Page 74 of Lady of the Lake

“When we return to the palace, I expect you to fill in some more details about your mother.” He tilts his head, watching me. He’s scrutinizing me too closely, and I feel self-conscious under the heat of his gaze, the way his magic strokes against mine, the way his smooth voice intoxicates me like warm, honeyed mead. “And the truth about everything. I want to uncover everything about you, Nia.”

I swallow hard. “Let’s get Kahedin. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

CHAPTER 35

We trudge across the surreal landscape of Kahedin’s dream world. Before us in the snow stands his palace. But it’s a dream version, larger and white as bone.

As we get closer, I see that it’s actuallymadeof bones. Four soldiers guard the castle, their armor gleaming silver in the moonlight. Another soldier peers from a second-story window, wielding a crossbow.Sheappears to be completely naked, and her breasts are on display. Two more guards are patrolling around the villa.

I slowly start to realize that all the soldiers are the same person, a woman with red hair and large blue eyes framed by dark eyelashes.

“I think I recognize her,” Talan tells me softly, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Though I’ve seen her only once. Duchess Arnesta. She’s Kahedin’s second cousin.”

As we step closer, the guards’ armor dissolves, and they stand naked, holding swords.

“What does it mean that at least seven naked Arnestas guard this place?” I ask.

Talan watches the soldiers with interest, then leans closer, his breath warming the shell of my ear. “I’m no expert, but I think it means he really wants to fuck his cousin.”

As we approach the villa door, they fall to their knees, and I realize the Arnestas’ swords are enormous knitting needles, sharp as blades.

Talan’s lips curl into a smile. “Now,thatis how you greet the crown prince of Brocéliande.”

The Arnestas on either side of the door cross their knitting needles to block our way.

“No one can see our master,” the one on the right says.

“He’s punishing us,” the left one adds.

“We’ve been naughty,” the one on the right says.

“He saw me swimming naked.”

“I showed him my breasts when he was trying to work.”

“He’s got us all tied up now.”

“My bottom is bright red from his hand.”

“We need more.”

“We don’t want to be interrupted. He’s making us learn our lesson for that time we turned him down.”

“We can’t control ourselves sometimes around him.”

“Now, we beg him to fuck us.”

They lick their lips.

I stare at them. “Did you say his cousin?” I whisper to Talan.

“Second cousin,” Talan murmurs. He clears his throat and tells the Arnestas, “We won’t distract him from your punishment.”

On the left, Arnesta points her knitting needle at Talan. “No oneis allowed inside. No one else can see our master.”

Four Arnestas brandish their needles, and the one with the crossbow aims at us, but Talan’s words seem to reassure them, and they take a step back, though still eying us suspiciously.

“I could kill them,” Talan whispers.

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