Page 77 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
Freesia stumbled behind me, no doubt confused and horrified I would snub the prince. I tugged harder.
“Slow down! What is this about? You’re acting like a lunatic!”
Ah, yes. There was the Freesia I knew and loved.
“Listen. I just … I need you to listen. I know we haven’t exactly been friends, but we could all be in danger. Have you … noticed anything odd about your husband?”
I winced, because it sounded just as ridiculous as I thought. I couldn’t think of where to start, though.
Freesia drew back, offended. “Berthold is the perfect gentleman. He holds my hand, opens doors, and—”
“And is anything off about his skin? Hyacinth was going on and on about the nobles having gray skin, or rotting sores.”
Freesia laughed. “I always suspected she was touched in the head. That confirms it.”
I pushed harder. “So Berthold’s skin is normal? Even under his clothes?”
She scoffed. “How would I know what’s under his clothes? That’s most improper. His hand is cold when I hold it, but I hardly see that as grounds to accuse him of being some sort of … demon.”
I tilted my head at her. For all her posturing and puffing, surely she wasn’t more innocent than … Leilani or the twins!
“Freesia,” I grit out, “have you and your husband spent the night together?” Images of Zariah and I filled my head, but I refused to blush. Not now.
Freesia blinked. “Stay up all night? Why would we do that?”
Oh, gods above.
“Freesia. Did you and your husband … make your marriage official? Did he sleep in the same bed as you? Did you have sex?”
I had to say the last one, because she was still staring at me in confusion. When the word ‘sex’ rolled off my tongue, she went white. It was clear to me when I first met the other girls that they weren’t as…worldlyas me, but I’d made it my business to know exactly how babies were made so I didn’t end up stuck in the mud quarter like my mother. I knew it involved that … white liquid from the man after he put his cock inside of you. Out of all the other girls, I didn’t expect Freesia to be ignorant of such things.
“Don’t speak so—”
“FREESIA!”
“No!” she stammered, most likely just to shut me up. “He bids me goodnight and leaves!” She smoothed down her hair and dress as if my words had physically attacked her. “Now if you don’t mind, my husband awaits.”
I grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “I do mind, because something foul is at play here. It either traumatized most of my friends, or they’re willingly turning their noses up at any sign of suspicious activity, and you’re the only intelligent one left I trust.”
That got her. She gawked at me, her lips parting in shock. Then she shook her head. “No. No. Absolutely not. You’re just trying to ruin a good thing. The prince chose you. Why can’t you be happy like all of us?” Freesia’s hand swept the length of the hall, showing the nobles and the party in full swing.
“Hyacinth isn’t happy!” I roared back. “Heather isn’t happy! Azalea was apparently just hauled out of here for questionable reasons, because you and I both know she doesn’t drink to excess.”
Freesia’s nostrils flared, her arms crossing over her chest. “Heather and Hyacinth were always lacking. If you ask me, they’re a little dim. And how do I know Azalea wouldn’t drink? This is the first time we’ve had free rein to drink whatever we wanted! Why is it so hard to believe she overdid it? You’re fear-mongering and ruining everything!” She cut herself off, realizing her voice had gotten high and shrill. “If I wasn’t already married,” she continued slowly, her tone rigid, “then I’d take the prince for myself since you can’t properly appreciate what you have.” She gave me a brief once over and apparently found me lacking. “Dragon rider or not.”
She walked away, and I found myself alone in a room full of people.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Iwalked right out of the party, and no one seemed to care. The fireguards hadn’t returned to man the doors, so I tried to navigate back to my rooms on my own.
“You’ve lasted longer than I thought.”
The voice startled me as I whipped around, unsteady on my ridiculous shoes. My ankle rolled under me and I would have likely twistedagainit had it not been for the strong pair of arms that caught me. Stupid shoes.
The king’s dark eyes studied me curiously as I got my feet back under me, and he let go.
“What do you mean?” I asked harshly. It wasn’t like he didn’t know what was going on, after all.
