Page 139 of Vicious Is My Throne

I knelt down in front of him. “Set one hand on my shoulder to steady yourself. Then lift your right foot. I’ll get that pant leg on, then we’ll do the other one.”

His hand was warm when it closed around my shoulder and squeezed gently. “How do you know what to do?” he asked softly as I worked the leg over his foot.

“Being a slave was…hard. Especially on your body. All the younger slaves would help the older slaves get dressed.” I slipped the first trouser leg up to his knee. “Okay, now change hands, that’s it, and lift your left foot.”

I worked the trousers up the rest of the way, went up to my knees, and fastened the buttons at his waist. “We had to get them dressed, because any slave not fit enough to serve wasn’t worth feeding, according to the duke.” I blew out a shaky breath, looking up at Zorander.

“There’s a mass grave here at Ravenshade, too, except it’s not filled with refugees. It’s filled with people I know. Some of whom raised me. Protected me long enough for me to become useful.” I spat out that last word.

Gods, I couldn’t escape this horrid place fast enough.

“We would do what we could, but the day always came when someone couldn’t rise from their pallet in the morning.”

I hated the angry tears flooding down my face. Hated the impotent fury that left me feeling weak and worthless. “They were always gone when we returned. And every slave here knew that would, eventually, be their fate. Because there was no one powerful enough to save them.”

Pity shone in Zor’s eyes as he opened his mouth to say something comforting, no doubt.

But that was when Raziel’s shout rang through the castle. “Zorander. Get your arse down here. We have decisions to make, and you’ve been sleeping for two godsdamned days.”

59

ZORANDER

What in the fuck was going on?

I had fucking wings?

I reached around and touched one of the things growing out of my back, trying not to fall over in the process. I could feel Anaria’s fingers tracing along them, feel their weight dragging me backward like I felt my fingers and toes, but this couldn’t be real. Or maybe that was my brain not accepting reality.

I didn’t want fucking wings.

I didn’t need wings. My magic could take me anywhere, transporting me from one realm to another in the blink of an eye.

In comparison, these felt…clunky. Not at all practical, and if I had to fight…I tried to turn and lurched hard to one side before I self-corrected and lurched forward, grabbing that godsdamned bedpost so I didn’t face-plant.

These fucking atrocities would get me killed.

And once Raz and Tavion and fucking Tristan saw me…I rolled my eyes. My humiliation would know no bounds and I’d never, ever live this down.

“You might need to be patient.” Anaria bit her lip, eyeing me doubtfully. “This is a big change. Like a really big change. Give yourself time to relearn how to do things.”

“Might?” I muttered with a bit more bitterness than I intended.

“Okay, you will have to learn patience, and I know that’s not your strong suit. But gods, Zor, just look at you.” Those white teeth sank further into her plush bottom lip, and godsdamn if my cock didn’t jump at the sight. “I mean…they’re pretty amazing.”

Okay.

Okay, so maybe I was looking at this the wrong way.

“You like them?” I tried to turn and only managed to catch the tips of the feathers on the side of the bed and nearly sent myself sprawling. “You don’t think they’re hideous?”

“I think they are beautiful.” She reached out, hesitated, then ran her fingers down the top, the arcing bony structure that was covered in some sort of black leathery skin. The barest brush of Anaria’s fingers sent a jolt straight to my cock and a raspy groan slipped out before I could stop myself.

She snapped her hand back. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Her wide eyes scanned me worriedly, mouth pressed into a tight line. “I was trying to be careful.”

“That didn’t hurt.” I cleared my throat. “Not exactly. But I did feel something.”

“Oh.” Her eyes met mine. “Oh. I see.” Her worried expression turned wicked enough I glanced over at the bed, wondering if I could lay on these godsdamned things without getting all tangled up and looking like a complete fool. “Well, that’s an unexpected development.”

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