Page 43 of A Kingdom of Pleasure and Torment

“My knee is probably bruised. And my thigh. My wrist, definitely.” He raises his hand and I stop him. “Don’t you think we should leave the marks? If the king plans on taking me again, I get the impression he’ll like seeing them on me.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Luthian’s eyes sparkle with happiness. “Oh, my honey flower. I told you; you had nothing to worry about.”

He’s wrong. There’s one thing to worry about. “Did the king give me his living essence?”

Luthian reaches down and presses his fingers into my core. It isn’t a sensual touch. When he pulls his hand away, he examines the fluid and curses. “I can’t tell. Sometimes, it looks different, but I can’t be sure. I’ll give you a potion to prevent conception, and you’ll need to take it every time he’s been with you.”

A knock at the door interrupts us. I pull Luthian’s coat tight around me and adopt my wretched act.

But it’s just Brujon.

“I see we’re back at court,” the old woman says. She picks up the lovely crystal vase from the pedestal near the door and drops it to the floor. “Fuck you and remove the curse.”

“Ask nicely,” Luthian says, eyeing the mess on the floor.

She pushes the pedestal over, too.

“Lovely.” Luthian’s eyebrows raise. “Fine. I should have killed you, you know. Anyone else would have. You’re free, per the terms of our bargain. And I return you to your previous state.”

The air shimmers around the old woman. Her back straightens, her hair burns fiery red, her wrinkled and weathered skin turns smooth and tan. She stands before us a plump, golden faery with wings like droplets of molten glass. She blinks at us as if she doesn’t recognize us.

Then she strides toward Luthian and slaps him full across the face.

“How dare you!” she shouts at him.

“How dare I what?” he seethes, cupping his jaw.

“Whatever it is you’ve done!” Her gaze cuts to me. “Who is this?”

“It’s been five hundred years, Brujon,” he tells her. “I cursed you.”

“I knew it! I knew I was angry at you for some reason—” She pulls her hand back to slap him again and it freezes mid-air. “Five hundred years?”

“Your service has been appreciated, but I no longer need you.” He waggles his fingers at her. “Run along.”

“I’ll bring charges against you.” She shook her finger at him. “King Arcus will—”

“King Arcus will have your wings pierced by hooks and drag you through the streets until nothing is left of you but paste.” He catches the palm that flies his way. “You asked me to hide you.”

She gapes at him. “I would never ask you for help.”

“When faced with a painful death, you’re not as brave as you believe.” He sighs. “I knew breaking the curse would return you to your former state, but I didn’t realize it would erase your last memories before the curse. I should have been more cautious.”

“I’ll recover my memories,” she threatens. “Whatever you’ve done to me—”

“You were a housekeeper,” I say.

Her eyes literally flame with fury. “I was your housekeeper?”

“You were a human woman. A very, very old human woman,” I blurt.

“A very, very old human housekeeper,” Brujon repeats, nodding her head and rolling her lips tightly together. “Great. That’s great.”

“The king has granted me a reprieve, but I have nothing for you. You’ll have to seek out his forgiveness on your own,” Luthian says.

“And how do I beg forgiveness for a transgression I can’t even remember?” she shrieks.

Luthian shrugs. “I suggest you bring something to kneel on.”

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