Page 45 of Queen of the Wicked
“Why? Because societyexpects that of you? There is nothingwrong with pleasure, Isla. Infact?—”
“It is not because of that,” she said quietly, finishing her hair. “Given my past life, I have experienced enough to be content with never having sex again. However, when we swore our lives to Erebos, we also let go of those pleasurable desires to serve him in the highest regard. I assume speakingof it is against the rules as well.”
“So that’s why you can’t date Eryx? Because Erebos said you couldn’t?”
“Do not make it seem like he is a bad person, Alessia. We made our choices in our past lives and were given a second chance by coming here. I am grateful, and I will gladly let go of those desires if it means I will be able to try again one day.”
“Trywhatagain? Life?”
She set the brush down on the vanity in front of her with her lips pursed. “There are things I am not allowed to speak of. This is one of them. I am sorry.”
With a huff, Alessia crossed her arms over her chest and rose from the stool. “Fine. I’ll drop the subject. For now.”
“Oh, Miss Alessia.” Isla rolled her eyes. “You are insufferable. If you truly wish to know the answers, just ask His Majesty. I am certain he would confide in you.”
“Why? Because you think we’re sotakenwith each other?”
Isla lunged and playfully smacked her with a comb.Despite their first formal encounter, they were becoming friends.Even on Earth, Alessia never had them. She didn’t know what it was like to have sleepovers or paint someone’s nails until the wee hours of the morning, but with Isla, Alessia could imagine doing all those things with her.
But for that to happen, she first needed to be free. Alessia just had to figure out how to achieve that.
Howling with laughter, Alessia waved her goodbyes and had a pep in her step on the way down to the main foyer. She planned to study in the library whenever she could locate it. Hopefully, she could find something on black magic and earn extra credit points with Izara during their training session tomorrow. She could even snag a detailed map of Heaven to try and figure out where her mother may have been taken.
“Jesus!” Alessia flew her hand over her heart when Ambroz rounded the corner, almost bumping into her. His skeletal body jumped back, but she couldn’t tell if he was concerned, given the lack of flesh.
“My deepest apologies, My Lady,” he said, bowing his skull.
“I am never going to get used to you. No offense.”
“It is quite a common reaction from mortals. I am used to it. His Majesty requested your presence for breakfast this morning. I came to retrieve you.”
Breakfast?The only meal she shared with Erebos was dinner, and even then, it was always with Eryx and Izara, as long as she wasn’t on a mission of hers. This was the first time he’d requested her presence for anything but an eveningmeal.
“Of course,” she replied. “Am I expected to follow you?”
“Yes, My Lady.” He twirled around and floated down the hallway, slowing his pace to remain only a few feet ahead of her.
“You don’t have to call meyour lady, you know. You can just call me Alessia.”
“His Majesty instructs me to call you as such. Until I am ordered otherwise, of course.”
“Right,” Alessia muttered. “By himself or his mate,whoever that will be.”
“Whenever she decides to claim the title,” he added. “Then she will be able to establish all the rules she pleases.”
The thought ofanyonebelonging to Erebos didn’t sit right with her. Selfishly, she enjoyed the quiet and private moment they shared after her nightmare. Although it hadn’t solved all her resentment towards Erebos for dragging her to Hell and involving her in this mess, it had felt like they had turned a new leaf.
Imagining Catalina in her place instead created a bitter taste in her mouth.
She assumed they would eat in the grand dining room, but instead, Ambroz led her out the back door, which opened up to the backyard and the gardens behind it. A table set for two was placed right beside the hedges of the flowers Alessia had so hopelessly fallen in love with when she first arrived, and Erebos sat in one of the white wooden chairs with hand-painted floral designs.
The heat of his gaze on her made Alessiaweak in the knees. Ever since they met, their interactions had become more intense. Just being in his vicinity felt like all the oxygen was stolen from her lungs, and after what felt like a breakthrough last week, she had hardly seen him.
He rose from the chair to meet her halfway to the table, giving Ambroz a nod. “Thank you, Ambroz. I will take it from here.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
When they were alone, Erebos extended his elbow for her to take. “Are the new dresses more to your liking?”
