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“What…” the words cut out, dissipating in my throat as my eyes scan the page. Over and over again, I read the passages, wishing they’d change, but they don’t. After the tenth time, Kai takes the scroll from me, laying it on our bed.
“There’s more…” he says, grabbing my hands in his.
“More? What the fuck do you mean more?” I snap, yanking my hands back. His face flinches as if I’ve torn his heart out. Letting out a sharp exhale, I tip my head back to glance at the lights on the ceiling. “I’m not mad at you.” Meeting his eyes, I watch as they twist with guilt. “You did the right thing. I know you weren’t any part of that deal, but your father was. I can’t even tell you what’s been real or a result of that damn piece of paper.”
The smell of lavender and sandalwood wraps around me as he draws me toward his chest, hugging me tight and placing a kiss on top of my head. “I know… Which is why I took you with me to Limbo. He said we were soulmates, that he just sped up the connection since you technically were supposed to grow up in Hell. According to my mother’s visions, we always ended up together. The deal just pushed it to happen sooner. Still, I needed to be sure that everything you’ve felt was real. It’s real for me, but my heart wasn’t promised.”
“I’mreallystarting to not like him,” I admit, looping my arms around his middle.
“You’re not the only one. I didn’t mean to make you think I don’t believe you regarding my mother, but if you lived through what I have, it would be hard to believe. It could be interpreted wrong, or… I don’t know. He certainly has his faults; I just don’t think the cracks run that deep.”
He pulls away, tipping my chin so he can press his lips to mine. It’s soft and sweet yet makes me feel weightless. Butterflies are throwing a party in my stomach and the second he ends it, I chase the connection.
“We should get ready. The lords and village masters are staying in the castle tonight, for obvious reasons, and being that there are ten times as many people as there are beds inside this boundary, they felt it necessary to lift the people’s spirits and honor Finn’s sacrifice.”
“By doing what?” What could cheer up the people when they’ve lost so many in a single day?
“We don’t mourn in Hell. We drink and dance,” he says, grabbing my hand and spinning me out, and twirling me back toward his chest. “And Lust makes sure everyone has a good time.”
“Aren’t you tired? We’ve been up for two days straight.”
“Yes… I don’t plan to go too crazy, but I did just lose my best friend. It’s only fitting that I honor him in the way he’d want.” He curls against my back, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek. “So, go change.”
32
Kai
Ripping my shirt over my head, I strip and dawn a pair of leather pants, jumping into them and yanking them up until they’re snug against my hips. These sorts of parties are…different. I’m not quite sure how Alice will take it, but if I’m going to challenge my father, I’ll need to show that I support our people’s customs.
Women in Hell Hold are more modest than most, which is why the parties Lust throws are such an anomaly. People gather from the entire town and even from some of the nearby villages when the word spreads, but when it comes to war, these gatherings are imperative—especially for the widows.
Hell isn’t exactly full of feminists. Most of the women here grew up in a culture they don’t wish to challenge. With hundreds of men dead, the widows will look and want for someone else to fill the void. Someone to offer stability, and take care of them. It’s impossible to overlook that families will ultimately go homeless now that they’ve lost their primary provider. This festival allows younger single men to step up and carry the stick.
I’m not sure who started the ‘get half-naked’ trend, but it’s still in practice today. Men wear pants and bare chests, and women wear what Alice calls lingerie. Those who are taken allow their significant other to paint them, and when the festival starts, anyone without body art is fair game. By the end of the night, the fallen will be honored, and those who were left behind will have found someone to fill the void.Mostly.
I turn to exit the closet, only to pause mid-spin. The shelves next to our armor stand typically hold our swords, and being that her armor is back, the sword should be there too. Unless it’s somewhere else in the room. That’s unlike her to just leave it lying around though. She was particular with it even before she knew of its significance, and I doubt it would make her any less strict about putting it up where it goes.
Heading back into the main area, I spot Alice, lying out on our bed, staring at the ceiling. Her fingers twirl through the thick strands of curls that cascade down her chest and splay out beside her. The mere sight of her sends my heart rampaging. Add in the lingerie I picked out, and it’s an image I’ll never get out of my head. Suddenly, all talk over the sword can wait.
“Look at you.” I bite my bottom lip, unable to peel my gaze away from the strappy number that stretches across her chest and wraps high up her waist. Normally, I wouldn’t want anyone else to see her, not like this. I’d condemn it for my eyes only, but tonight will be the exception. I stride toward her, groaning when she arches her back off the mattress with a big stretch. “Okay. Now you’re just teasing me.”
Alice pushes up on her elbows as I near, looking up at me from beneath her long lashes.
“I feel like I’m going to a rave,” Alice calls from the main area of our room.
“A what?” I cock my head, leaning down to place my hands on either side of her, nuzzling along her collarbone and spotting a necklace I’ve never seen her wear.
“It’s a dance party thing with music, but people dress up and show a lot of skin—-”
“Where did you get this?” I ask, fingering the gem wrapped inside a wire dragon pendant.
“It was my mother’s, and her’s before that. My aunt gave it to me. I’ve had it for years and just never wore it.” She looks down at the marbled stone, and I can feel the power radiating from it. It dances across my flesh and makes my hair stand on end.
“It’s strong,” I say, scrunching my brows.
She’s planning something. Why would she start wearing that now? And why would it be charged like that? Bloodstones are known to hold magic, but a crystal that small shouldn’t feel like this. Something pinches in the pit of my stomach as my chest pulls tight.
“Well, it was my mother’s,” she says, holding the pendant in her hand, as if to conceal it from my prying eyes. Shaking my head clear, I lower my mouth to kiss along the swell of her breast, peeking out from the top of her bustier. My teeth nip at the skin, leaving small impressions behind.
