But this dress, this makeup, was far more elegant than anything I would’ve worn back home.
“You look radiant,” Serya says softly, blowing a handful of golden dust over me that clings to my skin, making my pale complexion shimmer.
“Thank you.” I blush, offering her a small smile.
She escortsme down the twisting corridors of the mountain palace until we arrive at the towering door of the throne room. The air feels colder here, making goosebumps prickle along my arms. Serya bows and leaves me at the threshold, wishing me a safe journey as she saunters away.
I step inside, my eyes scanning the vast room. It’s impressive, yet cold. Whereas Fjellheim Heights’ throne room was radiant, this room truly lacked any personality other than a few shimmery crystals. It’s also empty—save for Kaelith.
“Ahh, Daisy,” he says smoothly, rising from his throne. “Please, come in.”
I hesitate, glancing around nervously. “Where’s Korithax?”
He waves a hand casually. “He said he was on his way to you. You must have just missed each other.”
That feels… unlikely. Still, I step forward slowly despite my apprehension. I didn’t want to come across as rude, even though I didn’t have the kindest of welcomes when I arrived.
“Please, sit.” He gestures to a plush velvet seat placed beside his glowing throne.
I move reluctantly toward it, perching on the edge of the cushion, not daring to make myself too comfortable. Something about this feels very wrong.
“I am so unbelievably sorry about what happened when you arrived in my realm,” Kaelith says, folding his hands in his lap. “I am truly appalled at the way you were treated.”
“You didn’t look so appalled when I was bleeding on your floors,” I say quietly. “Not until you knew who I was.”
“Yes. My mistake.” His smile tightens, irritation flickering across his features.
