Page 162 of Anathema

“What? No, of course not. Unless you’re royalty. But even royals are allowed their mistresses. Or gentlemen fucks.”

Again, I blushed. I blamed the drink, because in the time since we’d begun to dance, I could feel my body flush with a thrum of euphoria. “Where I come from, it’s a sin. Cause for banishment.”

“But, how? Some are simply born to love one or the other, or both.”

I shrugged and hiccupped. “They don’t believe that way.”

“We don’t choose our mates, so they could be a man, a woman …. Sometimes, if two are bonded and one dies, they might bond again with the opposite sex.”

“You have mates?” I finally fell into the rhythm of the dance, moving fluidly with her.

“Yes. It is a very strong bond.”

“How do you know who your mate is?”

“You don’t until you kiss them. Or so I’ve been told.” She bowed and stepped into the first count again.

“You’ve never had a mate before?”

“Nope.”

“And Zevander? Has he ever … had a mate?”

“Someone tried once. It was forced through enchantment. A horrible ordeal that was for him.” The troubled expression on her face pulled to a wily grin. “Perhaps he’s interested in the mortal variety.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, stifling the urge to smile. “Your brother is far too serious for that.”

“He definitely is. In fact, I’ve never seen him with another woman. Ever. Until you came here.”

The heat in my cheeks flared, and the dizziness had me breaking away from her to sit for a moment.

She carried the bottle over to the bedside table and filled our goblets again.

After a few long gulps, my drink was gone. “I have to admit, I’m feeling … very warm. And a little dizzy.”

“I have to admit something, too.”

“What?”

Lips flat, she cleared her throat. “You may want to lock your doors tonight. The liquor is a bit of an aphrodisiac.”

“What?” My voice was far less amused that time. “What does …. Why lock the door?”

“Because you are probably going to need to fuck something, and there are too many men in this castle who would happily oblige. You’ll probably have your fingers down your undergarments most of the night.”

“Rykaia …” Dear God, I wanted to cry. Everything she did arrived with some evil plot twist. “Why would you …. What were you thinking, giving …. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would you have tried it, if I’d told you that it’d make you horny as a spring rabbit?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Well, that’s why I didn’t tell you.” She shrugged, then polished off the last of her drink before setting the goblet down. “It’s delicious and it’s fun. The best fucking orgasm you’ll ever have by yourself.”

“I don’t feel fun right now. I feel very worried.”

“It’s only really a problem if you drink too much.”

“How much is too much?”

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