Page 49 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Nice to meet you as well.” Sylvana looked at Nicolai. “It appears as if it is a group event? Would it be a problem for Venthana and her friends to join us?”

“If it pleases you, they are welcome to come along,” Nicolai replied.

“It does,” Sylvana smiled.The last thing I want is to be alone with four males, one of whom I have never met.

“Shall we?” Kieran asked.

As the group walked down the hall, a gentle glow of light grew brighter when they rounded the corner. They passed two large columns and standing at the entrance of a bathhouse, which was lit by torches, and filled from wall to wall with exotic plants and statues, while stained glass windows lined the top half of the outer two walls.

“You want to go swimming?” Sylvana questioned.

“Not exactly,” Nicolai replied.

“Are you hungry, Syl?” Kieran asked.

“Yes, now that you mention it.”

“We are here to feed and relax.” Nicolai smiled.

They walked around the main pool, and as the males removed their clothing, Sylvana looked at her girls and smiled meekly, feeing embarrassed not having the desire to get naked in front of everyone.

“It is a normal event, Sylvana,” Venthana replied sweetly.

“Normal? Have you done this with Nicolai and Kieran before?” Sylvana asked.

Venthana, Aurelia, and Stefania sat on the stone bench and removed their shoes. “Never with them, and I’m shocked we could come along,” Venthana replied.

Aurelia untied the laces on the back of Venthana’s dress. “We have never been around them other than what you saw during the games,” she whispered to Sylvana.

“You all don’t mind getting naked around them?” Sylvana asked as she pulled her shoes off.

The girls laughed and glanced at each other. “I assume you have never been to court?” Stefania asked.

“No, I don’t belong to the court.”

“The bath houses are just another party,” Stefanie explained.

Their dresses fell to the floor, and it was as if modesty was not in their nature as they stared at Sylvana. “Are you going to sit there all night?” Venthana asked.

Sylvana stood and reached behind her to untie the laces on her corset. “I guess not.”

Venthana turned Sylvana around. “Here let me.”

Sylvana crossed her arms over her chest when her dress slid off her shoulders.

She turned around, and the girls were chuckling. “We will give you a discrete entry,” Stefania offered.

They walked down the steps into the pool in a small group, all the while keeping Sylvana hidden behind their bodies.Thank god they are here.Sylvana thought.

Nicolai, Kieran, Klyn, and Damascus were already sitting in the pool, casually leaning against the edge with a drink. Nicolai held out his hand as Sylvana sank into the water up to her shoulders between him and Kieran.

“A shy little kit, are we?” Kieran teased.

“I’m not used to baring all in front of strangers.”

“A body is a body, Sylvana. Although I have to give you credit, yours is exquisite from what little I could see,” Klyn joked.

Once again Sylvana felt the flush radiate across her cheeks when her girls giggled and Venthana splashed Klyn. “Do not embarrass the girl.”

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