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“What the hell did he mean by that?” Esme demanded, shoving past the wall of guards. When I shrugged, she exhaled. “I fell asleep. In my defense? It’s been days since you told me you’d be right back. Then, add in your fucking body flopping around as you moaned. For the record, it’s creepy as fuck. That was days ago. You left to enter the dreamscape, and when you didn’t come back, I made up excuses for your absence. It’s been days, but it wasn’t until last night that you started screaming. I guess it wasn’t really screaming. It was like this,” she said, then proceeded to grunt loudly, which had my lips twitching as mortification burned my cheeks.
“I get it,” I conceded. “That means time is changing rapidly within this realm. Either way, we can’t afford to be lollygagging, we need to get what we came here for and get the fuck out of here before Hecate has a chance to fully heal.”
“What the hell is a lollygag?” she asked.
“It means to be idle,” I offered in explanation. Stretching my arms, I winced as my eyes widened in shock before I could conceal it from Esme.
“Were you fucking him? Oh,” she said as her hand landed against her forehead. “That explains the noises so much more.” Snickering, she marched toward her chamber. “I’m going to bed. Babysitting your corpse was exhausting. Oh, by the way?” She paused, turning to look at me. “Ember is awake when you’re not within your body. Luckily, it was easy to appease her with meat. But you might want to explain to your father why you needed an entire deer delivered to your chamber. Also, you’re cleaning up the mess she made. I refuse to do so, even if she tossed bones at me.”
Blinking at her in confusion, I felt Ember snickering within me.
“You went to Dicker, and he dicked you down. But did I get to feel it? No. Did I randomly hump dicks?”She paused long enough to make me nervous before answering,“No, but I could have. I’m a growing girl. Need lots of Dicker to get faster and bigger so we can do epic shit, like, well . . . I don’t know what. But I know we’re going to be the best epic lesbians together, Aria.”
“Yeah, Ember. We’re going to be the best lesbians one day. Thank you for not fucking random dick. If you behave, I’ll let you hunt Knox down and claim him. I owe you that for protecting my body and Esme while I was away.”Her purr slowly built within me as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed.
I’d left Knox abruptly, which meant he’d worry about me. If time moved faster than it did there, that was one thing. However, I wasn’t certain if it was this place or the library that had altered time. Something had changed it, which meant I needed to figure it out. If I didn’t, he’d be coming here one way or another. It was Knox, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t or couldn’t do when he put his mind to it.
Chapter Fourteen
Aria
I’dwastedtheearlymorning hours, fearful of Knox worrying about me. He wouldn’t realize I was fine, not unless I could somehow get a message to him. Aden had forced me from him, then acted offended when I’d attacked him. He shouldn’t have been in my chamber, let alone touching my vulnerable body. But I had departed from Knox unexpectedly, and I had informed him that something was amiss. It left me fearful of how he’d respond.
Aden had haunted my dreams afterward. He’d chained me to a post like a rabid animal, who he’d tossed kibble and bits to while onlookers cheered him on. Knox was in the crowd, laughing along with the others. It had enraged me enough that I’d woken from it, unable to return to sleep.
As I’d watched the sunrise, the worry dissipated, but not entirely. The knock on the door before the sun had fully risen didn’t help in that regard. A bevy of ladies had announced that we were to be readied for the day’s events, which had soured my mood. Especially when they’d stated Aden had sent them up to ensure I was presentable.
They’d stormed the suite and then began filling this realm’s medieval version of a clawed-foot tub before scrubbing us raw. The dress they had handed me was a lacey criss-crossed pattern with thin straps. The larger straps of ice-blue lace on the bodice covered my breasts and created an almost pushup bra effect. They wrapped a thin, silver band around my abdomen before fussing with my skirt until it hung provocatively off my narrow hips. Twin slices in the flowing chiffon fabric allowed my thighs to peek through every time I took a step. My hair had been braided with an iridescent ribbon threaded through the silver strands. After primping, prodding, and forcing us into finery, the women who’d stormed the chamber began cleaning up.
“I never agreed to be tortured!” Esme snarled from the other room.
The women in the chamber with me giggled, which had been going on for the better part of the entire ordeal, and then handed me the armlets. Accepting them, I placed them onto my arms, then chanced a peek in the glass set beside the table.
“Your Highness,” one woman, named Corin, called. “Your crown.”
“I don’t wear crowns, Corin,” I stated, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe of Esme’s room. They’d somehow got her into a dress similar to mine, with a V-line bodice and skirts that brushed the top of her feet. Her hair was still loose, flowing in inky, dark ringlets down her back. “It’s enough, ladies. You should feel accomplished by managing this much. Esmeralda doesn’t enjoy wearing gowns, even if she looks beautiful in them.”
“Beautiful? I look like I lost a bet with a seamstress who wrapped me in yards of fabric!”
A soft chuckle left my lips. “You do not, Esme. You look like a fairy princess.”
“Seriously? Fuck being a fairy farting princess!” she snarled as the women backed away with anxious energy oozing from them. “I never agreed to wear a gown!”
“Thank you, ladies,” I acknowledged before fighting a smile as Esme picked up the mirror from the table and studied her reflection. “You are safe with me. It’s okay to be beautiful and womanly. I’d eat their faces if they thought to touch you without your permission. You know that.” At my reassurance, she slid her violet stare in my direction.
“I look like a princess?”
“I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true,” I pointed out as I turned toward the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway. “They’re growing impatient.”
“Who the hell does he think is summoning you?” Esme grabbed the silk cape they’d offered her to appease her modesty as she headed toward me.
“Someone who hasn’t been told ‘no’ before. That would be my guess.” The entryway doors opened, and I turned in time to see Eva walk in, wearing a leather uniform. Eva’s eyes slid over me before sliding it to Esme. Then she gave us a slight nod of approval.
“I’ll be escorting you to the field today.” Then her attention fell on the creatures stretched over the settee. “Where did you getthosethings?” Her tone hinted at unease, causing my lips to twitch. “Who did they adhere to on your way here?”
“I found them before I found Scylla. I think they’re cute, plus, they seem able to fend for themselves.” Shrugging at the horror stamped on her face, I licked my lips. “Could you maybe tell me why our presence is needed elsewhere today?” The ladies who’d bombarded the chamber had said Aden insisted they dress us, but I’d heard another say that the king had sent them. If anyone knew why we were being forced to be up at this ungodly hour, it would be Eva.
“Griffon thought you’d like to see and learn about our traditions. Today’s tournament will be a good starting point. Plus, you’ll be able to meet a few of your brothers today. Vane, your oldest brother, has returned from scouting the mountain ranges. He’s eager to have a sister, or so he claims. Aden also wished for you to be present for his rematch against Zyion,” she explained. “You shouldn’t entertain any salacious thoughts for Zyion Vicious, Aria. He’s problematic, and his reputation is as obscured as his past is.” Folding her arms over her breasts, she dared me to argue with her.
