Page 14 of How to Seduce a Slender

“My lady, I’m Mel—”

“I know who you are.” Her voice was sharp and cold.

“Oh,” Melody squeaked, her heart immediately bleeding out into her chest. “Well, I’m sorry to intrude—”

“You’re not, come, sit.” She twisted from Melody and plopped back down into her seat. Melody glanced up at her wraith escort, who nodded for her to go. She did her best to make it on her own without a single crutch. Her legs burned by the time she made it to the high-backed chair, but she sank into it proudly. Dahlia sat back in her chair, studying Melody. It was a long moment before Dahlia exhaled, “You’re adorable, I can see why he’s obsessed with you.”

“Pardon?” Melody blurted out.

“How did you meet Smith?” Dahlia cocked her head slightly to one side.

“Er, well, he is a regular at the diner.” Melody tried not to collapse from the whiplash. Dahlia nodded, mumbling something to herself before continuing.

“And your family? Are you worried they’re worried? I can send word that you’re safe. I wouldn’t suggest they leave the city, but we could send word if you’d like us to.” Dahlia turned more to face Melody directly.

Yet, Melody couldn’t answer. Not as her lungs seized up and her muscles turned to stone. This wasn’t the life drain or magic or curse…this was her own panic. She swallowed hard again, trembling as the word fell off her lips. “I…don’t really…have anyone.”

“Oh.” Dahlia softened, her gaze darting toward the fire for a long moment. Melody didn’t realize how hard the confession would hit her till she was forced to confront it head on. Melody Deathless was alone. Had been alone. Would always be alone.

Because the last person she belonged to was gone.He couldn’t still be alive…it wasn’t possible…was it?Her hands clenched reflexively against the arms of the chair. Melody never said it out loud because then it was real. She’d lived in her delusion that it was only temporary for most of her life. It stung like she’d stabbed her own chest with her claws.She’d done it to herself.

Poor little lost wolf in the woods. No pack to surround you. No family to protect you.

“Well, that’s quite alright, because we’re your family now.” Dahlia grabbed up a book from off the table next to her chair.

“Heh.” Melody made a sound like a weak honk of a horn.

“What’s funny?” Dahlia cocked a brow.

“Wait…you’re serious? You don’t know me.” Melody couldn’t stop Smith from protecting her, she was rather dependent on him wither she liked it or not.But she didn’t even know these people.

“I don’t need to,” Dahlia smiled warmly, cracking open the book. “Smith trusts you, and that’s enough for me. Now, do you want me to find you something to read? Do you like tea? It’ll have to be decaffeinated; Smith will fry the hair off my face if I dare keep you up much later. Then I’ll have to stab him. Then Sebastian will be upset I’ve stabbed Smith before he could for that pointed comment earlier. Then we’ll all be up until the sun and where will we be then? Huh? But there’s no point in marching you right back up those stairs when you climbed all of them to get here. So, what can I get you?”

Melody opened her mouth, clamped it closed, opened it again like a creaky hinge, then snapped it shut once more.What? Wait, no, what?Melody stared at the blond elf with extreme confusion.The whole house is bonkers.Melody survived working at a greasy diner for over forty hours a week for shitty pay and meager tips, but this house might actually make her lose her marbles.

However, there was something…comforting about it as Melody eased back in the chair. Itwascomfy. And large, she could curl up in it. Just until she got sleepy. The fire crackled, keeping her warm, while the library was frosty cold. Amber light danced across her face in that lazy waltz that lured many unsuspecting victims to their doom.

“Would you…read to me?” she murmured, nodding to the book in Lady Rosemont’s hand. “I’m not much for reading on my own and if I abuse my bladder much more it may riot, so no to the tea. But it’s been ages since I listened to a book.”

Dahlia beamed, settling back in her chair.

Melody crawled back further into the massive cushion, resting her face against its cloudlike plush.Just until I’m sleepy.Dahlia started with a soft chuckle, “Once upon a time, in a faraway land. Upon the highest mountain top was a castle made of frost and stone. The King of Monsters did sit upon his black iron throne, staring down upon a helpless woman in chains….”

Melody wasn’t sure when she dozed off…but when she did, she was shipped off into a hazy fog instead of turbulent dreams. For the first night in all her life, as far as she could remember, she didn’t dream. She just slept.

“Goodmorning,Ms.Deathless.”Agatha’s soft croon roused Melody from the land of the dead. Emerald eyes blinked open slowly to light shimmering through crystal windows. As the groggy woman fought to sit up in her bed, Agatha pulled open the panes. A rush of fresh air cooled Melody’s sweaty skin.When had she gotten here?

“How…how did I get up here?” she croaked through fuzzy teeth. The last thing she remembered was cuddling against a large chair as Dahlia read her a book.

“Smith,” Agatha chuckled, pushing dust out the window and flapping it away with her apron. “When he finished work, Havershum told him where you were. Funnily enough, Lord Rosemont finished at the same time. Rather cute seeing both of them cart you two up the stairs. Like right out of a fairytale.”

Melody squinted at Agatha as she tried to regain consciousness.I’m awake. This is real. My body…feels funny.Melody’s brain bobbed on a lake of her own skull juice as she tried to stand.Nope, never mind.Immediately, she plopped back down, woozy and punch drunk as her hands danced in front of her. Three Agathas bobbed in front of her.

“Melody? Are you alright?”

“Um…I don’t…fweel so goowood.” She tried to make her tongue function, but it was six times too large for her mouth. Her teeth ached. Her world spun. And there was a definite fuzzy feeling to her feet.What? In the world?

“Smith!”

---