Page 65 of Kiss the Filthiest King
VARIOUS LAYERS
Darina
Ican't stop looking at the dress. It's not so much a dress as a piece of art, woven from silk so fine I imagine it feels like a cloud. At the bottom, it's night, dark and switched with stars, then the tulle skirt slowly morphs to day as my gaze moves up.
The bustier is leather and iron, each piece coated with gold to ensure it doesn't harm my skin even through the fabric. The shoulders are covered with soft feathers, falling into a cape that look like my nixie's wings, but the high collar, ending in a harsh point, certainly doesn't suggest softness.
The dress says a million things.
"How did you have something like that made so fast?"
"I got them to start the moment you accepted my service," Relva tells me. "Every stylist worth a dime got one piece done, and I had the best of the best put it together for you. You can't keep wearing your mother's old things, not for the coronation."
"It must have cost a fortune."
"It did. He paid the gold," Relva announces happily, tilting her head toward Ryther, who shrugs like it's of no consequence. "But you'll have to pay the favors. Each tailor who worked on the dress can come to court and ask for one boon."
I raise an eyebrow, not liking this.
"It's the custom," Ryther assures me. "They'll all ask for very little, and you'll have to over pay, in order to force the favor back onto them."
"Why is everything so complicated with you guys?"
"You mean us, darling," Loch retorts, smirking.
I narrow my eyes at my brother suspiciously. Honestly, since hearing of his dalliance with Rachel, I've observed them both, and I'm concerned.
Rachel looks…enthralled. Longing. Desperate for his attention. He must be very good in the sack—something I force myself not to think about—considering the animosity these two exchanged just yesterday.
I warned her not to try him. I should also have warned him not to hurt her, apparently.
"Yes, us. Would that we were simpler creatures."
"We are rather simple. We don't lie. We don't like debts. And we're easily bored."
Is he already bored of Rachel, I wonder? Well, so long as he's not playing her.
"Someone is going to have to help me get into this thing. How does it even work?"
"I'll dress you," Relva offers, turning to my sister. "I could actually use an extra pair of hands, to hold the corset while I tie it."
The guys take their leave to get ready themselves, and the girls help me out of my training gear, and into that dress, which can also be called armor.
I clear my throat as Rachel faces me, not quite looking me in the eyes. "So, Loch?" I say pointedly.
I watch her cheek turn beet red. "Christ, does everyone know?"
"He didn't gossip, if that's what you wonder."
I decide not to mention Caenan informed me; he wasn't gossiping either. "You were rather obvious, staring at him," I say, instead, as it happens to be true.
She grunts. "Yeah, well. That just happened. I couldn't sleep, and he had wine. We drank and he fucked me to sleep, I guess."
She makes herself shrug casually.
“Nothing serious between you?” I press.
I honestly don't think it is, at least for him, and I hope she realizes as much.
