Page 80 of Kingdom of Today
A groan of regret seeped from me. As much as I wished to face the emperor and steal his companion’s key, I didn’t want to leave this bed. But this was war, not business as usual. Time to buck up.
I kissed his cheek and climbed from the bed. In a closet as big as my childhood bedroom, I found more than I needed, including a vanity with different creams, cosmetics, and hairstyling tools. I marveled at the luxurious fabric as I dressed. Tried not to sob, whimper, or go numb as I applied different products to my face and body, hiding a multitude of cuts and bruises. Cobbled together a risky plan as I pinned sections of my hair.
The emotional highs and lows created a daunting challenge, but I persevered.
I examined myself in a full-length mirror. The satiny gown clung to my curves with a scooped neckline, off-the-shoulder straps, and a cinched waist minus a diamond-shaped swatch of material on each side. A scarlet bodice tapered into a jet-black skirt, with a long slit stretching from the top of my thigh to the floor, where the gown’s hem pooled.Black stilettos studded with rubies turned my feet into a work of art. Not bad. Not bad at all.
“You stun me.”
Cyrus leaned one shoulder against the closet doorway. He’d tamed his hair, but not his eyes. They glittered like gemstones, a paradox of raging heat and glistening frost. He hadn’t shaved, the dark stubble on his strong jaw thicker than usual.
Desire coiled within me as he made his way over, each step slow, deliberate, and impossibly magnetic. Grimed up, he was hot. In a perfectly tailored black tux, he unraveled every thread of reason I had left.
“And you ...” I glided my palms up the lapels of his soft suit jacket. “You defy description.”
“Give it a try,” he said, clasping my hips, more relaxed than he’d been since we entered enemy territory. He was an ember of desire and a whisper of devotion. “Tell me how handsome I am.”
He’d seized the moment, and I would too. But where to start? “Handsomeisn’t a strong enough word. You are beyond gorgeous. Sexy but dangerous. Powerful and awe inspiring.” I gently nipped his bottom lip. “Delicious.”
His eyelids hooded. “And I’m yours?”
“All mine.Onlymine.”
“Well, then.” He kissed me with raw, unfiltered carnality wrapped in tenderness. “That’s a very good description.”
“And yet it’s not good enough.” I toyed with the ends of his hair, holding his gaze, growing serious. “Don’t listen to Astan. You won’t lose me. As long as you’re you, I’m yours.”
“Don’t worry, kitten. I want nothing to do with him.” He gave me another of those sweet kisses.
“I knew this day would come, and I planned accordingly.” Cyrus withdrew a velvet box from his pocket and cracked open the lid. A sparkling ruby choker graced the interior.
Delighted, I ghosted my fingertips over the gems. “This beauty doubles as a weapon, I’m assuming.”
“It does. Hair up.”
Lifting my curls, I held my breath as he stalked behind me and fastened the jewels around my throat, just above the clear beads. His fingers brushed my skin, a prickle of heat against the chill of metal, rousing a storm of goose bumps in their wake.
“This particular weapon slays my good sense.” Cyrus advanced, prowling around me, his eyes trailing over my curves. “But that is the extent of its power.”
“Then it’s my favorite,” I said with a grin.
A loud knock came from beyond our hideaway, shattering the moment.
He heaved a sigh. “Our escort is here. I hope you’re ready for what’s to come.”
Deep breath in, out. Was I prepared to meet the leader of our world, who could have me killed with a snap of his fingers? “Yes. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty
There’s no need to seek revenge; let the rotten fruit fall from the tree on its own.
—The Book of Soal2.6.12.19
The strangest woman served as our escort. A large crystal headpiece crowned her hair, while a porcelain mask concealed her face. Slashes of pink rimmed the eyeholes, and a dark, crimson heart stained the mask where her lips should be. Delicate flowers adorned one temple, their vines curling over the other in a mesmerizing pattern. Her flowing black robe, spun from the softest silk, trailed behind her like a shadow, rustling over the ground with every step.
No armed guards stood outside our door, or any door for that matter, as if they’d fled. No meta either.
I glanced at Cyrus, hoping for an explanation, and he delivered.
