Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Her movements were slinky in the aftermath, and she didn’t need his next command. She opened her eyes and captured his gaze while she dropped down. He took over holding his shirt as she took him in hand again. She stroked once, twice, while giving him a seductive smile. Everyone saw his state of arousal. They all stood by, transfixed.
She’d never done something like this in front of an audience, but somehow, it heightened her pleasure. She liked knowing so many watchers were rapt, seeing what she could do to Tarian. Seeing how eagerly he responded to her when he wouldn’t respond to any of them. It made her feel exposed, but sexier. Taboo but powerful.
Thoughts of love once again whispered across her mind as she licked the tip sensuously, a bit dramatically, then sucked him in deep. Deep as she could and then a little more for good measure. Her eyes started to water, and she let them. Let the makeup run. She backed off and sucked in again, working her hand in tandem. He reached down and grabbed her hair as she bobbed on his length, looking up at him the whole time.
His eyes were on fire as he watched her. As everyone watched her. His body started to tense. His breathing became ragged.
It’s really too bad you can’t come all over my face, she thought, and he shuddered in climax, throwing his head back and groaning for all to hear.
She finished up as he jerked, sensitive now. When he was done, she rose gracefully and tucked him back in.
He looked down at her, wobbly-kneed and with a grin. “Perfection,” he cooed before straightening his clothes and tucking her under his arm. That is what I was talking about in the fringe. He tilted her chin up with his fingers before running his lips across hers. The rush. It was as perfect as I’d imagined, and in the perfect place. The princess has been watching us. Shall we go meet her?
Daisy barely stopped herself from looking around.
Sure, she replied. By the way, do you need some magic? She smiled ruefully as a body hit the floor up the way. I happen to have some from that vengeance I claimed on your behalf a moment ago. You’re welcome.
Fantastic. I’ll use it to vanish the royal black from around my irises when I meet the princess. She’ll be thrilled.
He took her hand amid cries of worry and outrage, gasps and startled looks. A bodyguard knelt beside the noble female, and the servants had scattered to the wall. The other nobles in the area pushed well away, bumping into each other.
Questions flew within the murmuring crowd.
“Who killed her?”
“How’d she die?”
“Was it an alliance gone wrong?”
“Did she wrong someone?”
“Tarianthiel,” someone whispered, near Daisy’s ear. “Tarianthiel…naughty, naughty. I know it was you.”
A female waited in the center of the open doors leading into the Court Hall. Black lines so thick they looked like pasted-on hair covered half of her face, drifting down over an eye and ending at the top of her jaw. It almost matched Daisy’s hairstyle, except her hazel eye peeked through with a reddish hue taking over the white. Another smear of black crawled in from her hairline on the other side, over her cheekbone and almost to her mouth. The gray of her skin nearly looked like paint. Every other inch of her was covered in a billowing black dress with a shining black design woven through, easily lost amid the staggering number of jewels.
Daisy couldn’t decide if she was putting her enormous wealth on display or using it as a cover-up for what she knew was a problem. Even though Tarian said they didn’t see the effects of the twisted magic, the fae most affected were the ones with the most cover. That couldn’t be a coincidence.
The female’s bodyguards stretched to the sides amid the columns. Their eyes constantly surveyed the crowd, all stopped and waiting for the princess to get out of the way and let them through. But she was waiting for Tarian.
Tarian’s shoulders tightened, the only indication of her unwanted attention. He strolled toward her confidently, Daisy’s hand in his.
The princess’s eyes were locked on him. Her smile twisted into a disturbing, cruel thing.
Then her gaze swung to Daisy, and pain flared in Daisy’s body. She hadn’t even been introduced and she was already under attack.
22
Daisy
They’re pushing us back, Gorlan said in alarm, one of only two Fallen allowed to join Tarian inside. They’re trying to separate us from you two. They’ve never done this before.
We’re at the end of the line, Tarian said in an internal, monotone voice. I’ve found their chalice. I’m drawing up instructions. The moment they don’t need me, they won’t have any reason to keep me alive.
What about the gods? Daisy asked, feeling a chill roll down her back as she internalized the pain before letting it flow away again.