Page 149 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“Lily.” Alastair breathes her name like the last shred of his patience has expired.
I haven’t seen Lily in four years, but even when I was fifteen she was this crude, so it doesn’t affect me. Much.
“Not at all. He’s perfectly equipped, thanks. There is, however, a problem withmyequipment.”
Lily’s eyes bug and a look of serious concern overcomes her. “Please don’t tell me your pussy—”
Alastair’s hand clamps down over Lily’s mouth. “Enough filth has filled your mouth for one evening, wife.”
She smiles at him as he pulls his hand away. “Oh, but I was hoping you—”
He covers her mouth again, then looks at me. “What is it you need, princess?”
“I can’t breathe underwater,” I say plainly. “I need gills, but I don’t want them all the time. Is something like this possible?”
Lily nods vigorously behind Alastair’s massive hand and begins talking, but Alastair doesn’t release her. Instead, he speaks for her.
“A water activation rune is quite simple. The skin would seal when not submerged, and open when exposed to water for a certain amount of time that you can dictate while inscribing. This will require us to carve into your skin on your ribs.”
“I understand,” I say, excitement buzzing through my body. “What about my hands and feet? Could you make them webbed, maybe even a little bigger? I want to be able to keep up with him in the water—eventually. I need to work on my swimming skills.”
Lily continues to speak behind Alastair’s hand, and he continues to speak for her.
“That’s an even simpler transformation.” He nods. “You’ll need some material you’d like to fuse into your body to make it possible.”
Alyse appears beside me as if summoned. “Kaz has a lot of interesting designs. I’m sure he’s got something that could work.”
“What have you volunteered me for,vy drecul?” Kazimir asks over his shoulder from where he’s speaking to Adrik.
They share a look and his light eyebrows shoot up his forehead before he glances at me. I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed under his scrutiny, but then he gives me a little nod and returns to his conversation with the potion master.
“He’ll bring everything to Lily’s room tonight,” Alyse says with a kind smile.
Alastair sighs because Lily is still attempting to talk through his hand. “I must get her some water, and a short nap, if she’s to perform body modifications tonight.”
In one fell swoop, he picks her up and cradles her against his chest while somehow still maintaining the hand over her mouth. Lily just rolls into him and closes her eyes as if this is a common occurrence. He has incredible patience with her.
“She’s okay,” Alyse says, touching my arm gently.
“What?” I stammer, looking back at her.
“She…” Alyse sighs, looking for the right word. “Overindulges.”
I forget that Alyse can hear my every thought if she wants to.
She watches them leave with a softness in her eyes. “We’ve all had a rough go of life, and she’s not oblivious to what she’s doing. She’ll be okay. Sooner now, I think, since we’re all together again,” she says resolutely as she looks back at me.
“Good.” I smile. “And will you?”
She blinks a few times. “I’m still coming to terms with everything I’ve done, and everything I have to do. Scarlett is right. I’m not the kind, soft, gentle creature you think I am.”
I cross my arms. “Of course you are.”
She levels a severe stare at me. “Reina, the worst you did on your journey was kill a man who was trying to hurt you. The things I’ve done would turn your stomach sour.” Her expression darkens as she smiles. “And I liked it. I liked feeling powerful. I liked watching him squirm and scream, begging for mercy.”
A chill ripples down my spine, but I suppress my shiver.
She straightens, her smile fading. “I am my own kind of monster now.”
