I strode down the corridor, a plan forming. One that would cost me dearly.
“He's worth it,” I said and headed for the slave quarters.
Chapter Twenty-One
I got what I needed and headed up to the King's bedchamber. Up the spiraling staircase I went, then stopped short on the threshold.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered.
Yavess had mentioned this, but I thought he had exaggerated. Even after seeing the garden, I didn't expect this. The beautiful room was destroyed. Every piece of furniture had been smashed to bits—coral chunks, pearls, and jewels littering the marble floor. The mattress was the only thing that survived, but I suspected it was only because it was covered in a pile of coral branches that used to form a canopy above it. Even the floor hadn't gone unscathed. There were broad cracks where impacts had occurred.
Was all this for me?
I should have been horrified, but I wasn't. Quite the opposite. I was thrilled to see the destruction. It meant Vaxarion cared about me. He wanted me so much that he'd gone savage when I left. All those beautiful things destroyed. For me. I felt all warm and tingly just staring at the mess.
But I couldn't leave it as it was.
I left the items I'd brought on the floor and hurried back downstairs. At the end of the corridor, I yanked open one of the doors, startling the guards.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just need some cleaning supplies.”
“Cleaning supplies?” One of them scowled at me as if he didn't know what the words meant.
“Yeah, you know—a broom, dustpan, bags for trash, cleaning fluid, stuff like that.”
“I know what cleaning supplies are.” The Sea Dragon rolled his eyes. “I don't know whyyou'dneed them.”
“Uh, to clean. His Majesty's bedroom is wrecked.”
“He allowed you in it?” The other guard gaped at me.
“He's in the garden.” I shrugged.
They looked at each other, then back at me.
“We can have some servants come in to clean.”
“No, I want to do it. Just get the stuff, please.” I shut the door before they could argue. I didn't have time for that shit. Then I went back to the slave quarters to wait.
Why wait there? It was the closest room to the main doors, and I was also curious. I'd done only a cursory inspection before. Something inside me itched to see it all. So, I strode through the apartments, frowning at the amount of space delegated to Vaxarion's bed slaves. There were over forty bedrooms even though he only had twenty-six slaves. I guess he needed space to add to his collection.
In addition to the bedrooms, there were public spaces, including a bathing and swimming area with a large pool of seawater, little bubbling pools of warm water, and showers around the edges. There wasn't a kitchen, but there was a huge wardrobe that I assumed the slaves shared. There were lines of shimmering loincloths in several sizes, transparent tunics, glittering pants, and enough golden accessories to make me wealthy beyond my dreams. And this was for his slaves. His fucking slaves!
The really fun room was the one with the, uh, sexual aids. It wasn't enough for His Majesty to have twenty-six men ready to service his every desire. Oh, no. They also had to get creative to keep his interest. Shelves stood in lines across the space, reminding me of Klen's bookstore. They were neatly stocked with restraints, little metal balls on chains, leather devices, and more. There were dildos that felt like real dicks, embedded with magic to thrust on their own (the first one I touched scared the fuck out of me). I found clamps of all sizes that glowed and buzzed. And then there were all manner of things to keep legs stretched apart, part ass cheeks, and hold mouths open for the King's pleasure.
I found a little basket and went shopping, humming happily to myself.
“Oh, my.” I held up an item that resembled a tongue, and it started twirling. “Yes, you're coming with me.” I stuck it in the basket.
Then a knock echoed in through the hall.
I raced back to the main entrance with my basket and threw one of the doors open. Outside, a couple of Kaikeyo women stood beyond the guards, holding the things I'drequested. Their eyes widened on the basket I held, the tentacles around their chins curling up.
I put down the basket and reached for the broom. “Thanks.”
The women handed everything over, their gray skin taking on a more pink hue. They murmured something, but I didn't hear them.
“Hey, could you have some food delivered in like two hours?” I asked the guards. “Whatever His Majesty likes.”
