Page 33 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“That remains to be seen.” Aurora paused, as if weighing an answer in her mind. “He enjoys your company. That should be enough of an explanation.”

“Is he going to kill me?”

“Kill you? Why would he do that? No, girl, you’re safe here.”

“He won’t… bite me?”

Aurora laughed, melodious and full of mirth. “No, he won’t bite you.Not unless you want him to.”

Vita’s eyes went wide, trying to determine whether or not the woman was telling the truth. But what reason was there to lie? Perhaps she was safe here, at least safer than with Amulius.

“Now, get dressed. Someone will show you around the palace, and Renatus requests you dine with him this evening.” Aurora stood up, giving Vita some space.

Byrequests, she meantdemands.

“When will I be informed of my duties?” Vita asked as she got out of bed, following the woman.

The air was stale, as if no one had taken residence here for many years, and her throat was parched. She’d open the window later, get a nice breeze going. At least the stone walls kept the room pleasantly cool.

“Duties? You won’t have any duties.” Aurora cocked her head in confusion, her plum braids cascading down her neck like a waterfall.

“Am I not to be one of the High Consul’s servants? I am proficient at cleaning and serving. I can cook, though it is not my expertise.”

Aurora just laughed again, as if it were the funniest thing in the world. “No, dear, you are not one of the High Consul’s servants. He has plenty of those already. Get dressed. I’ll send in your maid. She’ll bring you to the baths to wash up.”

With that, she turned on her heel and glided out of the room.

Well, Vita was already dressed, albeit in the clothes from yesterday, but that would be fine for now. The more pressing matter was what to do about the High Consul. He didn’t want her as a servant or a consort, so whatdidhe want? She thrived on knowing what others expected of her, what her duties were, and who she served.

Everything about this situation was… odd.

At first, she had thought Aurora to be one of the High Consul’s servants, but no, she appeared to be much more than that. A partner, or confidante of some sort? A lover, perhaps, though clearly not one who was jealous of others.

When she lived with Mariana, she wasn’t a servant, though she did many of the chores. The woman was old and had some trouble getting around. Vita never minded helping her or taking on the brunt of the housework, though Mariana did the cooking. She always had a clear expectation of her role in a household, and now that was all gone.

The High Consul was kind one moment, and spiteful the next. His kiss was soft and sweet, and then he forced her to watch him with his progeny, ordering her to leave when he’d had his fill. It was impossible to know what he wanted, what he expected, and that put her on edge.

At the same time, she could feel her body humming with anticipation, a flicker of heat between her thighs as she recalled the way the High Consul had fucked the woman, how he’d used her mouth, how he’d fed on the man.

Why did she want those things? From a monster, no less. A monster who could have his way with her, drink her blood if he wanted to. Somehow, the idea ignited the flames even further, tempting Vita to press a hand between her legs.

A timid knock at the door roused her from her thorny thoughts, all twisted together like a rosebush. Before Vita could answer, a woman walked in, a gentle smile on her face. She was older and quite tall, with ash brown hair braided neatly down her neck.

Her voice was quiet as she curtsied. “Shall I show you to the bathing room now?”

So this was her maid. She had a maid now. This was something that was happening.

“That would be nice, thank you.” Vita paused, then remembered her manners. “What is your name?”

“Livia,” the woman said, as she curtsied again and led her through the door.

The hall was empty as they walked down it, the opposite way from the High Consul’s room. Livia guided her through an archway and another door, which revealed an open air bathhouse.

The beauty before her took the breath from her lungs. A round bath built into the ground was the focal point of the room, steam rising from the balmy water. It was large, much larger than any bath she’d ever seen, even the main one in the Praetor’s villa.

Marble walls enclosed the open space, the midday sun warming the stones underfoot. Vita could just see the tops of the trees over theexterior walls. Two open archways flanked the main entrance, but she couldn’t tell where they led.

The room was empty, save for her and Livia. The maid held her hands out expectantly, and Vita wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do.

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