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“I’m only making sure she’s listening.” He taps her face with the knife. “Go on, you know you want to.”
The ogre’s mouth presses into a tight line and she trembles, either from the wound or the trull currently threatening to gouge her eye out.
“Then we have an understanding. Next time you bow, or I’ll make you do it and next time my queen might not stop me in time.” He releases her dress and pushes off her chest, kicking into a backflip and landing on his tiny feet in front of her before striding back to the table and scaling the table cloth.
“Right. Well,Lara. I think it’s time you pack your things and head back to your village, seeing as you’ve outstayed your welcome.” Orcus stares at the wounded ogre.
Lara flinches like she’s been physically slapped and tears slip down her cheeks. She glances at me. “Please,” she whispers.
Well, if it isn’tHarry Potter and the Audacity of this Bitch. I’m not feeling particularly charitable. Orcus’ hand finds my waist, and he tugs me into his lap. I tip my head back and our gazes clash. There’s so much there he doesn’t have to say. Promises to keep me safe. Promises to love, protect, and cherish.
“You have twenty minutes,” he says, waving his hand in her general direction but not bothering to spare her a glance.
Maybe what’s being done is harsh, but the reality is if Lara stayed, she’d find a way to poison the court against us. Maybe not everyone, but a few and that’s all that would be needed to cause discontent.
By the time I return to my seat, the floor in front of the table is cleared. Harald and Lagertha have returned to their seats and Lara is gone. Her followers have made their way back to their seats. I guess they’re not as loyal as she thought. It’s a little sad.
“I know you’re not feeling bad for her,” Orcus grumbles.
“For like two seconds,” I whisper.
“She doesn’t deserve it. Now eat so I can take you back to our rooms and show you how much you deserve to be queen.”
My thighs press together and a giant grin bursts across my face.
FORTY-NINE
Friends
DAISY
A moon cycle is 30 days, but time has never gone by faster. Between getting up to speed on everything there is to know about the kingdom, dress fittings, dinners with family and friends, and taking Prometheus on nightly flights, there’s almost no time to rest. In fact, the first time I have to take a full breath is in the minutes before I’m meant to walk out onto the stone dais and complete the bonding ceremony.
Zyla slips into the room after everyone else has left. Her brown eyes flash over me and the lavender silk dress that clings to my skin like pure spun moonlight. “Hecate, you’re gorgeous.”
I run my hand over the gown and turn to face her. The train of the dress wraps around my ankles. “It’s not too flashy?”
“No. Not at all. Hecate will be pleased.” Zyla rushes to untangle me, handling the fabric with delicate touches.
Speaking of. “Why is it that the bonding ceremonies are blessed by Hecate and not Echidna?”
“Well, for one thing Echidna was slain long ago, and while she was the mother of monsters, the bonds come from Hecate. They’re eternal, like her magic and her moon. Echidna, if ever given the chance, would have destroyed the bonds. Selene would have been pissed on Hecate’s behalf and then Echidna would be facing two angry moon goddesses.”
Sometimes I wonder if Greek mythology was made up by someone in the thick of an acid trip. Trying to map out how all the gods and goddesses and other mythological beings fit together is more than difficult. Good thing I have Zyla.
“Is Callum still here?”
She scowls.
Oh great. “What did he do now?”
“Nothing. Yet.”
I frown. “He sucks.”
She gives me a wry grin. “Most days I agree with that.” Shaking her head, she releases a soft breath and gives me another once over. “You’re beautiful, Daisy.”
“Thank you.” I give her a quick hug. “It’s probably time to stop stalling, huh?”
