Page 31 of Savage Is My Kingdom

ANARIA

The next morning, our brief reprieve ended as abruptly as it started.

The Mistress burst into our room before dawn, and I burst from sleep, my heart thundering. She’d always delighted in scaring us out of a deep sleep, something I’d never grown accustomed to.

“Get up you slugs. After you humiliated me yesterday, the king has appointed a guard to keep you out of trouble. There will be a formal ceremony, putting you under his charge.”

Out of habit, my body was already moving before my mind caught up, my feet skimming across the floor to where an array of casual dresses hung, choosing the one that was most comfortable.

The Mistress slapped my hand away. “Not that one, thief. Pick one suitable to your standing.”

My standing.

As if I knew where my place was in this world.

Just to defy her, I chose the richest, most opulent dress in the closet, a dark green to complement my eyes, lower cut than I ever would have dared, if I hadn’t been bolstered by the need to piss her off. To push her even further, I took my time choosing a jeweled diadem, then headed for the washroom to get ready.

I hated this life.

Better than a slave’s regimented existence, perhaps, but bewildering in every other way. I had no purpose for existing, no control over my circumstances. Case in point, now we had a babysitter, so our days of exploring were over.

Escaping would be more difficult if we had a guard, and I wished we’d run straight away from the carnage at Ravenshade Castle and never looked back.

I gathered my hair and wound it into a high bun, then fit the gold headpiece against it, the tiny jewels twinkling. I still hadn’t gotten used to myself, but I looked…I sucked in a steadying breath, inspecting my appearance before I faced the Mistress.

I looked every inch a High Fae Lady.

I’d filled out this past week, my hollowed cheeks were fuller, my face flushed pink, instead of gaunt white. And the dark green dress did incredible things for my figure. Except for the thin black collar around my neck, I wouldn’t have looked out of place at Ravenshade Castle, swirling across that dance floor, laughing in the garden.

The thought sent a tremor straight through me.

There had been dangers in Varitus, just as there were here. I just had to avoid them. And just because we had a guard now, didn’t mean escape was impossible. Even the Fae had to sleep sometime.

Ember crept in with a sickly yellow dress, her eyes brimming with tears, rubbing the bright red mark on her arm. She stopped, her bottom lip trembling and gave a watery smiled.

“By the Old Gods, Anaria, you look like a princess.”

I snorted, then gently pulled her hand away to reveal the ugly mark on her arm, where the Mistress had twisted her flesh. “I don’t think princess is quite the word you meant to use, Em.”

“It’s completely the word I meant to use, especially after what that mercenary said.”

“I don’t want to talk about what happened that night, Ember.” I wanted to erase that ugliness from my memories.

Ember began washing, my gaze fixed on that mark. It would bruise later; she wouldn’t be able to sleep on that side for a few days. “I’ll be right back.” I pushed off the counter, “Let me find you a dress in a better color, that one’s too…”

“Bright?” Ember’s nose wrinkled. “The Mistress told me this was my only choice.”

“Get started on your hair and I’ll be back.”

The Mistress’s foot was already tapping in that annoyed, faster than necessary pace, her eyes widening when I turned my back to her and began sorting through the pile of dresses until I found the perfect one. Dark red, with a high neck line and a smattering of rubies, which would complement Ember’s hair and eyes.

“That pile is yours, courtesy ofmy brother.” The Mistress waved a hand to the gowns piled on the floor. “These are hers. Pick one.”

I turned slowly, both to master my breathing and to make the bitch wait.

“Ember will wear this one.” I stepped forward so quickly the Mistress flinched and I let a slow smile curve my lips.Good. She was afraid.I took pleasure in her fear, the way she backed away, how her hands clenched into fists.

I wanted her scared of me. Of what I could do to her.

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