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“She’s ready, my lord,” both women said at once.
He circled me slowly. I almost felt his gaze travel along every curve of my body. When he stood in front of me again, heat burned in his gaze. I recognized the expression. This man wanted me in every way Kyllen had pleasured me and more.
“Lovely.” He smirked. “You have everything needed to charm the king. Let’s hope you’ll do it.”
Spinning on his heel, he took off.
“Go.” The women nudged me to follow him.
So, I did. I followed Lord Adriyel up a wide staircase carved in the side of a branch as thick as a large building on Earth, then along another slightly inclined branch that was as wide as a two-lane road.
This must be one of the main passageways in this part of the palace. Gorgonians hurried along it, some carrying trays or clothes. Others seemed to simply be strolling by, hand in hand with a companion. All paused to cast curious glances my way.
Dressed in little more than beads and jewels, I felt exposed under their stares. Many women here wore hardly more than what I was wearing. But people’s attention made me feel naked and insecure, whereas the others were protected by their status and confidence.
Lord Adriyel took me through a set of double doors inside the tree trunk. A wide staircase was carved in the middle of a spacious hall.
“This way.” He headed up the stairs.
I hurried after him, trying to ignore the scrutinizing stares of the people in the hall. The heavy belt pressed on my hips, scratching my skin. The clips on my nipples tugged with every step. Chains swayed. The tiny bells trilled, announcing my presence to anyone who cared to know. The courtiers followed me with their eyes all the way to the top of the stairs.
Lord Adriyel turned right into a section divided from the main hall by a wall. I released a breath, glad to finally get away from the crowd.
The court’s intense attention and my discomfort at it hadn’t escaped Lord Adriyel.
“You’re a novelty,” he explained. “We learn about humans only from myths and legends. You must forgive our people for forgetting their manners when seeing someone like you in person.”
“No one cares for my forgiveness,” I muttered under my breath. He gave me a long look but didn’t argue.
Stopping in front of another set of carved double-doors guarded by two gorgonians in green and gold uniforms, he said sharply, “Lord Adriyel, heir to the High Lord of Mevon, to see King Zeldren.”
The guards stepped aside, letting us enter.
Inside the spacious room with glassless, floor-to-ceiling windows, the king sat on his throne.
Other than the golden crown with turquoise spikes of precious stones placed over his senties, he looked like an ordinary gorgonian man, his hands and face darkened by age and dehydration. “The throne” was just a wide chair with a tall back. But the way the king held himself was nothing but regal. It would’ve made any chair he sat on look like a throne.
“Your Majesty,” Lord Adriyel announced in a formal tone. “This is the only human in the whole of Lorsan. And she’s yours. A gift from me to you.”
