Page 26 of Trial By Fire

“Much better.” Is all I can manage. My heart is pounding in my chest. Fucking her is always so invigorating. Dangerous even. Well, not as dangerous this time around. She doesn’t give me a second glance as she finds another gold gown in her wardrobe. Like I was just another task to tick off her growing list of to-dos. There are no real feelings between us. No love. I know exactly what I am to her. Just a cock. She fucks me when she wants. Like she does many others. But I’m addicted to her just the same. When she spreads those beautiful legs, it’s like coming home.

“Good. Clean yourself up. We have work to do.” She tosses me a warm towel. Such a practiced move that I grab it easily. I clean off my softening dick and quickly make myself decent. As if on cue, her maids rush in to attend to her needs. Had they been out there the entire time? Probably. It’s just another business transaction. I watch her disappear into her bathroom with her maids in tow. The door closes, and I am left alone.

And just like that. I’m dismissed.

As long as I can get what I want, her treatment of me is just a means to an end.

CHAPTERTWENTY

CORDELIA

Yep, it’s official. I miss Silva. I miss our witty banter. I miss the way she hums to a tune I can’t recognize. I even miss her scowling at me when she didn’t think I was watching her when I refused to wear the footwear she chose. Anything is better than the robotic movements and awkward silence of my two Fae attendants. If it wasn’t for the sad look one of them gave me this morning, I would have sworn up and down that they were battery-operated. One of them brings over a full-length mirror and sits it in front of me. I smile. Not bad Cordelia.

“Thank you,” I say to them both. They both look away from me and begin to tidy the room.

I shrug it off as I look at the woman in the mirror. Well, I’ve looked better. My hair falls softly around my face, not really curled but not exactly straight. I kept my makeup simple, accentuating my eyes with just a little eye shadow, and finishing it off with a deep red lipstick. Out of all of the oversexualized dresses Maurelle sent me, I pick the demurest one I could find. The last thing I want to do is wear clothes of any kind.

Shortly after my father left the room earlier, my body betrayed me once more by sending waves of need through me. My body is seeking my mates, needing, no, wanting to be knotted. Now that I know what all these emotions mean, it doesn’t make it better. Knowledge, in this instance, is not power. This is a vulnerability that I don’t need tonight. If I could stand the feel of armor against my skin right now, that would be my garment of choice. Instead, I wear a strapless floor-length black velvet dress with a sweetheart neckline, simple and classic. The bodice is restrictive and tight, clinging way too close to my skin. I am hot and flushed. I just want to ride this thing out in the confines of my prison. I am not trying to attract attention to myself, I don’t want to stand out. I want to fade into the shadows. I smile, thinking of Dravyn, wishing I could call out to him. Gale would say something right now to make me laugh. Torin’s hand would automatically find mine, and he would pull me close. Adrian’s hand would wrap around my waist possessively, his eyes full of love in contrast. I close my eyes and pull my magic to the surface. If only I could use my magic to take me there. I open my eyes and find the two women looking at me. Could they feel my magic?Shit!

“What do you think, ladies? Do you think I look like a queen?” I throw out to stop them from looking at me the way they are. One of them opens their mouth to speak but quickly closes it.

“Look, I am sure you’ve been told not to speak to me. For the past three days, it’s been tough keeping my own company. I am not used to radio silence,” I say to them. I’m not sure they will get the meaning. Do they have radios in Incantatia? How would I know? I haven’t seen anything but the hole I was put in when I first arrived and the walls of this suite. “So, a simple yes or no is all I ask. You can nod your head even.” I wait. Nothing.

“Are you really that afraid of her that you can’t be cordial?” I ask in exasperation. What kind of queen rules like this? Wait, I know the answer to that. A cruel ass bitch, that’s the kind. Ugh. I huff out a breath and walk away from them. Their emotionless faces just piss me off. I’ve tried to be nice. I want to feel sorry for them, but I am beyond caring. I quickly cross over to the bed, reaching underneath the pillow I search for the bracelet that I hid earlier. I grab the bracelet and slip the delicate metal onto my wrist. It’s so thin you almost don’t notice it. I run my fingers over it quickly, feeling completely ready to face whatever it is I’m about to walk into. I turn and walk toward the door.

“Well, let’s get this over with, shall we?” I say out loud, not caring in the least if they respond.

“Yes.” One simple word fills the air, and I turn in shock with my mouth hanging open. The one that attempted to speak a moment ago finally finds her voice.

“Alright. Thank you for responding, ah.” I smile genuinely at her, hoping she will at least tell me her name.

“Tova. This is Elvlyn.” She points at the other woman, who silently admonishes her.

“Cordelia, but you already know that. Tova, Elvlyn, nice to finally meet you.” I turn away, not wanting to push them any further, as one of the guards knocks on the door. I guess that’s our cue. Elvlyn walks around me and opens the door.

“The Queen awaits,” is all the guard says as he steps away. I go to walk past, but Tova stops me.

“When I said yes, I was answering your question,” she says in a whisper. I raise my eyebrow waiting for her to go on, wondering exactly which one she was answering.

She offers me a sad smile. “We really are afraid.” She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else as she hurries out of the room.Yep, a cruel ass bitch,I think to myself as I step out into the hallway. I don't give the room I’ve been in another glance, my glorified jail cell.

I have no intention of returning.

* * *

Thank goodness for flats. I don’t know how many steps we went down or how many turns we’ve taken. I lost count. When we finally reach the massive black double doors, I was relieved. I could hear soft music playing and people chatting just on the other side. This must be the ballroom.

Guards surround me on all sides as Tova and Elvlyn walk a few paces behind. I’ve seen enough historical films to know what a walk to the gallows looks like. Well, I don’t plan on dying tonight. I roll my shoulders back, and I steel myself from the inside out. I call my magic to the surface, and my Dragon’s fire flows through my veins.

Looks can be deceiving.I remind myself of my father’s words to calm my racing heart. Fear is not an option, and I know that I am not alone. I think of the people I love, of Arcadia, and those who need me. Playing it on a loop in my mind, leaving room for nothing else as the door swings open slowly. The guards begin to move, and I fall into step with them as we move into the room.

I audibly gasp. “This isn’t real?” I turn to the guard on my left, of course, he doesn’t answer. I quickly close my mouth, remembering to put one foot in front of the other. It’s as if we’ve stepped outside. We walk underneath a tree canopy. A sweet fragrance of cherries mists the air, along with the smell of a warm bonfire. I take a deep breath and instantly feel more relaxed.I don’t need to relax, I need to be alert,I think to myself. My thoughts are quickly squashed by the sight of actual grass on the floor. The night sky is buzzing with little twinkling lights that flit about all around us. On closer inspection, one floats just above my nose, and I realize then that I am looking at a tiny Fairy. I can’t make out any facial features because she’s bathed in a ball of light. I can make out her iridescent wings and a general Humanoid shape, though. An actual Fairy. I reach up, not really knowing what one does when you meet an actual Fairy, but the guard quickly stops me.

“It’s not our custom. Don’t touch the Fairies. Let them observe. If they touch you, then you can acknowledge them,” he says in a rush, then turns his head forward.

“Thank you,” I say back as the little Fairy darts out into the night. I glance at the guard with a smile. He might not have wanted to, but at least he was nice enough to warn me. A little kindness goes a long way.

The music is louder now that we have finally made it out of the canopy. The room opens up into a forest clearing. Trees climb high into an enchanting sky, torches line the walkway on either side of us, leading up to a white platform in the middle of the room. The music continues, but all chatter ceases as all eyes watch me as I go walking by. The Fae are recognizable to me now, their long hair, high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and various ranges of eye color make up the majority in the room. Most of them are men, but I don’t think much of it as I eye a few people that look like they could be Mages, or Druids even.

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