Page 50 of Gilded Curses

“We’ll get ourselves ready.”

The woman shoved a dress and undergarments into his hands. “Aurora has your things.”

With those words, she hastily retreated, and Orin slammed the door shut. He turned to find Sahira sitting up in bed with an eyebrow quirked at him.

“You didn’t have to scare the woman,” she said.

“They have no right coming in here… unless you give them permission.”

“We have no rights here.”

He couldn’t argue with that as he lifted the black dress. Colorful butterflies interwove the bodice and skirt, and dozens of buttons ran up the back.

“I can figure this out,” he said.

“Really? Because I’d guess you’re only an expert in taking them off, not putting them on.”

Before lifting his head to her, Orin braced himself for her irritation; instead, she smiled again. Rising from the bed, she glided over and kissed his cheek.

“Come now, dark fae, I’ll teach you something new,” she said.

“I’m always up for something new, Enchantress.”

She smiled as she sauntered into the bathroom with her hips swaying.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Brunch was strange, with Desmond and Orin talking while they sipped wine. Sheree was there too, but none of the other Elites joined them at the table tucked into an alcove away from the kitchen.

The table was nowhere near as big as the one in the main dining hall; it only had seating for ten. The brownies were perched on top of it in their tiny chairs while the rest of them sat near Desmond at the head of the table.

Normally, Sahira only picked at the food they served her. The idea of feasting on anything these creatures offered made her stomach turn, but it also rumbled incessantly after her night with Orin.

She was tired and somehow wide awake as she fought to keep a grin off her face. A big, toothy smile was entirely out of place here, but despite the guillotine blade scraping her neck, she couldn’t completely tamp down the smile tugging at her lips.

She’d never experienced anything like last night. Not only was the sex fantastic—it always was with Orin—but there had been a different level of intimacy between them. She’d never felt as close to any other man as she did with him.

She’d opened up to him more than ever before as they also talked and laughed between sleep and sex. No matter how much she’d tried to deny it, there was something special between them, something unique, and while death loomed over them, so did the possibility of something more….

If they could get out of here.

Trying not to let something that could prove impossible put a damper on her mood, she refused to focus on that. She wanted just one day of happiness in this forsaken Cursed Realm.

She tried not to look at Sheree too often while they ate. She’d barely paid attention to the woman before and couldn’t start now, but she was acutely aware of her cutting her food with dainty perfection while sitting beside Desmond.

Desmond was once again too loud and too much, but she’d gotten used to his boisterous persona. It might be the only thing about the man that wasn’t a lie.

She nibbled on her toast and looked across the table to Zeth and Elsa. They’d have to find a way to fill them in on what she learned last night. The brownies wouldn’t be a problem, as Orin also shared a connecting door with them.

When Sahira glanced at Orin, her heart skipped a little. He was so handsome as he laughed at whatever Desmond said. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think that laugh was real, but he despised this man as much as her; he was just far better at playing Desmond’s games.

She had no idea what the future held for them, but right now, Orin was hers, and she loved it. She also loved him.

There was no denying that anymore. Somewhere along the way, this arrogant, oblivious, manipulative, sometimes extremely cruel man had wormed his way into her heart. Most likely because while he was all those things, he was also loyal, smart, brave, and not quite as callous as he liked to portray.

He’d probably deny all of that, but he’d proven it to her while they traveled across the Barren Lands. He’d saved Pip from the geysers and hadn’t left Zeth behind for the spiders to eat.

Somewhere during all that, she’d fallen in love with a man she once considered an enemy and as trustworthy as a crocodile with an empty belly. If they somehow survived this, she had no idea what would happen between them… or with her family.