Page 53 of Blood of Two Crowns

I returned my gaze to the mirror, trying to stifle the unease working through my body, fidgeting with the corset. Whilst rather suffocating, it had a remarkable effect on accentuating my curves. I willed my voice into something casual. Pleasant even. Lest Azrael be made aware of the strange, unfounded suspicion that I’d woken up with a week ago.

“Thank you… I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress.”

Looking at myself in the mirror, dolled up in the best way I could manage, I looked like a different person entirely. My eyes dipped to the scar I discovered on my forearm, bearing the name of the blonde male in my dream, and I tugged my sleeve back over it. Something deep inside me told me I needed to hide it.Protect it.

A week ago after having the most delicious erotic dream of my entire life, I’d found it on my forearm when I’d bathed towash the arousal soaking my thighs. I’d been both thoroughly unsettled and reassured by it.

While I had no recollection of it beingcarvedthere, there was butoneway someone would be able to put their name on my body in such a perfect scrolling script—and it required my permission. Even before I’d noticed it, the moment I woke up, I felt a profound, unignorable longing for the males in my dream.

Logic told me that some sort of memory-wiping potion had laced my food or drink. It would also explain why I longed for the males in my dream with such a soul-deep need. Despite having no memories of them, Iknewthem. My longing for them hadn’t waned in the least.

Fuckery of the highest order is afoot, and Azrael has something to do with it.

“Are you hungry?” Azrael asked.

Why, yes. I am. Foryourblood.

I feigned a sigh of relief. “Gods, yes. I’m fucking starved.”

“Splendid. Join me for lunch?”

Lunch?Since I’d arrived in this realmmonthsago, not once had the male invited me to lunch. My suspicions rose further.

“Soundsdelightful,”I replied a little too sweetly.

Azrael studied me for a moment as a tight smile crept across his face as he lingered in the doorway.

To smile or not to smile?I turned away from the mirror to look back at him, giving him the most casual look I could manage.

Suspicion narrowed his eyes.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have smiled. I don’t just give away smiles. Who the hells do you think you are?

My smile faded. Azrael’s suspicion eased.

“Right…,’ he announced awkwardly before turning on his heel to leave.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Stringed instruments tickled the air as Azrael rose politely from his seat as I entered the dining area and I barely succeeded in stifling my eye roll.

Gallant are we, you duplicitous cunt?

Azrael’s gaze remained fixed on me as I strode towards him and I began to perspire beneath the mask ofnonchalanceI was wearing.

Nonchalance.

Nonchalance.

Nonchalance.

You are the Queen of Nonchalance.

My voice turned airy and high-pitched.

“Thank you for having me…”

Gods, you’re a terrible actress.

---