Page 80 of Wingless Crow: Part 1

“Ready for what?” I asked Brebie as she started getting out the gazillion things she normally used to make me look presentable for the king. Trepidation pricked my skin. “It’s a bit too late for dinner, isn’t it?”

I usually ate early, even on the nights when I had an invitation to appear in the king’s dining room. The royal dinners were mostly for socializing; I never got enough food to eat during them. However, even by the royal standards, it was past dinnertime already.

“It’s not for dinner.” Brebie buzzed with energy, her short curls bouncing wildly as she rushed around the room. Even her horns appeared to be vibrating from all the action. “King Tiane wishes to see you in his chamber. Now.”

“Now?” I echoed, my heart plummeting into the hollow of my stomach.

“Now, right now,” she groaned, wringing her hands. “Gods, how am I going to pull this one off? With no notice at all?”

She rang the bell frantically, summoning maids to her aid.

I was no help. All I could do was stand there, as if struck by lightning. After waiting for this to happen for weeks, I finally got what I wanted—what everyone seemed to want for me—I got summoned to that sacred place, the king’s bedroom.

Only now, it didn’t feel like a win.

Apprehension seized my muscles, making it hard to move or even to breathe.

“Come on, come on, come on…” Brebie hurried, ripping my clothes off me. “There is no time to wash you properly. A quick sponge bath will have to do.” She shoved me down on my bed as the maids got busy with sponges and buckets.

“I had a bath last night,” I reminded them, numbly.

Everyone ignored me.

I tried to wrap my mind around what was happening. The king appeared disgusted with me when I threw up in front of him on the patio. Apparently, he’d gotten over it in the three days since.

“Why all this rush?”

“I don’t know,” Brebie snapped. “But do you really expect me to argue with the king?”

No. I certainly didn’t expect anyone to argue with him on my behalf.

“He likes you,” Brebie said, brushing my hair with the speed of an electric toothbrush. “He wants you. He can’t wait to see you.”

A flurry of activity rose around me like a twister. In seconds, my hair was brushed, braided, and pinned. My skin was rubbed clean, then oiled and powdered with shimmer.

There was no time for body paint, and that was fine with me. Except that without it, I lost a layer of coverage. All I wore now was an under-bust corset that lifted my breasts without covering the nipples and a pink gauzy skirt that reached down to my ankles but didn’t conceal anything because of only one layer of fabric that was as thin as a spiderweb.

“Bring her a robe,” Brebie waved impatiently at one of the maids while dusting my cheekbones with pink glitter.

She stepped back, giving me a critical once-over as I huddled into the luxurious magenta robe trimmed with flamingo-pink feathers.

“Well.” Brebie clenched her hands in front of her nervously. “This will have to do.”

“What mood is he in?” I asked, my nerves leaping out of whack.

“Who?” She blinked at me.

“The king. What did he say?”

“Oh.” She rubbed her forehead. “I don’t know, honey. I didn’t talk to the king. He sent his orders through one of his guards.”

I drew in a heavy breath, fisting my hands in the soft silk of the robe and crushing the pink feathers. Brebie must’ve guessed my unease as she stroked my arm through the long sleeve of my robe.

“Honey.” Her voice softened. “This is good,verygood, for all of us. King Tiane is fun, is he not? You like spending time with him. Tonight will just take your relationship to the next level and help you secure your place in Elaros.”

I nodded to all the things she said. That was exactly how I used to think, how I was still thinking. Except that my thoughts were clashing with my feelings now. It wasn’t the excitement and happy anticipation I was feeling. The trepidation that seized my muscles was too close to dread.

“You should be proud of yourself,” Brebie kept talking in an upbeat voice. “We’ve been so nervous. So many people doubted you. But look, you did it! You made the king like you. He’s besotted with you.”

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