Page 37 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
I cannot get those images out of my head, both real and imagined, even with Torin and his guard here to harass me. I can’t find it in myself to care about my plight. My heart feels like it has been shattered into a thousand pieces, and even thoughI know Aldrin lives, I can’t seem to shove them back together again. The agony of what I thought was going to be his violent end keeps rippling through me.
A delighted smile reaches Torin’s eyes when he takes in the sight of me. I must look a mess, deathly pale skin and red eyes crusted with the salt of tears. Perhaps he thinks my angst is for him.
“What are you doing here, Torin?” I snap. “And for the love of the gods, have you heard of knocking?”
He gestures to the glittering gold fabric draped over his arm as he stalks in. “I have a little present for you.”
“I’m not interested. You can leave now.” I turn my back on him and walk away, toward the small kitchen. At least I might find a weapon in there. I could hit him across the head with a silver teapot if he tries anything.
Torin grabs me around the wrist and drags me back. I bring up my elbow to strike him in the face, but he swiftly lets go before it connects and backs away, leaving me off balance. He dumps the fabric in my arms before I have a chance to recover.
“My mother has summoned you for an audience in the throne room. She has strict orders that you will wear this gown, even if my guards have to hold you down while I strip and dress you myself.” His eyes blaze with thrill as I feel the blood drain from my face.
I hold up the dress. There isn’t enough weight to it, enoughfabric, for it to be a full gown. It is made of a fine mesh that is completely transparent. I stiffen and open my mouth to curse at him.
“Oh, Keira, please refuse. Nothing would make me happier.” He grabs my chin and forces me to look at the guards lining the doorway over his shoulder. “They look bored, don’t they? Why don’t you give them a little entertainment?”
The bastards have the nerve to leer at me. Not a single one is ashamed. I mark their faces.
“I will make you pay for every single torment, Torin,” I snap. “The day will come when you will regret this.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “You are like a puka with its claws pulled out. Harmless. How are you going to make me pay, Queen of Nothing? You are powerless here. A pet allowed to live for as long as my mother wants to keep playing with you.” His fingers dig through the fabric and lift out a slender gold band. “I particularly like this little detail. It is your collar,pet. To remind everyone who owns you.”
I have absolutely nothing to say, so I snatch the gown out of his grasp and stomp off toward my bedroom.
Torin steps in my way, barring the doorway with an arm. “Where are you going? Get changed here, in front of the men.” His voice lowers but his eyes don’t heat. “You don’t need to be shy stripping off in front of us. It’s not like there is much to look at.”
I shove past him and slam the door in his face, throwing my weight against it. My hands shake violently, making it difficult to unravel the dress and get a proper look at it. Laughter chases me from the men in the foyer and I do my best to block out their inappropriate banter. With a flick of my wrist, I use an air wield to drag a heavy cabinet out to barricade the door, then I dress in front of the mirror.
Tears roll down my face as I look at the foreign woman in the reflection. The gown sparkles, created from delicate links of gold that cover me from just under my collarbones to drape in a pool along the ground, but the entire front of the skirt splits to my waist. All of my creamy flesh is visible beneath the wide gaps in the links, showcasing every curve and intimate detail.
They provided a bodysuit for me to wear under it, but the fabric covers nothing at all. Two strips of fabric cross over mybreasts to cover my nipples, revealing way too much cleavage, then meet at the center of my belly, leaving almost the entirety of it exposed. It is connected to tiny briefs that reveal most of my ass. The collar is fastened at my throat, with thin chains flowing from it, extending down my arms to meet similar cuffed bracelets.
Courtesans wear more than this in my realm.
A sob escapes my lips. I quickly clamp a hand over my mouth. I cannot give a man like Torin any hints on how to break me. My chest tightens painfully from all the held-in emotion.
I reach out to Aldrin, because I don’t know what else to do. I am backed into a corner.
Hello, gorgeous,his deep voice reverberates in my head. He is training with Dante again, but he stumbles and the other man sends his sword flying out of his hand.By the gods, what are you wearing? Are you trying to kill me? You cannot show me yourself dressed like that when I cannot touch you.A series of erotic images flickers so fast through his mind that my frazzled brain can’t latch onto a single one of them.Are you going to a ball?
My thoughts slam into a wall at his unfazed tone.Wait, what? Doesn’t this make you furious?
Livid. I want to tear the eyes out of any man who looks at you in that, and half the women too, but I’d never presume to tell you what to wear. I swear to the Soul Ripper itself, if anyone puts a hand on the wrong place while dancing with you?—
Aldrin! I’m not going to a ball! I would never choose to dress like this!Another sob chokes out of me and he finally registers my distress.
He takes a few moments to piece it all together, his temper mounting all the while, then dismisses Dante a little too sharply.They are forcing you to wear this?
Yes.
Where?
To the throne room. I am to be paraded in it while Titania holds court.My stomach twists and another tear drops from my eye.They are turning me into the symbol of a seductress who stole you away from your people.
Aldrin pauses a few moments before he speaks, struggling to take control of his anger.I am so sorry you were dragged into this. You need to know, there is nothing wrong with what you are wearing?—
Nothing wrong!I screech.
