Page 20 of The Time Of Queens

“As if she was the one you lost.”

I scoffed.

“Then I would say that your enhanced sight is failing you… perhaps it is time to tie another female to your bed… or should I say two of them, as isn’t that what it usually takes to sate your dark tastes?” I threw back, trying to rile him. But it was a foolish endeavour, as this was my brother I faced. Hence why he smirked, for he knew he had scraped a claw down my nerve.

“Yes, and when was the last time you partook in the indulgence? For perhaps you too, brother, need reminding of who you are allowed to take to your bed.”

I snarled angrily.

“You dare speak to me of our laws when I am the one who fucking makes them!” Again, his imperturbable countenance only riled me further. The way he shrugged his shoulders made me grit my teeth yet again.

“Even Kings need reminding of them.”

I released a sigh and warned,

“Leave it alone, Vincent.”

“I will, when you leave her alone… if this is merely a case of wetting your wick…”

I slashed my hand down furiously.

“I said leave it!” I snapped, tossing the glass into the fire before turning around and promptly walking away.

Fuck! But I was in two minds to take to the skies and fly away or try and go in search of a bottle and drink myself into an oblivion.

However, when making my way to my office, deciding on the second option and knowing exactly where I would find a bottle of the green goddess, I ended up finding something else entirely,

A delicious little maid I was undoubtably obsessed with.

One who was hiding…

Under my desk.

8

IF I ASKED YOU TO?

KEIRA

Iswear I had taken to dreaming of Draven simply standing outside my door. His forehead to the wood, his hands spread out, palms to the panel, as if trying to feel for me inside. The door between us could have belonged to that of a bank vault for how much it stood in the way of us being together.

In my dream, I had been on the other side, sitting with my back to the door, screaming out in pain as if my heart was being ripped out. The silence was just another reminder that none of this was our time, as not a sound made it past my lips. The tears were a constant trickle against my skin, the storm beyond my window only mirroring my agony.

It was little wonder the second he punched his fist through the door, that I woke with a start. I didn’t know what any of it meant, only that it had me rattled for the rest of the day.

Pip and Sophia had told me that I would need to search Draven’s office as his desk had a secret compartment that may hold what I needed. Pip then handed me a small silver container and winked.

After that, it was just waiting for the right time, which meant relying on Sophia to let me know when that was. As for Draven, he seemed in a foul mood, although he hadn’t yet taken it out on me, and he even apologised for slamming the door to his office when surprising me. I had never felt like hugging him so much, as he looked to be struggling with all of this. Hence why I couldn’t help but tell the servants who were laying out his lunch about him not liking cucumber, hoping it wasn’t the thing to tip him over the edge.

Not that they had cared to listen. But then again, who was I to question anything they did? I was still the outsider to most of the household staff. Although, after what I had done with the cook, some of the maids had certainly been kinder to me.

“Quick, he has gone in search of our brother, which no doubt means they will be some while as he is in such a mood, I fear only fighting will calm him of the frustration,” Sophia had said the second she found me.

His office was next to a small sitting room, both named the red rooms, and when walking inside I knew why. His office was panelled in a highly polished red wood I didn’t know the name off. All of two walls had in-built shelves that were separated by carved roman style columns. Each one was filled with old-fashioned books with matching leather spines and gold print. There were also brass figurines, and other ornaments he had most likely acquired during his many travels across the globe. A marble cast iron fireplace stood nestled amongst the shelves, and was framed with a carved surround that held a fancy gold clock at the centre of the mantle.

A few oil paintings adorned the walls that didn’t have shelves and instead had deep-red wallpaper broken up by the ornate gold frames. As for the furniture in the room, there was a sideboard that held a crystal decanter on a silver platter that had matching glasses. There was an old-fashioned globe of the Earththat looked like it opened up at in one corner. And there was also a few chesterfield style red leather chairs, with small side tables either side that faced the tall window. But what dominated the room was the walnut pedestal-style desk that had one of those roll tops I knew hid loads of little draws underneath. A red leather desk chair was pulled out ready for Draven’s large body to fill it.

As for Sophia, she didn’t accompany me, as that would have been much harder to explain if we were caught together. So, I patted the pocket of my skirt, making sure my excuse was still in there before going to work.

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