Page 145 of Kingdom of the Two Moons

“It’s just… he had you whipped, for one,” I suggest.

“Oh,that,” the siren says, impressively unbothered. “He saved my life that day. He had to follow his own rules, yet he decided to spare me in front of his whole court of high fae. I think that’s hot.”

“But you didn’t mind the whipping?” I ask carefully. Thememory of the torn flesh and Everly’s tearless sobs are branded on my mind.

But she just smiles with her small, sharp teeth. “Maybe it’sbecauseof the whipping. I think that’s my newkink, that’s what you mortals call it, right? I heard Kyrith use that word once, or twice.”

I just stare, not sure she’s serious.

Another smile blooms on her beautiful face and she goes on, more to herself, “It’s… definitely. I know the Dark Lord’s dangerous, but so gorgeous. Have you ever seen him with his wings?”

“Uhm, no,” I lie, quickly turning back to stripping the sheets, feeling the tattoo on my wrist all too keenly.

“Uh, I want to touch them, just once. I imagine they must be incredibly fluffy. But they say the best that can happen if you touch an angel’s wings without permission is to lose your hand, so I guess it’ll remain a fantasy.” She lets out another heavy sigh. “And his eyes… I wonder what they look like when he, you know, really fucks you. They say he’s kind of a freak in bed.” Again, Everly whispers the last part as if she’s sharing a secret.

I say nothing, just trying to rein in my fluttering heartbeat.

Finally, the siren asks, “And you? Which one do you like?”

I’m done stripping the sheets and have to turn back to Everly to get the fresh ones she’s put on one of the tables. “I don’t know. I guess I never thought about it,” I say quickly, hoping dearly she doesn’t know I can lie. Hope she can’t read the lie in my face.

I change the topic before she can probe on. “Are you going to Niavara today? For Gatilla’s death?”

“No, we can’t.”

“Because the Fortress is still sealed?” I probe.

“For one. But, also, it’s eerie, the town. It’s people, they’re wild. It’s not safe for us, especially on a night like this.”

I look at Everly’s sharp teeth and wonder how dangerous the creatures there must be if it wasn’t safe for her there.

I ask, keeping my tone a little bit detached, “Have you ever been to Niavara?”

“We go there once a month, to the markets, but only when one of the high lords is there.”

“Is there a library, by any chance?”

“A library? Why would you want one?”

“Just… I’m looking for a book. Never mind.”

Everly frowns. “No, not as far as I remem—”

The door flies open, and the beautiful blond elf, Sarynx, comes striding in.

Her beauty is so radiant it hurts. She’s never looked better in an idea of a dress—almost translucent, stars sewn on it that seem to whirl around her body, gathering only around her breasts and between her legs.

Everly bows her head and falls to a knee. I just stand there until a vicious flicker enters Sarynx’s eyes.

“You two would be long done if you’d stop chatting like agitated geese,” she says, pursing her full lips.

Everly mumbles an excuse when Sarynx passes her, walking around the room as if she’s looking for something. A vulture searching for a bone to pick. She stops in front of her dressing table where we have put all the jewelry we found.

“There’s probably something missing,” she purrs cruelly.

I see Everly flinch, shaking her head, throwing me a panicked look that says she didn’t take anything.

“You two, come over here and tell me what you took.”

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