Page 144 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

“What’s the blight?”

Her ears twitch. “We don’t know that either. The seer didn’t say.”

A seer.I want to ask more, but Everly’s growing restless, as if she’s already told me too much. So instead, I ask, “Why did your aunt send you here?”

“So I could have a better life. A safe one. Elves can be cruel to us. They do all sort of things to us without consequence,” Everly says, impressively lightly, finishing piling up some lacy underwear adorned with pearls and gemstones.

“And here, it is different?” I ask slightly surprised.

“Yes. The Dark Lord doesn’t allow such things. If anyone harmed us without reason, there’d be a punishment. We’re under his protection.” There is awe and admiration in her voice. I remember that Nidaw once told me a similar thing.

Everly fishes a black, lacy negligee from the heap and holds it up to her body. “You think one of the high lords would look at me if I wore this?” She playfully pouts her lips and swishes her hips, clearly imitating the owner of the negligee, before her mouth tears into a wide, genuine smile, her eyes full with wicked amusement.

For a second, I’m struck by the quick change in her mood. By the familiarity of the gesture. By thenormalcy of it. This is what it must feel like to have friends. Maybe I’d one day have friends like that. Benormal,or at least be whatevernormalin the fae world is.

We look at each other for a second before we both burst out laughing.

“Which high lord?” I ask as she walks over to the bed to change the sheets.

I’m glad I have my back to Everly, glad she can’t see me blushing violently when she says with a theatrical sigh, “Oh, I loooove Riven. All of us do. He’s so eloquent and good-looking and charming. But…”

“But?” I ask, biting back my smile. If he knew, he’d be even more insufferable. But then, he probably knows already.

“I don’t know, he seems to be more into curvy nymphs than stringy sirens. Unlike Kyrith, who’s also attractive.”

“Kyrith?” Now I do turn, throwing Everly an incredulous look.

The siren giggles—a silvery sound like wind bells. “Yeah, hecan be so handsome and strong. You threw a dagger at him, right? That was so impressive.”

I don’t like how her eyes shimmer with admiration at that.

“What about the third?” I ask quickly.

“Oh, you mean Ronin. Sad that the witcher is not into women.” She sighs again, as if it really bothers her. “And not to mention… the Dark Lord.” She whispers the last words before she bursts out giggling again like a young girl.

I just stare at her until she asks, “What? Is he not that good a lover as they say he is?”

My heartbeat startles.They. Caryan’s whore,that’s what they called me.That’s what the blonde elf, Sarynx called me.

I ask blankly,“Whosays that?”

“All the women who’ve been with him do. They never get over him.”

I bite down hard on my lip.

Everly pushes, her teal eyes shining. “So,ishe?”

“I’m not… I’m not that.”

“Oh.” Her pink eyebrows raise. “I mean, that’s curious.”

“Curious why?” I don’t know why I’m asking this. They probably all saw me that night in the throne room, kneeling over Caryan, and drew their own conclusions.

Everly shrugs. “Well, normally, the high lords... they don’t notice most of us. We’re just moments to pass their long lives.”

I nod because I don’t know what else to do before I ask quickly—to steer the conversation away from myself… but also because I’m just a tiny bit curious, “But you really… I mean… youwould… with the Dark Lord?”

“Oh, of course I would. Who wouldn’t?”

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