Page 48 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

My breaths came faster. Arousal bloomed in my chest. I wanted more. He tasted like wine and clove cigarettes. The combination made me ravenous with need.

‘Having fun, Little bird?’

I pulledaway from Tharan.

Get out of my head, Gideon. This doesn’t involve you.

‘Everything you do involves me. You are mine. And I won’t have my wife whoring herself out to a dirty sylph.’

Tharan cupped my face tenderly. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

Tears trickled down my cheeks.

GET OUT!I pushed Gideon out of my mind, cursing myself for being so weak.

“Nothing,” I said, rubbing my knuckles over Tharan’s jaw. “I just had a little too much wine.”

He hopped to his feet. “Well then, let’s get you something to eat.”

Shaken, I followed Tharan into the ballroom. The lights burned low, casting everyone in shadow.

I eyed Gideon and Nysemia flirting in a corner. My stomach churned. How could everyone love him? Didn’t they see the monster he was? Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was unlovable.

Amolie and Roderick nodded at me as I followed Tharan to the buffet of cooked meats and fruits splayed out across two massive tables. I didn’t have the heart to tell him—my stomach was in knots.

But before we could eat, a massive wind blew open the doors to the ballroom, snuffing all the candles, blanketing the room in darkness.

Tharan pulled me closer.

I gripped him tight.

A flame flickered through the open door.

The crowd held their breath. All eyes fixed on the dancing flame.

The fire twisted and turned, taking the form of a hooded figure.

From the opposite end of the room, Nysemia stood, a torch in her hand. “What is the meaning of this?”

The figure snapped their fingers.

Screams rang out from beyond the doors. The sound of scales slithering on stone made my blood run cold.

A basilisk slithered into the ballroom. Its iridescent skin shined in the light of a single flame. Its tongue tasted the air.

For a second, the room froze. Everyone collectively held their breaths, wondering if this was a part of tonight’s entertainment.

The hooded figure spoke in a raspy voice, “Go, my child, devour what is yours.”

Screams rang out, and the hall echoed them back. Chaos erupted. Creatures tried to flee, but the exits were barred. Panic hung thick in the air as they scratched desperately at the door.

The snake snapped at people, swallowing some whole. Their fists banged against the reptile’s soft flesh as they descended into its gut.

“Wraiths arise! Protect my people!”

Through the floor, dozens of cloaked ghouls appeared. Faces empty under tattered hoods. Each carried a sword and a mace, swinging them menacingly as they approached the king and his mage.

Tharan drew his sword.

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