Page 61 of The Nightmare Queen

I roll my eyes and Bennett loops his arm around her shoulders, sipping his drink. “That woman doesn’t paw, she mauls, so it’s probably better that she doesn’t want to sidle up close with you brother. Good luck with her Millie.”

Millie looks between all of us and then at my bedroom door before whispering, “is she really that bad?”

At that exact moment, Eveera decides to come out, her eyes landing instantly on Millie. “You’re new.”

Millie straightens and extends her hand to introduce herself. Eveera looks her up and down, “why does she have that face?” Millie’s smile melts quickly while Bennett fails to hold in his laugh.

“Be nice.”I reprimand.

“Why?”She wonders.

“Because she is being nice."I smirk down into my empty glass. Forgetting for a moment that no one else knows about the mind link side effect of the blood seal. The three of their faces are filled with curiosity. “Ahem,” I clear my throat, “this is Millicent. She will be your lady in waiting while you reside at court.”

The queen gives her another once over, Millie’s hand still suspended in the air. She reaches out, pushing Millie’s hand back down to her side and looks directly at me, “I just came out here to ask where you put my men.”

I nod to Bennett who backs up towards the door. “That’s my cue.” He mouths and guides Eveera out of the room.

I pat Millie on her shoulder, “that answer your question?” She shakes off my hand before going into my room and unpacking the queen’s things. “She’s a means to an end, Mil, don’t worry!” I shout but as I say the words a part of me doesn’t believe them.

Eveera

I thought the hallway to Rorin’s room being completely glass and having a view over the gardens was obnoxious enough until I learned that they actually named the hall, and nothing original either, they named it “The Glass Hall”.Foul.

Bennett takes me down a separate marble staircase different from the one that Rorin dragged me up. This one spilled us out into a less see through hall - no less gaudy though. The ceilings have golden arches that curve across them, forming panels with different displays of artwork above us. We have something similar in the king and queen’s wing in my own castle. This artwork is somewhat less impressive however.

When we reach an alcove that opens up to a corridor lined with doors, he motions for the door closest to my left, “this is your men’s apartment. Mine’s just across the hall. If you, you know, need anything.” He states, throwing a wink in for good measure.

“I’ll pass.” I say and watch as his eyes dim at the refusal and he slips quietly into his own room.

BANG BANG!I knock and when no one answers I let myself in.

The room opens up to a foyer with four doors facing each other, doors that I presume lead into bedrooms. A hearth is nestled in between the two doors to my right and the back wall has a wide expanse of windows. Golden upholstery glints at me from the couches, the same mahogany wood throughout the castle - or from what I’ve seen - is in the chairs and tables. I step further into the apartment, stepping up to a tapestry of what looks to be one of Vellar’s legends.

My hand strokes down the fibers, tracing the threaded linework. “When did you get in here?” Ezra’s voice breaks my line of thoughts. I turn to see him, his blonde hair is damp and his lounge pants are hanging low on his hips. It wasn’t that long ago seeing him like this was one of the heights of my desires, and now…well now it’s just Ezra.

“Bennett let me in only a few minutes ago.” I tell him.

He’s leaned up against the hearth, his arms folded across his bare chest. “I see. I’m assuming you’ve been given rooms somewhere else then?” He asks, his tone guarded.

I nod. “Mmm. I have. The princeling thought considering the circumstances I would be safer—” I throw air quotes around the word - ‘safer’ - “near his quarters.”

He rolls his eyes tilting his head to look out the windows, “I’m sure he did.”

“You don’t trust me.”

“Is that a question or a statement?” Ezra asks.

I sigh, combing my hair out of my face. “Both.”

His expression softens as his arms drop to his sides, regret flashing across his face as he looks to me. “I said some…uncalled for things.”

“Ha.”That’s it?I think.They were only uncalled for?

“You’re more than just thecrown to me—”

I raise my hand to stop whatever heartbroken sob story he’s come up with. “What’s been said has been said.” Both of his shoulders slump down even further than I thought possible. He hangs his head back bringing up both hands to drag down his face.

“What are we doing here, Eveera?”

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