Page 28 of The Coveted
“You know it’s rude to do that right in front of someone, Daelon,” she accused, referencing the obvious telepathy. “Tell me what?”
“If Lucius finds out he will kill us both,” I said, and nothing more. She might be one of us at her core, but she was raised here in this castle of lies. I knew we couldn’t risk telling her anything else.
“You think I don’t know that? I’m not daft,” she flustered. “But this better be all that’s going on. Because no matter how powerful you think you are, you will never be more powerful than the King. No escape plans or whatever else,” she said, scolding us with a wagging finger.
If only she knew. “It’s just sex,” I hurried because it was the first thing that came to mind. It seemed to work for her, though, as understanding flitted across her features. Her aura glowed bright red, coincidentally the same color I knew Daelon was seeing as he continued to glare at me.
“Ohhh. Hate sex. Igotyou,” Taryn said. She gave me a conspiratorial look and winked.
Daelon threw a hand up to gesture toward me, utterly exasperated. “Okay. She’s here. You haven’t failed. Now can you let her get dressed?” he muttered through clenched teeth.
“I don’t know. It’s not a bad view,” Taryn said, eyeing me, and I thought the vein in Daelon’s forehead might burst.
“Out.” His eyes hardened, but Taryn just laughed as he shooed her away. When he turned back to me the little hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
If I didn’t know him, I might’ve actually been frightened by his intensity, but instead I just laughed softly. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, walking over to the bed. I stood, searching the area for my dress. He caught me, and his hand snaked around my waist as he took a gentle hold of my chin. His eyes were stormy, but I knew a playfulness lurked underneath. “Just sex, huh?”
“Isn’t it obvious I’m just using you for your body?”
He rolled his eyes and let go of my chin. “You two need to hurry out of here before Lucius wakes.”
I nodded, the thought of the evil King never failing to kill my mood. I slipped into my black dress with lace trim, wondering idly if Daelon picked out my new wardrobe like he did the red gown. Before I could ask, Taryn was banging on the door again.
“Are you quite done?”
“Yes,” I said at the same time Daelon said “no.”
She entered regardless. “There are guards roaming about. I think it’s best if we jump. You have a busy day ahead.” She raised her brows, and I noticed a flit of annoyance cross her features and aura.
“Doing what?” Anxiety pooled in my gut at the thought of a day full of pretending and false pleasantries.
“Well, first we have a lunch with some of theladies,” she said with an exhale. “I don’t think I would’ve been invited if I hadn’t been tasked with acclimating you to society, but I can’t think of a good enough excuse to get out of it…” she said to herself, babbling as she often did. “Oh, and Sebastian requested you at the gallery before dinner.”
I felt Daelon stiffen next to me, and I gulped when I met his gaze. Taryn didn’t seem to notice, as she continued to stare off into the distance and discuss how we would make our grand escape if the lunch was as horrific as she imagined.
Daelon had taken up a protective stance next to me, his wall of impassive energy even more sturdy than usual.No,his voice boomed in my mind.
I don’t think I have a choice. Like you said, we need to keep up the charade. He seems harmless, and we both know I’m fully capable of taking care of myself.
I felt Daelon’s seething even as I turned my attention back to Taryn. “Time to go?”
She smiled. “I don’t get to do this often,” she exclaimed, her eyes giddy before narrowing in on me. “It’s actually sort of unbelievable how you can jump whenever you want. Like when you first got here… you must’ve tried to escape a hundred times without even a hint of exertion. Oh, sorry, I’m sure that’s not a happy memory.” She frowned, still considering me with curiosity.
She reached out, and I stepped forward to take her hands in mine. I threw one last look over my shoulder at Daelon, whose features had transformed back to stony and guarded. But, as I channeled a bit of magick, tuning into the frequency of travel and movement, I heard his real thoughts quite clearly.
Remember who you belong to.
Right back at you.
In a flash we were back in my bedroom, and Taryn stumbled. I steadied her, and I couldn’t help but grin at the excitement in her aura.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked, smiling back.
Oops. I wasn’t supposed to be able to read her energy. “Just amused at your awe.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I’m sure you’re used to it,” she said, her eyes inquisitive. For just a moment her energy reflected back a white light all too familiar, and I could tell she was desperate to know why I was so powerful. She wanted to know why she was drawn to me—why I reminded her of a home she never knew. I had awakened something inside of her that she didn’t understand, and it saddened me that I had to keep her in the dark.
