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Lifting my head, I meet her angry gaze before dragging my eyes down her barely covered body, draped in a sheer dressing robe, giving her the attention she craves.
I don’t miss the way her breath hitches as I step closer to her but not quite close enough to touch.
Her vanity drives her, and if she’s not careful, it will also be her demise.
“Who shall we expect this evening, Majesty?” I shamelessly hold her gaze, giving her what she wants.
“Everyone who needs to see that the power will soon be all mine.” She turns away and looks into her floor-to-ceiling mirror, painting her lips.
“So, you’re going to dangle her before the hungry wolves, then?”
“Well, I always was one to play with my food.” Her laugh is maniacal, and the smile I’m forcing doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
“So depraved, Majesty.” I bow my head in well-practiced reverence.
I knew Adelaide would have to die… I just need to figure out why.
“Come to my bedchamber tonight, Riven, and I’ll remind you just how wicked I can be.”
Her eyes find mine in the mirror.
My invitation.
The only chance I have to find out what she’s really up to.
Not that I want to spend more time alone with her. I’ve had half a lifetime of being her little plaything. Especially since I became a man and she brought me on as her head huntsman… and lover.
But love has nothing to do with it. Control is what gives her the greatest pleasure. And fear.
“And this all has to do with the girl?”
“Always so inquisitive.” She tsks her disapproval, letting me know she doesn’t like my questioning. “Like father, like son.” She mimics Birdy’s earlier words and I tense my jaw.
She ignores my silence and twists the dagger she just threw. “Just make sure you don’t meet his same fate. He questioned his king and lost his head. Are you questioning me?”
Show no emotion.
“Never, my queen. I’m just trying to figure out what my role is in all this.”
“Your role is whatever I tell you it is,” she hisses through dark purple lips.
A silent nod lets her know that I’m in agreement, as always, her willing pawn.
“Oh, before I forget. There’s one last shipment of books down in the chapel. See that Prince Draven from Thornmire gets it. All the books this time.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
“A little birdy told me that I might have missed a few.”
I’m frozen in place as she throws out a loosely veiled threat about my sister.
You would think that I would be used to it by now, but one never really gets used to having the people you care about dangling over a sword on a daily basis.
I bite my tongue, avoiding any reaction but indifference, knowing that she’s testing me.
“There are other gifts, not just Draven’s. Marcella wants a scepter that belonged to—well, never mind, that’s not important. You just handle the books, and I’ll have one of the others deal with the party favors, seeing as how you’re going to have your hands full as it is with both the guest of honor and your sister.”
My blood runs cold.
