Page 93 of The Poison of the Earth
Lonan stands, body tense. He feels much the way I do about this bullshit. A thought hits me and my lips twitch.I’ll kill the bastard after Ollie takes the throne. She’ll have kept her bargain, him getting to be King-Consort. For all of about three days.This is a good plan.
The rest of us stand and follow Lonan out.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Oleander
The next day passes quickly; tea with Lady Larkstead, a visit from their seamstress who is exceedingly dismissive of my clothing, dinner with Lord and Lady Larkstead and a night between my mates. I can feel the anger and sadness flowing off them in waves. I expect them to be all over me, wanting pleasure, but they just tug me into bed and press themselves as close to me as they can get. I sleep fitfully, knowing I’m doing the right thing, yet sorrowful that I’m hurting my mates.
We wake to a knocking at the door. Kai jumps up to answer it. Lonan kisses me and sits up, throwing on a shirt. I stand and slip into the closet to remain unseen, as Korben enters, followed by a servant with breakfast.
“Come out, baby,” Kai calls.
“Sooooo, you’re picking a husband today, that’s gotta be exciting!” Korben grins, eyes flicking between the three of us. I flop down at the table full of food. I grab a piece of sweet bread and chew it listlessly. I take a deep breath.I will do this.It will get me the throne. It will end with Alder dead. Marriage is a small price to pay for retribution for my brothers.Vale’s face, his striking blue skin glowing in the candlelight of the tiny apartment, flits through my head. I gave him up, I can give up Lonan and Kai too.
I swallow and take a sip of tea. I’m not even losing Lo and Kai!I chastise myself. I need to get my head on right. Korben’seyes are sad. And several fluorescent green mushrooms pop out of his ears.
When I almost choke on my tea, Korben giggles. Kai scoops me up and sits, plopping me on his lap. “My little mate,” he rumbles in my ear, “Do I need to eat that sweet little cunt to put you in a better mood?”
“Oh, damn, no, not while I’m here!” Wails Korben as Lonan drops to his knees in front of me. When Korben starts theatrically gagging all three of us start laughing.
There’s a soft knock at the door and Lonan crosses to answer it. I hear him speaking softly, intermingled with a woman’s voice.
I stand, climbing off Kai’s lap and go to the closets. I ponder my gown options as I stand in just a slip.I’m tempted to just wear my breeches, I think spitefully.
Ordained Eliska comes into the room, trailed by an annoyed looking Lonan.
“I went to your rooms first, Lady Oleander,” Eliska smiles. There’s a secret edge to it and it makes me grin. Like she knows.
When she gazed into my eyes the other day, I had gotten the feeling she was sorting through my brain, albeit in a very respectful way.
“Indeed, I have no maids to help dress me, so these three will have to do,” I tease.
Korben grins, and sweeps an exaggerated bow, “Of course, milady!”
Eliska smiles wider. “They are surely the best.” She steps closer, “I just wanted to check on you. See if you had any initial thoughts on which of the sons you’ll choose.”
I sigh, “I had wanted to try to get to know them yesterday, but I felt like the Lord and Lady were running interference.”
Eliska raises an eyebrow and taps the side of her nose. “They are, oldest to youngest, Adrian, Blake, Chase, Dante, Ellis, and Finnick.”
Lonan sits in one of the armchairs as Kai stands, looking out the window. Korben starts pawing through my dresses.
“Mmm,” I respond. I could care less about ages, what I want to know is who is stupid, who is cruel, who will try to rule over me, but I doubt I can ask their priestess that.
“This one,” Korben says decisively, holding out a gown.
“That shade of gray will be becoming on you,” Eliska says.
I could give a fuck. I think Lo and Kai’s moods have rubbed off on me. I take the dress and go into the bathroom to change.
I pull the thing on and stare at myself in the mirror. The dark gray is pretty, and the corset top with the drapey sleeves simple but stunning. The gown is almost austere, falling gracefully in a single heavy layer. I dig out my emerald hair sticks and wrap my hair up in the two buns the boys like so much. It makes me smile. I add my berry powder to my lips and cheeks and quickly line my eyes.
I force a smile.Alright, time to do this.
I step out and Eliska smiles kindly. “You look lovely.”
My eyes flick to Lo and Kai, standing stiffly.
