Dahlia
She’d puton a brave face when her new ladies swept into the room to help her ready for the day. They’d arrived in a flurry of silk, fur, and lace.
Luckily, she’d managed to find a pair of black leather leggings and put them on beforehand. Old habits died hard. Plus, the dress the king had chosen wasn’t warm. Who the devil wore lace in the dead of winter? Or sleeveless robes with no shirt beneath it?
Loriians, that’s who.
Over the course of the following two hours, she’d been lotioned and polished to perfection by Freya, Bothi, Alda, and Birgit. They’d tittered over the king’s shirt, and admired Lia’s strawberry-blonde hair, gently weaving the locks into a feminine masterpiece. They’d laced her into an off-the-shoulder dress, and fluffed her skirt before turning her toward the ornate silver standing mirror next to the bed.
Dahlia just stared.
She’d lost a little weight in the last few weeks, her waist nipping in more than usual. The black lace cut across her chest, dipping into a heart shape, showing a hint of her cleavage. The lace sleeves clung to her arms and ended in a point on the back of each hand. A pale nude silk lay beneath the bodice, making it seem as if she had nothing on underneath. The lace skirt faded into airy onyx fur that almost appeared as frills. While she liked rich colors with lots of vibrance, for once in her life the color didn’t wash her out.
Lia smoothed her hands over her hips. It was a lovely contrast. The Loriian black, tempered with the nude color of her skin. She couldn’t help but think it made a statement.
I’m human, but your reilleve.
She’d chosen a simple black teardrop pearl necklace with a gold chain and left it at that. Other than the poison ring on her finger that seemed to weigh a ton.
That’s just your conscience.
She focused on the four ladies standing behind her, their varied shades of cyan skin forming a wall of giants. Dahlia spun around, lifting the voluminous skirt out of the way.
“I have a question for you all, if it’s not inappropriate.”
“Nothing you could ask us would be inappropriate,” Birgit, the tallest of her ladies said. “You arereilleve.”
“I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the color of your complexion is. Are you all related?”
Brigit smiled, dainty fangs peeking out. “Yes, my lady. These are my cousins.”
“How fortuitous for you all to be chosen together as my ladies-in-waiting.”
“It is an honor, but it also comes with our title,” Freya interjected with a shy smile. “We are second cousins to the king.”
Lia nodded slowly. So, he’d stationed his family to spy on her. “Truly? How blessed am I to have gained so much family.”
Alda—the one with almost white hair—stood with her lips pressed together. This one didn’t like her. She could feel it.
“I know it must be difficult to accept asaloesin your home,” Lia said, staring Alda down. “But I will do my best to honor your king. Your culture is very different than mine, but I will accept it as my own.”
Alda’s lips eased the tiniest bit. Lia counted it as a victory. Centuries of bad blood would not be erased in a day, but perhaps she could befriend these women and learn more about this place—and then escape.
“Then if I may,reilleve,” Bothi added. “I must advise you to reconsider your jewelry.”
“My jewelry?” She thumbed her ring.
The ladies began to nod. Bothi gestured to her long, pointed ears, that were covered in studded gems. “Piercings and jewels are an important part of our culture. You are queen, and yet you only wear one necklace and ring.”
“You think that’s a mistake?” Dahlia thought back to all the Loriians she’d come across. All had their ears pierced multiple times, wore silver rings on their fingers or in their hair. She gestured to the wardrobe. “Please show me what you’d choose.”
All four ladies lit up. Even Alda smiled.
Perhaps she’d made new friends already.
The palace was cold;she was bloody thankful she’d worn leggings beneath her dress. Two warriors she’d never seen before had led her from her room down a labyrinth of hallwaysand down many flights of stairs until they’d reached a black stone corridor with no windows.
She shivered, and her pace slowed. Why did they bring her here?