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Perhaps this was what he—they—needed. Intimacy. Connection. Fighting his longing to check on Neeka, whose room was above him, just to the right, he eased into his chair and gripped the armrests.
As Lore gazed at him dreamily, waxing poetic about his accomplishments, reminding him of the charming, sexy goddess he’d first married, his gaze cut to the ceiling. He struggled to sit still.
If Neeka failed to recover...
His entire body jerked at the thought. She would recover. No other outcome was acceptable.
Neeka awoke with a gasp. She sprawled in a ginormous bed, soaked in sweat but no longer burning up. Memories rose to the surface like bubbles in champagne, relief merging with anger. She’d survived the zombider toxin, no thanks to Rathbone, who had believed her when she’d spouted all that nonsense about wanting to be alone and actually left her alone. At least at first. How dare he!
The “healer” had merely raced in a few times, injected her with a sedative while begging her to recover, and raced out. Thankfully, the worst of her anguish had faded to a dull ache. Even better, the urge to munch on living flesh had vanished entirely.
A quick scan of the chamber proved she was riding solo. No healer, and no King of Agonies, the male who cared nothing for her well-being and everything for his results.
Well, dang. Her anger just brutally murdered her relief. Was he with Lore even now, thrilling over his newest acquisition? The one his nonprecious oracle almost died for?
Neeka pursed her lips. Well, no matter. This girl needed to get to work. She had harpies to rescue and all. The faster she fulfilled her mission, the sooner she could rid herself of the royal thorn in her side.
She eased into an upright position and rotated, letting her feet hang over the bed. Shadows crept behind the large bay window, heralding the arrival of night. The perfect opportunity to shine. She stood on trembly legs. Not yet ready for another visit from Dr. Jab Happy, she snuck to the bathroom on her tiptoes, turned the water to its hottest setting and stripped.
When her attention landed on her naked reflection in the full-length mirror, she cringed. Then she frowned. A series of words covered her body. “What did I write?”
“The elixir recipe,” Reflection responded.
Oh! “I’m brilliant.”
“Agreed.”
She read the ingredients, details snapping into place.
Drops of Deadpool—water from the Azure Isles.
Ground dirt snakes—tree roots from Etheria.
PB&J eggs—seeds from a nest of bonded mythical birds in Warslasea.
Fried Lot Us—the ashes of a special lotus flower found only in Atrichi.
Arrowhead—the tip of an arrow once shot by Eros. Something she’d collected years ago, for reasons she hadn’t understood until now. But, um, how was she supposed to acquire the rest of the items without alerting Rathbone to her purpose?
Mind whirling, Neeka blew her reflection a kiss and entered the spray of water. Though she meant to get in and out, the wet heat felt too amazing to ditch. As she scrubbed from top to bottom—thrice!—her bad mood evaporated, clarity whooshing to the rescue.
What was she doing, pouting? Had he broken her brain with his kiss before putting her life in danger? Yes. But she’d expected too much too fast from him.Of courseRathbone had chosen Lore. The goddess had spent more than a year with him, Neeka only days. And, really, she’d only just begun her seduction.
Conquests of any kind required extended time and repeated effort, especially when your skills were as rusty as hers.
Would she punish him for his stupidity? Absolutely. Plus interest. As any sane harpy would. But she also understood. And hehadaided her recovery, despite her earlier refusal to admit it. He’d tried, anyway. He’d entered her bedroom anytime the healer had and stayed until she’d fallen into a drugged stupor. Those visits had been her favorite. He’d always traced his fingertips over her brow before he’d left. That was just as ground-breaking as the kiss. If not more so!
Spirits lighter, she lumbered from the enclosure. After toweling off, she entered the closet and picked through the garments she’d pilfered and stocked day one in the palace.
Today she required the perfect outfit for reupping a seduction. Maybe a halter top and jeans?
A scowling Taliyah appeared in front of her as she finished dressing. “You’ve got some serious explaining to do, young lady.”
The sight of her friend caught her off guard. Gasping, wings flapping, she took a step toward the General. Well, the General’s spirit, anyway, judging by the transparency of her form. Chains bound her wrists. Wait. The war! Neeka stilled.
“Are you role playing with Roc again?” she asked, feigning nonchalance.Please don’t hate me.
Taliyah’s pupils pulsed, expanding and contracting like a heartbeat. “Your new best friend has a mystical barricade around his kingdom not even the Astra can bypass—yet.”
