Page 20 of Of Song and Scepter
“Tell me about him.”
“He’s tall,” I start, wracking my brain for positive adjectives to describe the male. “Broad shouldered. Handsome? By most standards.” Also pushy. Cocky. Doesn’t know when to leave a girl alone.
Kind eyes.My breath hitches.
“Yes, I can see all that for myself. But what was helike? Was he aggressive? Will he be difficult to seduce?”
I shrug. “Not aggressive, not really. He yelped like a pup when my spines brushed him.”
Odissa frowns. “So he’s a soft male playing future king.”
“Seems so. That should make this easier.” I consider his rock-solid abdomen pressing against me, his strong arm wrapping possessively around my waist, pulling me close, and my stomach flips over. The prince was anything butsoft.
I shove the thought deep, locking it away.
“Excellent,” she says, sighing. “I can work with this.”
Finished cleaning her tail, I let the sponge float in the water. “Done,” I say, wiping my hands on a towel, noting the distinct pinkness that’s crept over my skin. I poke the back of my hand. It’s warm to the touch.
She rises from the bath, swinging her tail over the edge to dry. After a few moments, her bones shift and her tail splits down the middle, leaving a naked Odissa standing in a puddle.
There’s a knock at the door, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
“It’s Clio,” the housekeeper announces. “I’ve found Your Ladyship some clothing.”
Odissa gasps, covering the puckered scar on her ribs with her hand. I shove a towel in her direction, and she wraps it around herself as the door creaks open.
Clio enters carrying a pile of white fabric, which she sets on the dressing table before addressing me, “I hope you find the skirts comfortable. Most of my staff prefer them. There’s a pouch in the waist belt where you can fold and store them for easier transition.”
I wrinkle my nose, holding up the fabric and gaping at the sheer amount of it. Why I should need more than the loincloth between my legs, I’ll never know. The skirt ties around my waist, overlapping in the front. I strap a knife to my calf, each thigh, then adjust the fabric to cover them, skipping the undergarments. The hem of the skirt brushes the tops of my bare feet.
“Certainly, you don’t need all those weapons to perform your duties. Corals are peaceful people, my lady, and there are plenty of guards stationed around the palace to ensure the safety of Her Highness.”
I turn to the mermaid, sizing her up. She’s soft and stocky, her face plump with the nourishment of a royal servant. The longer I stare, the more her ears quiver.
“Apologies, my lady,” Clio stammers. “One more thing.” She fishes out a pair of white leather gloves from her apron. “Put these on,” she says. “You’ll need them at dinner.”
“At dinner?”
I tug the gloves over my hands, securing them up to my elbows and grimacing at the tight fit against my claws.
“Yes, my lady. To keep those Abyssal spines of yours under control. You will accompany the princess to dinner tonight, no?”
Odissa coughs, barely covering her snicker.
“You look great,” Clio says with a note of warmth, nodding toward the full-length mirror.
Softness greets me, my sharp edges drowning in white fabric. My deep purple eyes are tired, skin sunken, and cheekbones hollow. Both my face and arms are a vivid pink. When I touch my cheek, it’s feverishly warm. My short black hair, uneven from the last cut of my blade, sticks out in the dry air. I smooth it against my head, but it perks back up.
Sighing, I lift the skirt to study my slender, weak legs, still wobbly. I’m fast and agile in water, but on land I’m ineffective. Clumsy. I drop the skirt, so I don’t have to look at them.
Clio stifles a chuckle. “You look lovely, my lady,” she says, and I can’t tell whether she’s lying or not. “Your Highness, please choose whatever you wish from your wardrobe. We’ve selected our best pieces for you, and I hope you find our fashion to your liking.”
Odissa thanks Clio and rifles through the wardrobe’s garish offerings while she clutches the towel tightly around her.
“I’ll be back when it’s time for dinner,” the housekeeper says. But then she eyes the tub full of water. With pursed lips, she crosses the room, reaches into it, and pulls the plug.
Chapter thirteen
