Page 108 of Wicked Magik
"They've returned to their stations with genuine enthusiasm. The shipment of cloth has arrived just in time for Vesper's new wardrobe, and they're even crafting pieces for Oryx. I noticed their eyes widening at first sight of him, but after that initial shock, they've managed admirably."
I nodded as I heard the sound of Oryx’s large hooves entering through the doorway. Vesper followed him, dressed in the deep crimson velvet gown I had seen her wear what seemed like ages ago.
And it was as if I was seeing her for the very first time, all over again, a visceral shock to my system. My shaft was like granite. My entire being craved her with a fierce, incomprehensible longing.
In that moment, I was forced to acknowledge that Benedict had been right all along. There was indeed something profound and undeniable about this whole fated mate, this bond.
Watching them stride toward me, side by side, it was an overwhelming sense of destiny, an undeniable truth crashing over me.
As Oryx drew nearer, my feelings for her intensified. My body yearned to learn more about her, to touch her, and to hold her close, driven by a desire to understand everything about her.
Why did I have to be so stubborn earlier?
Oryx grabbed Vesper’s wrist and pulled her forward. She didn’t show fear, but apprehension as she stepped forward. Her chin was held high, she was no longer the weak, frail human that laid on a bed of furs and soft blankets in Oryx’s bed.
This was Vesper, the human female who didn’t let anyone take advantage of her.
The fire that I want to ignite into an inferno.
Benedict backed away, while I stepped forward. I took her hand and slowly brought the back of it to my lips, not breaking eye contact. Red flushed her cheeks and I smiled inwardly.
While her heart did not want me, at least I knew her body did.
“Thank you for joining me for dinner, it is much appreciated.”
Vesper swallowed and pulled her hand away. “Yes, well, I’m doing it for Oryx. He said he wanted us to at least get along.” Vesper folded her arms and looked away from me.
Oryx tilted his skull in question.
I licked my lips and bit down on the bottom one. “Why don’t we have a seat? I’m sure you are hungry. I heard you have wandered today.”
Vesper has spent time getting to know the souls of the women who once ran this household, now inhabiting new vessels. They resumed their duties as if they'd never left, but this time, Vesper shadowed them through unfamiliar corridors of the estate.
As they moved through the five sprawling floors and elongated wings, they encountered rooms so thick with dust and neglect that their original purposes had become obscured memories.
My familial wing will remain closed indefinitely and perhaps be removed at some point in time.
As she trailed behind Josephine and Phyrrah, she attempted to assist with the cleaning, but I ensured she wasn't permitted to do so. Vesper was the Lady of this house, and she was only allowed to exert herself within the boundaries of my lab.
She would be the weaver of the new vessels that come back from the Under Shadows.
Vesper stepped in front of Oryx and took the seat furthest away from me, which still wouldn’t be far enough. I made sure that our three seats were close instead of our previous dinner fiasco and having me at the head of one table and Oryx at the other.
No, this would be more intimate. Oryx sat at the head, while Vesper sat next to him and I sat on the other side of her. Vesper’s eyes widened and she gazed down the table. “Isn’t that where you sit?” She pointed to the far end.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I would rather be close to both of you, is that wrong?”
With a deep breath to steady my trembling hand, I carefully grasped the gleaming silver lid of the platter before us and gently lifted it away. Instantly, a cloud of fragrant steam billowed upward, carrying with it the savory aroma of a perfectly roasted bird nestled among stone fruits and a medley of colorful vegetables.
As I moved on to unveil the other dishes, I found an array of sides. Fluffy mashed potatoes, buttery rolls, and rich pasta salads, all thoughtfully prepared by the maids. They had assured me these comforting carbs would be ideal for a woman enduring the challenges of her monthly cycle, offering comfort and satisfying those inevitable cravings.
Anything to help with Vesper to make her comfortable.
First, I cut into the fowl and took the first piece, offering her either white or dark meat. Her lips parted as she lifted her plate and asked for dark meat, and I placed it gently on her plate.
Did I come across as that much of a tyrant to her?
“Yes,”Oryx growled in my head.
