Page 77 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

“Stop!” I wedged myself in between them again before fire and shadows erupted in the hallway.

Darragh chuckled darkly, licking the blood from his split lip that was already healing. A bloodied smile spread across his face. “Feel better?”

“Not yet. But I will.” The corners of Gabriel’s mouth turned up in a venomous grin.

Enough of this.

I looked at neither of them as I walked past in a huff.

“Aurora! Where are you going?” Gabriel grabbed my wrist and spun me around.

Darragh stepped toward him aggressively, but I pulled away and held my hands up to them both to stop.

My voice rose, fists clenched to my sides. The fire within oozed out of the cracks in my mask. “I am in a foreign land, filled with seraphs who could do whatever they want to me. I just learned that my people, including my own father, are being taken from Edenalee and brought here by seraphs, and all anyone says about it is ‘I’ll look into it,’ or I am deceived into thinking I am crazy.” I looked at Gabriel for emphasis. “Meanwhile, I have to sit and wait for the two seraphs who could help me the most to have a pissing contest instead of working together to help me. I appreciate both of you, but if neither of you is willing to truly get to the bottom of what is happening, then I am in grave danger. I am scared, I worry for my daughter’s safety, I am not being taken seriously enough, and now I am pissed!”

Both stared at me in silence with slackened jaws.

I rubbed my temples. “I’m done with this display of dick-wagging! I am going to bed.”

Their eyes followed me as I marched down the hallway, anger pouring out of me. I wouldn’t even begin to try to sort through the turbulence of emotions tonight. All I wanted was to put distance between them and myself and take another long, hot bath to wash the residue of Gabriel’s hands and tongue from my body.

In my haste to get away from Gabriel and Darragh, I became disoriented and lost. I wandered corridor after corridor, trying to make my way back to the grand staircase in the foyer or even the ballroom to look for Anya.

I turned another corner of a deserted hallway, my anger dissipating with each step, replacing it with guilt. I should not have yelled at either of them, but most of all Darragh, who, once again, showed up to help me out of a situation that got out of hand. He didn’t deserve my anger at all, and it had only been a few days since we began to put together the pieces of what was happening in Tironaill. There was no way to accomplish all that needed to be done in such a short amount of time.

My complete embarrassment at my lustful activity with Gabriel made me lash out at Darragh so I wouldn’t feel the guilt. I needed to apologize to him. I was disgusted with myself for giving in to Gabriel and liking every bit of it in the moment. I wished it were Darragh who had me up against that wall.

A soft moan drifted toward me, making me pause. I moved slowly and quieted my steps toward a door that was ajar. Another moan, louder, beckoned me to look inside. Beyond the door was a room full of instruments. I shifted my view, and atop a grand piano, Devoruh’s top half came into focus. The shimmer of her golden gown caught my eye immediately. She rested on her elbows, her head thrown back, and she was panting and moaning.

“Yes. Don’t stop. Right there,” Devoruh moaned. She thrusted one arm forward, grabbing onto whoever was in front of her.

I should have left. I should have respected her privacy and turned right around and walked away from what I was seeing. But I stood rooted to the spot. I angled myself to the side to see who could make Devoruh’s toes curl like this, and I had to stifle a gasp. Devoruh’s golden dress was pulled all the way up, exposing her nude bottom half, and a tiara-tipped head of honey golden hair was stationed between her wide-spread thighs.

Queen Mollah. My jaw dropped.

Devoruh’s hand was wrapped in Mollah’s hair, pulling her face into the wet heat and grinding across her pillowy lips and tongue. Mollah’s bejeweled hands were tightened around Devoruh’s hips, holding her in place. Devoruh’s moans became louder, and her pants became more hurried. With a final uneven breath, she threw her head back and moaned, “Mollah” as she came. Her thighs trembled, and her body shook from the release. Queen Mollah stood from where she knelt between Devoruh’s legs and kissed her passionately.

“Your turn, Your Majesty,” Devoruh purred. “Let me taste you.”

I turned and, quick as a flash, raced down the hallway, turning a different corner. The shock of what I just witnessed left me speechless. The queen of Tironaill was having an affair with a soldier. There was no way I would tell anyone what I witnessed. It was none of my business what the Queen did and with whom. King Torrish would certainly have them both killed, and I wanted no harm to come to either of them. Even if Devoruh was a sour bitch who hated me.

After five more minutes of wandering, I finally heard the sounds of the ballroom and followed them until I found the entrance to the party beyond.

“Lady Aurora, there you are,” Anya called out to me. I closed my eyes and released a breath, thankful that it was her and not Gabriel. I didn’t think I had another conversation or encounter with him in my mental capacity tonight.

“Lady Anya,” I sighed.

“Rory, are you alright?” Anya whispered to me as she approached.

My lips trembled. “I…I don’t know. The last few days, or hours, have been mentally draining, and I need to get back to my rooms before I start crying.”

Anya said nothing and grabbed my hand, leading me through the halls and up the stairs to my rooms. “Do you want to talk about it?” She asked as she closed the door behind us.

I shook my head. “I don’t think I have it in me. I am so scared, frustrated, and worried about what the future holds for Cora and me. I wish I had my herbs to make a tonic that would knock me out so I could get a full night’s sleep before waking to more misery and chaos that is my life.”

A sly smile spread across Anya’s face. “I can make that happen. I have access to the healer’s stash of herbs. One of the healers is a good friend of mine. Give me an hour and a list of what you need, and I can bring it to you.”

“You would do that?”