Page 324 of Kingdoms of Night

I gulp. He's right. I wouldn't.

CHAPTERTWELVE

My first request was easily granted, but the troll tells me they'll gather the material I need for sewing in the next few days.

I spend those days staring at a blank page, not knowing where to start. I don't even know who I want to write to. Margaux? I don't know whether she'll receive anything I send. I don't even know if she'salive. And I doubt she'll be able to reply to me. My brother? What would I say, exactly?I'm alive, but I wear no clothes all day and my occupation is taking the cock of a man who is not my husband.

I shake my head, half amusing myself despite the circumstances. No, I wouldn't send that to my brother, but my father? He deserves to know what befell the daughter he so easily cast aside.

I have few friends, and my current situation isn't something I'd want to share with any of them.

Still, I requested paper and it was given to me. I'm not quite a slave here, though I'm neither free nor employed, sowhatis my station, exactly?

I look around the charming room—certainly not a cell—and frown. I am fed four times a day—a diet including fruits and sweetmeats and occasionally, the rolls I liked so much. There's a tub filled with warm water every morning and I sleep on lush duvets and a feather pillow, not with the dogs. There's no lock on any door. I tried them. I could run. Of course, I'd be raped and killed, not necessarily in that order, within moments, but I'm not quite a captive. Not to mention, I have the two constant guards, never leaving my side, even when Dryan's here.

This land has very short days, and is mostly bathed in darkness. I tend to wake up in the late afternoon, and get to my routine through the night. Every day, around when the sun rises, Dryan finds his way to me, and takes me over and over, relentlessly, in positions increasingly embarrassing.

He's seated on his bed and makes me ride on top of him this morning, my breasts bouncing as I lower myself onto him over and over. I like the illusion of control this gives me.

Dryan enjoys whispering filthy things in my ears, and I find that my body never fails to react to it.

I crash after our entanglement every night and wake alone each morning.

What am I?

I'm musing over this strange new life I'm so ill prepared for when the door bursts open. I've never had a visitor, so I expect the beautiful creature who enjoys making a whore out of me, but in his stead, I face an exquisite woman with silver white hair, dressed in a shining scarlet armored corset with a tantalizing skirt, form fitting along her slim thighs, and dropping like a train at her feet. I've never met a queen who looked as regal—or as fierce.

She wears a crown—or a diadem—low on her brow. A single flower at its center gleams red like her eyes and her dress, the rest is made of dark metal shaped like vines.

"So, you're the mortal." She says it like I might say cockroach.

I glance at Iara, frowning and unsure how to answer. Whether I should answer. We're in uncharted territory.

"You're in the presence of Morag, keeper of the Silver Keep, late queen of the Court of Stars."

Wait a minute, the Court of Stars? That's where we are. She was queen here? How does that even work?

Confused though I am, I wasbreed to understand propriety, albeit laws and customs are different here. Still, I curtsy, pretending that I'm not completely naked.

"Look at it. The vermin has manners." She chuckles, before grinning at Castov. "Cass, darling, do you happen to know where my husband is?"

Her husband?

My heart thunders in my chest. She can't mean…

"The king's running with the hunt until tonight, as is customary before the midwinter light celebration," Castov retorts. All the while, my stomach drops.

The king. Theyaretalking about Dryan. This is Dryan'swife. I've been fucking someone's husband. I want to yell and break something. Like her perfect face. No, never mind hers. She's done nothing wrong. I want to breakhis.

"Hm. Well, you'll have to entertain me in his absence." She grins and hops on the desk where I've been staring at my blank page. So fast I barely see the movements, she lifts the fabric of her clothing to her waist, spreads her thighs, and to my surprise, I find that she wears nothing under her skirt. "Come on, girl. You must have learned to make use of your tongue by now. Show me what you're good for."

I get to my feet and step back, horrified. Her red eyes flash with something like victory.

Then Castov place himself between us and bows. "You will excuse my interference, but the king does not share his pet."

It's only when my heart resumes a steadier beat that I notice it was racing.

Iara joins Castov silently.

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