“I lost track of time,” I said simply, maneuvering off the stepladder until I was on my feet as Velle approached. I shoved my notebook into my apron, watching her eyes narrow on the movement.
Her dark blue hair was pulled back into a loose braid. Myfellow keeper and friend was a hybrid—her father was half-Kylorr but her mother was fully human. The beautiful color of her hair was the only thing she took from her father. Velle had no wings, her eyes were a human brown like mine, and her horns had budded when she’d been an infant but had never grown. I knew that she was self-conscious of the still-present bumps, which she tried to hide with a fabric scarf she used as a headband.
“And you haven’t even finished with the windows,” Velle grumbled, inspecting the glass like how I imagined Maudoric might: with discerning displeasure. “You’re going to get in trouble if you don’t focus.”
This was about the dinner party next week, I knew. Nobles of Vyaan, close family friends, and a few chosen guests came nearly every month to dine with Kaldur of House Kaalium. Maudoric always handpicked the keepers to help with these events, and Velle always made it her mission to be chosen. Because she would be seen…by some of the wealthiest and most influential individuals within Vyaan.
We both had aspirations for love, I supposed.
Just a vastly different kind,I thought, staring at the hybrid beauty.
“I’m sorry about the library,” I said, feeling the heavy weight of my notebook within my apron. “I’ll finish here and then come find you.”
“Don’t bother,” Velle said, the words barbed. “But I’m not covering for you again with Maudoric.”
A soft sigh escaped me after I watched her turn on her heel and retreat as swiftly as she’d appeared. Ididfeel bad. My distracted daydreaming often got me into trouble. Luc, my dearest friend, had always joked that I should endeavor to keep my feet firmly planted to the earth or else I might float away into the unforgiving atmosphere of Krynn. He would tell me to wave at the stars as I drifted past.
A smile tugged at my lips, though it was coupled with a dull tinge of melancholy, of missing Luc, as far away as he was.
I glanced down the starlight hallway, glad to see I was nearly done. If I hurried to finish, perhaps I could help Velle with whatever tasks she had left for the day. Maybe then she would forgive me for breaking my promise.
Determination pushed my shoulders back, and I lugged the stepladder over to the next window. Just as I got it into place, however, I heard something shatter.
The unmistakable sound of glass shooting across the floor came from the direction of the private sitting room. I frowned, my heart giving a lurch, because no one was ever in this part of the keep at this time of day.
Maybe a draft knocked something over,I thought next, already cataloguing all the items in that room as I strode toward it, hoping it wasn’t the forest-green vase with hand-painted flowers and vines I often admired as I cleaned. Dismay that it could be made my steps quicken, and when I reached the closed black door, I didn’t hesitate to push it open.
I was so preoccupied scouring the floor for broken shards of pottery along the opposite wall that I didn’t realize my grave error before it was too late. My eyes went wide on a fully intact green vase, still perched on its round table, the moment I heard a breathy moan, followed by a throaty laugh.
I swung around, an apology already perched on my lips. But it died in my throat as my tongue went bone dry.
I met silver eyes.
A flash of a moment passed as I took in the scene.
Her name was Lydrasa. The eldest Kylorr daughter of House Azola, one of the old legacy families in this region. She was strikingly beautiful with pin-straight black hair, dark gray skin, and luminous blue eyes. Her lips were painted a dark indigo to complement her complexion, and it was those same lips that curved into an amused smile now as we watched one another.
Behind her was Kaldur of House Kaalium, High Lord of Vyaan. His pants were shoved down below his hips. Lydrasa was bent over the back of the velvety black chaise lounge, Kaldur’s fingers digging into her hips from behind, her dress bunched just below her wings.
A shattered decorative glass orb was beside them on the floor, an unlucky victim to their hurried and eager activity.
I felt the burn start in the middle of my chest, and I blinked rapidly, feeling my heart restart, throbbing at a thunderous pace. My tongue felt twisted in my mouth, and I was desperately trying not to cry.
Kaldur’s silver eyes were on me. I couldn’t read his expression. Gone was his usual disarming charm, a mask he seemed to wear at all hours of the day. He was neither smirking—like Lydrasa was at being caught—nor did it seem like he particularly cared.
And why would he? I was only a lowly keeper, one who cleaned his floors and windows and did everything she could to stay out of sight.
Lydrasa’s hands moved. She gripped one of Kaldur’s large palms and moved it to one of her exposed breasts. Another moan tumbled from her throat as she pinched his fingers around her nipple, and she bucked her hips back.
“I doubt she’s ever seen this before, the little thing,” Lydrasa purred, her eyes still on me. “Shall we give her a show?”
“Get out,” Kaldur’s roughened voice commanded me, thick with his desire.
Then his eyes left me, and I realized I was already forgotten to him. He lowered himself over Lydrasa’s back, resting his forehead above her wings. A strong surge of his hips followed, the guttural catch in his throat making my eyes sting.
“Raazos, her perfume is strong,” Lydrasa laughed, followed by a breathless moan.
I fled.
