Page 28 of Queen of the Wicked
I am pleased you like it,Erebos said smugly into her head. He covered his mouth with his hand to hide his grin.
Stay out of my head!she snapped.
It is challenging to do so when your thoughts are so intriguing. You were projecting again.
She clamped her mouth shut.Are you flirting with me?
Do you wish I were?
“Hey.” Eryx waved his hand. “I’m Eryx. Nice to meet you both.”
Alessia quirked a brow.
“Oh, I just didn’t know if you guys could see me with your silent conversation.” He patted his overcoat, feeling for his body. “Nope. I’m definitely here.”
Alessia rolled her eyes. “Hello, Eryx.” She piled roast beef and vegetables on her plate, recalling her and Isla's earlier conversation. It was time for her to do some investigating. “I had the greatest time with Isla today,” she said casually.
“Hmm?” Eryx replied. “That’s good.”
“She’s extremely witty, and also very smart. I’m growing to like her a lot, actually.”
Erebos continued to cover his mouth with his hand. Alessia knew he was in her mind and could read her thoughts, but he didn’t interrupt.
“Are you?” he asked.
Evasive, dodging asshole.
“Have you spoken to her at all?”
“In passing.”
“And do you think she’s witty?”
Eryx grunted, eyeing Erebos. “Are you going to stop this at all, or…”
“Oh, I think Alessia is doing quite well with her interrogation,” he replied, waving me on. “Continue.”
Before she could bombard him with more questions, the doors to the dining hall opened, and a guard strode forward into the room. His dress shoes clacked against the marble, the ruby buttons of his uniform jacket shining in the chandelier's light. When he reached them, he leaned down to whisper into Erebos’s ear so quietly that not even Alessia’s newly advanced hearing could pick it up. Erebos only nodded. “Send her in.”
When the guard took his leave, a young girl slightly younger than Alessia entered the room. She was beautiful, with chestnut hair flowing to the middle of her waist, and long, slender legs draped in a form-fitting fine silk dress. When she reached Erebos’s side, she curtsied deeply, her cleavage on full display for him.
Alessia didn’t like that one bit.
“Catalina,” Erebos greeted.
“Your Majesty,” she whispered seductively.
“What is the pressing issue you needed to interrupt my dinner for?”
Just at the name, that power inside Alessia began to stir. She was the woman Erebos had slept with the other night, and Alessia had no right to feel such hatred toward her. She didn’t know why she wanted to claw her face off when Erebos and her didn’t get along in the first place, but just the mere thoughtof Erebos’s hands on her, touching her,fuckingher… That power soared right to the base of her throat, begging to be unleashed.
Oh god, oh god, oh god.
Erebos stilled. “Catalina, you need to leave. Immediately.”
“Of course, Your Majesty, but I?—”
“Eryx. Take her.Now.”
