Page 44 of Queen of the Wicked
But if that were the case, she wouldn’t have blurted, “Will Catalina be upset? Because of what we were forced to do earlier?”
“What?” Erebos seemed shocked by her question, then took another step away from her. “No. Catalina is not… I was told to tell you those things about her to incite a reaction from you.”
“So you two haven’t…”
He arched a brow. “Would it matter if we had?”
Alessiareallyhoped she’d never run into that petite female again. She couldn’t bear to think about the irreparable damage she’d do if she did. Judging from the raging fire inside of her at this newfound information, she didn’t want to risk it.
And she had no reason to feel jealous.
None.
The lord was a means to an end for her, just as she was to him.
“No,” she said, thankful his ability to detect lies had stopped working. “You are free to sleep with whoever you’d like. Who am I to tell you not to love?—”
“I do not love her,” he snapped. His response was definite, leaving no room for debate.
More importantly?
Not a flicker of red was detected.
“And what you said about the aura…” She ventured cautiously. “Can it really mess with my head and sway the truth depending on my desires?”
Erebos held her captive with his stare, as if determining whether to reveal this information to her. That was fair, since she had tricks of her own up her sleeve. Depending on his answer, she would use this to her advantage. She’d corner him until she got the answers to the secrets of Hell he harbored once and for all.
“It cannot lie,” he replied, swallowing thickly. “It will always tell you the truth.”
Chapter 21
Alessia
After another week of training, Alessia began to gain control over her power. She still couldn’t summon it quite yet, relying on Izara to provoke her until it manifested, but the black flames were beginning to bend at her will. Although Alessia felt she had only reached the cusp of the powers she wielded, she was making progress and was satisfied with that.
Izara seemed to think she should be progressing faster, and she pushed her to her limit every session. Endurance training began at five in the morning on the days of the week, and together, they’d both run around the castle grounds. Alessia didn’t mind, though, given that the run gave her a sense of normalcy from her life on Earth. To feel the familiar burn of her lungs, to have her muscles ache and feel sweat dripping down her back… She felt more herself than she had since she arrived.
Every Saturday, Izara took the day to herself. Even though both of them practically spent every waking moment together, Alessia hardly knew anything abouther personal life. She didn’t give anything about herself away, but, as she had recently discovered, she was a soul seeker. She didn’t suppose soul seekers gossiped in their free time, so she never took offense at Izara wanting to keep her life private.
With a free day for herself as well, Alessia allowed Isla to dress her in a finely-woven cotton gown that allowed room for her to breathe—recently arrived in her closet, courtesy of Erebos, she was told. It was baby pink, with a low, squared-off neckline and an empire waist.
Alessia traced the embroidered flowers on the front skirt with a smile as Isla secured the matching pink bow in her hair. It held back a section of her curls, leaving two strands loose to frame her face.
“I feel beautiful,” Alessia beamed.
“I am glad, Miss Alessia. You are positivelyglowing, might I add. His Majesty will not know what to do with himself.”
Alessia’s cheeks burned. “This isn’t for Erebos, Isla.”
She quirked a brow, a knowing smile on her face. “He seems quite taken with you, and you with him.”
“Why? Because we’ve finally stopped biting each other’s heads off every day? That doesn’t make us takenwith each other. And I’d reallylike for this realm to get caught up with the times on the whole slang thing. I feel like I’m living in an actualBridgertonnovel.”
“What isBridgerton?”
Alessia laughed. “Oh, Isla, how deprived you have been. Those books would help you alotwith your longing for Eryx. They’re filled with so much sex it’llmake your?—”
“Alessia!” Isla seemed mortified, her cheeks scorching. “We do not speak of such things in this realm.”
