Page 48 of Kingdom of Rot & Ruin
He stood straighter at that.
“Thank you for … setting the record straight,” I started again carefully. “Er … in the future, is there a way to know I am approaching you or Zion? I would hate to get eaten because of a simple misunderstanding.”
That was a mild way of putting it, but being able to distinguish between his personalities would be beneficial.
Zariah shrugged. “I’m almost always the dragon. Only once in a while is Zion out. How about you do a whistle? If it is me, I will know that is the signal and will come. If it is Zion, he will dismiss the noise.” Zariah’s nose wrinkled. “He doesn’t notice anything.”
Right. The only thing standing between me becoming a roasted dinner was a whistle?
“I appreciate your coming to find me. But get along though. Your mother isn’t my biggest fan.”
Zariah’s face darkened, but his mouth stayed shut, pinched in a sharp line.
The queen was a sore subject for more than me, it seemed.
“Visit me more often, please.” Zariah turned on his heel and marched away.
I didn’t want to attend yet another ball, but my awkward status as a Noble (just barely) made it a requirement. If I wanted to enjoy the benefits of continuing my studies and living in the upper class, then this was something I had to bear and get through.
Though perhaps I was looking at the entire event with the wrong perspective.
The candles flickered here and there, casting deep shadows over the tinkle of glassware and the clink of goblets. Incense mingled with women’s perfume, burning unobtrusively from the corners of the room.
The amount of women dressed up and floating around the room seemed higher than normal.
“What is that scowl for? You will scare them all away. I hear they finally let the new girls attend from the last reaping.”
I frowned as Vession loomed behind me, nearly blending into the shadows with his dark hair and ever-present black cloak.
“That would have been my reaping, yes?” I asked.
Vession nodded. “It is time to pair them up with Noble husbands for your age group. You are charming and intelligent. I am surprised you are not in the thick of things.”
A snort left my nose.
“Vession, when have I ever been in the thick of things?”
He lifted one dark eyebrow at me. “In things of great consequence, you can’t help but stick your nose in.”
I flushed, knowing he referred to the queen. Did he know about Zariah?
“It wouldn’t hurt to stick your nose into a few things that are oflesserconsequence,” he continued, chin jutting out to indicate the girls.
Clover’s mouth sucking on my cock filled my mind. If only he knew.
Sighing, I followed his gaze. They were pretty enough, I supposed. Most of the girls looked uncomfortable and nervous, dressed in fine clothing they weren’t sure how to move in. It was a sea of blonds, dirty blonds, and a few light-brown heads. One lone dark head stuck out to me. She wore an ivory dress that made her black hair and eyes shine like she was a statue wrought from black-and-white marble as the silk wrapped around her slim body.
Vession snorted as I unconsciously took a few steps forward. “I knew you’d go after her; the only mud girl to survive her reaping. Good luck with that one. Just as headstrong as you.”
He disappeared into the shadows, and I rolled my eyes. He could be so dramatic.
I was at her side suddenly, with no memory of how I got there.
Alarmed, she turned to me, lips parting in surprise.
“Zephyr,” I said, bowing my head and leaving my hand open towards her, in a polite greeting meant for people who weren’t the queen.
She eyed my hand in confusion, taking a half step back like a frightened cow.
