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If you’re think we’re having a threesome, think again, I warn.
Then I blush because, damn if that didn’t sound far more possessive than I should be. I’ve never been the jealous type. Even on the rare occurrences when I’ve actually had a boyfriend, I was always happy to share—usually with Rain, though I did offer Martin’s cock to Rachel that one time when she and her man were on the outs in high school. Rachel, predictably, declined.
For all that I have zero desire to share Ryther’s attention. His cock is mine tonight.
Her eerie pale eyes take me in from head to toe and she breaks into a grin. “So, you have her.”
“What do you want, Relva?”
She tosses the silver hair over her shoulder with complete confidence.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Her long legs cross the room with speed and grace. “We all know my mother is never going to die, and she’ll kill me if she ever believes I have any ambition.”
She plants herself right in front of me, deliberately ignoring Ryther, though he moves again, concealing almost half of me now.
“I want a place in the high court.” She holds her chin high. “I know everyone, and I’ve fucked everyone else. You need me.”
She says so with complete confidence, and I would have believed her even if she could lie.
“Relva.” There’s a warning in Ryther’s tone, and she ignores it completely.
“I’ve sworn to the high throne when I came of age, like everyone else.” She waves her hand like it’s nothing. “But I’ll swear to you now if you give me this. I’ll take almost anything.” Her nose winkles. “Well, nothing that requires too much work. Can I be your lady-in-waiting? Muckraking and picking out clothes are two of my strongest skills.”
I can’t help a laugh. On instinct, I turn to Ryther, though. I know nothing of courts, and ladies-in-waiting, and what the hell is muckraking?
He nods ever so subtly.
“Okay. Fine. You can be my lady-in-waiting, I guess.” I grimace. “I…don’t know what that entails. I don’t know what many things entail. But I’ll do my best to learn.”
The woman drops into a deep curtsy, which would have looked positively regal if I weren’t able to discern the exact shape and color of her areolas. “Then I, Relva of the sea court, daughter of your first duchess, swear myself to obey and counsel you to the best of my ability, until death parts us or you release me from the vow.”
That’s…intense.
I twist the words, freely given, around in my mind. It can’t be an easy feat to break out of a vow like that.
I accept your service and swear to be worthy of it.
I glance at Ryther, before clearing my throat. “I accept your service and swear to be worthy of it.”
I shall honor and protect you as your friend and lady.
“I shall honor and protect you as your friend and lady.”
Until death parts us or honor forces me to relinquish your service.
“Until death parts us or honor forces me to relinquish your service.”
It doesn’t escape me that my vows are far less binding than hers.
Relva rises as elegantly as she fell, and claps her hands together. “Delicious. There’s so much to do. Clothes, shoes, ribbons…leave it all to me. You’re short. I’ll have a pixie pose for sizing.” She’s back at the doorway before my next breath. “Oh? And please do stay alive, will you? Life was getting so very dull.”
“Relva.” Ryther’s deep timbre has never sounded so threatening, even though he does spend half of his time issuing veiled warnings.
She twirls on those dancer-limbs. “Hm?”
“Not a word of her presence here.”
She rolls her eyes like she’s never heard a more absurd suggestion. “Didn’t I just say I want her to stay alive? You wouldn’t believe what I heard some of the lords of the day court plan. Seriously, does everything have to be a barbecue with these people?”
