Chapter Fourteen
Briony
“Any news?” Beaufort asks the others when we enter his chambers.
“Nope. This sucks, man,” Dray says. He’s flung across one of the elegant sofas, dropping grapes into his waiting mouth. Fly’s draped himself across another of the sofas in a similar manner, although he appears to be studying what looks like a magazine.
“I don’t understand – she commanded we come here, didn’t she? Now she doesn’t want to see us?” I say.
All the usual tension returns to Beaufort’s face and he drops my hand.
“The Empress is busy running the realm, Briony. We’re just one of her many concerns – especially when she’s dealing with demon incursions deep within the realm.” He adjusts his shirt, smoothes his hand over his hair. “But I’m going to go and find out if we can be seen quickly.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” I ask.
“No, it’s better if I go alone,” he says cryptically, before marching away. I watch him go, then turn back to the room.
“Where’s Thorne?” I ask Dray, realizing he isn’t here either.
“Went off to train in one of the combat rooms. That dude hates hanging about.”
“Looks like you’ve been left to babysit me, then,” I say, a little sulkily.
“Gladly.” Dray grins and crooks a finger, beckoning me towards him as Fly glances up from his magazine and frowns.
“I am here, remember? You invited me. And I haven’t even eaten my breakfast yet. I don’t need to see any of your shenanigans. It will turn my stomach.”
“Here.” Dray throws him a grape and shuffles along the sofa to make room for me.
“Open wide,” he commands, and when I do, he pops a grape in my mouth. It’s another luxury we had very rarely back in Slate and I cut my teeth through the thin skin and let the sugary flesh beneath rush across my tongue.
“What did you make of little Arabella?” he asks me, as he feeds me another grape.
“Very sweet.”
Dray laughs. “That is not the way I would describe her. She’s a little hell cat.” He crooks his head. “In fact, the two of you are similar. Now I understand why Beau likes you so much.”
“Actually, he says he loves me.”
Dray wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a tight hug. “‘‘Course he does. I’ve never seen Beau so wrapped up in a girl before.”
I cock an eyebrow in surprise. “Really?”
“Hey, people are different, okay? Beaufort doesn’t walk around with big love hearts in his eyes spouting awful poetry, but if you know him well, you can see it. Same with Thorne. He’s fucking obsessed with you.” I can’t help smiling to myself. “We all are. I’m just a lot more expressive. In fact …”
“Yes?”
“I have been composing a little poem for you. Wanna hear it?”
I inspect his face. Do I? I think a gooey love poem would make me cringe beyond belief, especially with Fly listening in.
“Am I going to like this poem?”
“You’re gonna love it.” He grins, lifts his fist to his mouth and coughs, then he begins:
“My girl’s pussy smells so sweet.
It’s the most delicious fucking treat.
