Page 70 of Shadowlands Omega

I don’t mean to, but I start to laugh with her. “Stop that. It was traumatic! You know how it is for us Orias and Undoline women. Our hair doesn’t grow fast. It’ll take me years to regrow my hair, if it ever does.”

“You aren’t beautiful because of what grows on your head,” she tsks, and the words are so flippant and direct and raw and honest that I’m momentarily taken aback. “Now here. You’re all finished. Go out there and you’ll see that it doesn’t matter how much or little hair you have because our good Lord is going to lose his mind when he sees you like this. And after you have him all worked up, you’re going to go to The Sea Witch and book a room and let him ravage you andthen…” She drops her tone and lifts up onto her tiptoes so she can whisper directly into my ear, so close that not a word is lost to the wind. “When he’s good and asleep, you’re going to go down to the bar and have a fiery word with Madame Zenobia.”

I raise my eyebrows and stare into my own eyes framed by freshly lacquered black lashes. A silent communication passes between us.

She nods in confirmation. “Yes. And I want the monstersgone,sha-lee. Can you promise me that?”

I turn to face her, woman to woman, and tell her words that I can’t possibly hope to mean, but I do. “I promise you.”

Her lips quirk. “You are the right choice, then.”

“For what?”

“To lead us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Zanele raises and eyebrow and grins big enough to show all of her teeth. “Sha, dressed like that, there isn’t a soul in the Shadowlands who wouldn’t follow you.”

We devolve to laughter after that.

20 | Kiandah

The Night Market

I step out of Zanele’s stall with a flourish.Alright, Zanele’s all flourish. I’m more stumble, trip, right myself and smile awkwardly. But Zanele was clearly mistaken about how pretty I looked because Lord Yaron, standing there all regal and annoyed with his hands behind his back, turns and, seeing me, he blinks once. His nostrils flare, but other than that he doesn’t react at all, making me feel instantly uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Cyprus smiles at me and winks. I smile back, appreciating at least my own brother’s approval.

“The rest of your clothing will be delivered to the castle within the fortnight, my Lady!”

“Your fee will be doubled if you can make it four days,” Yaron interrupts.

Zanele gawks at Lord Yaron before dropping her gaze to his feet. “That will be more than acceptable, my Lord.”

“And I have one additional request.”

Zanele gives him a curious look as he stalks past mewithout looking at meand effectively corals her back into the fitting room. The two of them disappear behind the curtain and I don’t like the cold spike of pressure in my abdomen as I stand in the mouth of the stall, looking out at the people milling past. Lots of people are looking at me, some appreciatively, others condemningly, but mostly curiously and I feel very exposed. My shoulders curl. My brother frowns. He’s looking at the curtain Yaron disappeared behind.

Yaron emerges a few moments later — it feels like it takes a long time. His hand is on his belt. I look down. Zanele doesn’t emerge with him and I frown. Not that I think he just took her back there to have sex with her or anything. I mean, of course he wouldn’t do that. Even if she is beautiful. She’s married. And he is…he likes me. Right?

“Are we finished in the markets, Kiandah?” Yaron’s voice is rough.

I glance up at him and force a smile. “Did Zanele frighten you off shopping?”

“Youhave frightened me off of shopping. I didn’t think it was possible to spend so long in the markets.” His gaze drops to my bodice — the corset hugs my curves and creates even more curve where there was otherwise very little. I think I’ve lost a little weight, too, since being in Yaron’s quarters. I’m not spending as much time in the kitchens and I don’t feel as full as I did before. Audet always said I had the body of an eleven-year-old boy. I know, based on what she’s told me recently, that a lot of what she said came from a place of jealousy, but she’s probably right now. Minus my butt.

I cross my arms over my chest and shuffle away from him, glancing back at the curtain. Zanele still hasn’t reemerged. “Um. Yes, I think I’m done shopping.” I glance up at the sky, the color of pitch. There grey clouds have come once again, absconding with the starlight. “If you are?”

“There is only one final item I need to procure. Then I’ll see you fed before we return to Shadow Keep.”

I place my hand on his arm. His skin is warm, even through his new black leather vambrace. Patterns have been embossed into the leather. I can’t make them out in the hazy torchlight of the stall. I can’t wait to look at them tomorrow. Maybe, when he’s out of his room, I can shade them in relief on a piece of parchment.

“You know, I actually had another idea. If you’re up for it. Probably not, but in case, I was just thinking we could potentially um…”

Lord Yaron turns to face me. The darkness of the sky frames his dark hair. The strips of grey at his temples hang down in his face, begging me to tuck them behind his ears. His hair has grown out. He has scruff on his cheeks and chin and looks rather wild. His eyes are bright and assessing. My throat dries. I feel destabilized and the feeling becomes more severe when he cups the side of my face.

“What is it, Kiandah?”

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