Total pages in book: 197
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 935(@200wpm)___ 748(@250wpm)___ 623(@300wpm)
Honora laughed. “You are adorable, Lady Ana. I’m so glad nothing they said about you is true.”
I was afraid to ask what they said.
“Now, don’t overthink.” She grasped my hips. “Loosen up. Move with me.” Honora worked my hips like a puppet while the others conjured instruments and played a tune.
“Alisdair likes this?” I asked, finding my rhythm. I twisted, wined, and twirled, beginning to join in on the laughs and smiles.
“Oh, yes.” Honora shared a grin with the other companions. “He loves it.”
I nodded, steeling myself. “Well then, teach me everything you know.”
THAT NIGHT, I WASTED another head start and waited for Alisdair in our bedroom.
He stalked inside slow and cautiously as usual, searching for a trap, and found me perched on the end of the mattress—draped in a thin, silk robe.
I strained to keep the sultry smile on my face while my teeth chattered. “Good evening, husband. Make yourself comfortable.” I patted the sheets. “Tonight, seduction is—”
“No,” he sliced in. “I’m not enduring another one of your mad episodes. Get on your knees.”
I clenched my teeth tight, penning in a vicious reply. Insults were hardly in line with the romantic atmosphere I was attempting to create. “If you had let me finish, you would’ve heard me say that seduction is my honor tonight. Just sit back and relax, Alisdair, while I tempt you.”
“Is that so?” His brow climbed higher than the corner of his mouth. “You mean to seduce me? Before or after you run screeching from the room?”
You can’t kill him. You can’t kill him. You literally can’t kill him. “Before,” I returned, holding on to my smile. “Now, are you going to lie down, or would you prefer to talk yourself out of a treat?”
“I’ll never deny a treat from you, little bird.” Slowly, he peeled off his clothes and climbed into bed.
My heart thundered as he reclined against the headboard, draping his arm over the pillows. He gestured for me to proceed, and my lips tightened. Only Shadowsoul could make a finger flick sarcastic.
Shaking my head, I refocused on my goal. The only way home is to make this beast give his love and heart to me. I do this for my freedom, so I cannot fail.
I cleared my throat. “Tonight, I tempt and seduce you, my husband, with...” I let my robe fall to the floor. “...a dance.”
The tight, see-through, lace shift dress revealed itself in all its glory, so did a bulge rising from the middle of the bed, and his legs.
I hid a grin. I’d never tell a soul, let alone myself, how much it thrilled me that I had such an effect on a cold and terrible man.
Slowly, I lifted my arms—holding them out to my sides as if ready to receive my lover—and began to dance.
Drop, turn, twist. I wined and gyrated my hips, dancing like a snake under a charm. Slowly I spun, gifting him a view of every naked inch of me. If only I had skipped getting men thrown out of windows, and went straight to the companions. No one could stand strong against this dance. I fell half in lust with Honora while she taught me.
Eat your shriveled, removed heart out, Alisdair. I bent at the waist, shaking my ass for his benefit. Two can play at the game of love and lust. You’re mine. Your love will be mine—
A noise sounded behind me, snapping me up and twisting me around.
Alisdair clamped hard on his mouth, but he couldn’t keep it in. Dam breaking, Shadowsoul burst out laughing.
Loud, bed-shaking, eye-watering, chest-wracking guffaws split his sides and threw his head back. He howled so hard and loud, he couldn’t breathe.
Humiliation flooded my body and cheeks, lighting my face on fire. “You bastard!” Whipping around, I lit on the nearest weapon, and flung it at his head.
SOFT, TSKING, GROWLY chuckles sounded a continuous chorus—as did my grinding teeth.
Alisdair and I found ourselves in the newly remolded throne room the next morning. I wore a fixed glare, and he sported a large, purpling bruise on his forehead, courtesy of the candelabra.
A line of peasants beheld their cold, evil king with wide eyes. The man before them was bruised, relaxed, and laughing his ass off.
“My lord?” Aeris stood two paces back, as if wary of getting too close. “You’re in a good mood today.”
“I am indeed,” he crowed, shooting me a grin. My balled fist ached to punch it in. “I was treated to a show last night—best I’ve seen in ages. Would you all like to see it too?”
I stiffened as murmurs and yeses went around the room.
Alisdair turned that blinding smile on me. “My queen, would you do us the honor of treating us all to a dance? It’ll surely brighten the day ahead.”
I glared at him through the narrowed slits that were my eyes. “No, thank you,” I gritted. “I’d much rather show them my candelabra-throwing skills. I’ve gotten quite good at it. I beat the target to death every time.”