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Quillion signals his approval with a mere thumbs up.
Neo’s growl rumbles in his throat before puffing out his nostrils. Lux just shrugs, ignorant regarding Nita’s reflection on the sheep-milk pecorino that is formed by cracking open the cheese, allowing a hoard of flies to eat, poop, and lay their eggs in the cheese that later hatch, giving birth to maggots one eats along with the delicacy.
“At least I’m not a border whore, isn’t that right, Neo?” Lux whispers against his ear, but I hear it all the same. His hand travels to the space between her thighs, snarling his approval while her faux halo erupts into a circlet of stars to dance like a crown upon her lifeless, white strands. Threads of annoyance pulse inside me.
Incensed, Nita stands, growing claws, lengthening her fangs, and sending the approaching staff to scramble back into the kitchen. Quillion nudges his fedora down over his eyes, fiddling with his ascot. Lux only curls into Neo more, having the audacity to dismiss Nita, which pisses me off far more than her “whore” degradation!
“That’s fine, Nita,” I stop her before she can launch herself at Lux. Instead, I reach for my tea nearby. Inching it close to my bust so the steam curls along my cleavage between my ample bosom, I add, “If she ever works up the gumption to call me a whore to my face, my Everblood hands are aching to try out a few new hairstyles for her. Though I suppose my hand is not the only one that isachingthis morning,” I bring the conversation back full circle to Neo’s limp dick.
Finally, Quillion cuts into the conversation by fanning himself with the fedora and interjecting with a view of the charts, “Nita, I was thinking a solid ten for the casu marzu?”
Nita lowers herself back into her chair while I lift my cup to sip my tea, grin spreading when she retorts, “Quillion, you may tally any and all my points to Elysia. Team Nelysia.” Confused, I lift a brow, but Nita winks at me, pauses to raise her blood-filled teacup, and clarifies, “I’m always first, sweet angel.”
With no debate but a lightness in my chest at our comradery, I shrug in agreement. Upon Lux descending to Neo’s chest so her tongue may stroke him, I notice a hint of black on the back of her neck. Pinching my eyes, I eye the mark inked there through her pale strands. After my last excursion at the border, I’d taken a moment or two to look up the official border seal. Why would Lux have one on the back of her neck or anywhere?
Neo sucks a breath through his teeth. “I suppose you’ll be running along to the border after breakfast?”
The servants emerge to deliver the food. Nita’s surprise is an angel cake fruit and cream trifle in all the colors of the rainbow. Exuberant, I share with her and Quillion.
Dipping my spoon into the cream, I swirl it around and scoop up a succulent strawberry, allowing it to hover near my rubied lips. “I’m such a whore for the people, don’t you know? Oh, that’s right, you don’t. You don’t hear the children crying when they’re ripped from their mothers.” I continue, unhindered by the muscle ticking in his cheek, the hardening of his jaw. I press my determined lips and bolster myself. “You don’t see their emaciated cheeks and the way they all band together and share what little they have.”
When Neo gets up and deposits Lux into his chair, I stand, too. I drop my spoon, grip the backs of my chair, and swing around to match his stride. Nita doesn’t interfere but merely drums her fingers on the table as Neo and I move towards one another. My pulse thrashes in my throat as I spit, “You’re too busy licking your wounds, fucking, and prioritizing your Court to care about the sufferings of babies, of children, of whole families living in their own bile and blood like animals while the highest authority in the land rules over them as the greatest animal.”
We stop inches from one another, but I don’t cow—not once within the vast tower of his shadow. I don’t lower my chin when he grips the wedding ring, fist stationing between my breasts. No, I thrust my regal chin up and deadpan. His eyes close as the Triumvirate oath burns his flesh with holy fire, reminding him that I, and I alone, am the keeper of his soul. I can rub salt in his wounds faster than he can lick them.
Finally, he lets go of the ring and collars my throat with his hand, rumbling, “You knownothingof my priorities. I cleared Rook Idrys, the finest blood seer in the land, to mass produce the treatment Quillion designed, but due to your insolence, I will clear the order and spread the word that it was the fault of the Angel Bride.”
A squeak of a moan escapes my throat. “Neo, no!”
Nita rushes to her feet, Quillion stands, and Lux drapes herself across the edge of the chair, languidly spreading her legs, a glimmer of a smile on her manipulative, hussy lips.
With a storm raging in my veins, I clutch my stomach to stem the nausea while pitting my eyes against Neo. He doesn’t give way, squeezing my throat and causing it to constrict. “You think they love you? They will bring you to your knees. And it will be my pleasure to lift youhigherbefore taking you to my bed. Quillion, if you’d be so kind…I believe I just shattered my second wife’s chart.”
Quillion bows his head low, but not even he can remain out of the conflict this time. “My Lord Prince…” he still brings his respect, his honor in the face of Neo’s debasement, “you are my oldest and greatest friend. Please do not punish the people. More importantly, please do not punish Elysia. You should know better than to try and punish her and of thesubstitutionarymeasures that may arise.”
Neo bares his fangs from his friend’s sting as if he’s hurling some object at Quillion’s head. Except this time, it’s worse…so much worse.
Neo drags his gaze back to mine.A mask, a mask, a mask,I repeat with my spine prickling. This is not my Neo. This is not his new heart. If this were truly Neo, I wouldn’t have a second’s hesitation about running from him. I would climb down the Tower all over again and live inside that border every day until I became one of them. But I put my trust in the Goddess, in the prophecy, and I put my trust in how I burned away his mask, formed a new heart for him, and tore his soul from Death. I trust that our bond is the key.
Our bond…I slip into his mind, discovering the chinks in his fortress. I tiptoe inside, creeping into his shades. Those old friends surround me. His flames seductively twirl around my body. I remind him of the silver keys, of that night he sought me out, knocked on the windows of my soul, and vowed to understand my trauma.
I show him that night, presentingNoralicelike an offering when he cocooned my whole form within the shelter of his vampire wings, so I felt safe. That night, I bared my body and mind and spirit to him before he tucked me into his bed, told me I wore the first piece of the Grail, and then bowed as my prostrate servant to lick my fire blossom into blind rapture.
As soon as I’ve imparted the last of my vision, Neo’s destructive Dragon claws dive into my flesh inside our bond. An echo of the pain surges within me because it’s all a mental struggle. Still, I feel my chest pitch as he raises me higher and higher before chucking me out of the tallest tower of his mind. I scream inside our bond after he catapults me from his mind. He reinforces his fortress, raises the drawbridge. The next moment, he shoves my body hard to the floor.
“You will regret that lie, second wife.” He flares his nostrils but then casts his gaze to his blood bishop. Tears shimmer in my eyes as I gaze at him through my curls eclipsing my face. He stabs a finger at Quillion. “Out of respect for our friendship, I will grant you the staff you desire to administer care to the sick. But not the treatment. Find a cure, Quillion. You’ve got till Valentine’s Day.”
Two weeks. So little time.
Neo storms out of the breakfast hall, and I tremble in his wake. Nita and Quillion don’t move toward me, but Lux does. As if she’s gone from ice to flames, her hands settle on the backs of mine. I flinch, but she closes her palms around my wrists, raises me from the floor, and touches her lips to mine, solidifying a promise, “I am sorry, Elysia. I truly don’t wish things to be like this. After Court today, I will try and convince him to administer the treatment. I vow to you that.”
“Don’t make vows when you are but a fly in her ointment,” Nita defends me, wrinkling her nose and hissing.
Sighing, I decide to offer Lux a kernel of faith. It doesn’t mean she deserves my trust. Faith is all I have when I’m getting nowhere in this temptation game with Neo. Whatever power Lux holds over him rivals mine, as if her claim on his heart is greater than mine on his soul. I clutch my wedding ring as she departs in a flurry of silver stardust and white tresses.
Then, I collapse onto Nita’s chest and weep.
* * *
