The next morning, she was rushed from meeting to meeting, asked to make decisions that she didn’t even understand the concept of. Eventually, they told her that her mother was gone and wasn’t coming back. Thatshe, a fifteen year old girl, would stand in her mother’s place.
It was then that she attempted something so horriblyfoolishby running to the very people that would eventually imprison her people and asking them for help.
Noticing the rigidity of her shoulders, Trio placed a hand upon one of them, offering her a warm smile. “Let’s focus on something else, shall we? I’ve come across some particularly wonderful information about you finally gaining control of your abilities.”
Nymiria cast him a playful sidelong glare, lips kicked up at the corner. “Oh, really? Have you been spying on me again?”
“I wouldn’t constitute it asspying, per say. But it is my job to ensure to know the happenings in the kingdom. From the mundane to the extraordinary.Spyis not my official job title—as I recall, I believe that title belongs toyou.”
Nymiria turned her head, hoping to hide the heat that was surely tinting her cheeks a pale pink color. “As if either of you would ever let me forget it.” She grumbled. “I wasn’tpurposefullyspying that night, just so that we are clear.”
Trio held up his hands in mock defense. “I’m not teasing. I commend you, honestly. For staying quiet as long as you did behind that buffet.”
“Did both of you know that I was there the whole time?” She nearly squealed.
“Of course we did.” He laughed. “At first, I believed the two of you were fucking. The smell of it wasso thickthat I could have choked on it.”
Nymiria shielded her face with her hands, groaning loudly into her palms before looking at him again. “I’m mortified.”
“Don’t be.” He glanced over his shoulder before leaning close to her ear. “I’d be lying if I said I have never taken a peak, myself. He’s impressively gorgeous.”
Unable to control herself, Nymiria reached out and slapped his arm. He let out a laugh, throwing his arm across her shoulders as they continued through the streets towards Aziel’s palace.
They walked a while longer, browsing the plethora of stalls lining the streets before Trio looked at the sun and reluctantly bid himself farewell. He moved into the throng of shoppers and merchants before vanishing into a swirl of shadows. Nymiria watched after him, wishing she would have asked more questions about him and Desi. She missed Desi’s comfort, missed them spending nearly all hours of the day together. She’d learned how to navigate life without having someone always watching over her, but missed her friend.
From what little Aziel had told her in the last few weeks, Desi was a strong soldier. She was determined and diligent, extremely precise with a blade. But even with that to comfort her, Nymiria still feared for Desi’s safety.
Without having any particular place to be, Nymiria made her way back to the palace. She walked to her rooms and closed the door, her chest fluttering when she saw the large box sitting on top of her untouched bedding. When she opened the box, her breath caught in her throat.
The gown was so pale pink that it was almost white, the bodice decorated with blossoms that’d been dyed the same color, their centers decorated with gleaming white gems. A sheer, spidersilk material covered the place where her midriff would be, crystals woven into the delicate threads. The bottom of the skirt was covered in the same flowers as the bodice, full of blooms at the bottom, but growing sparser closer to the waistline. The capped sleeves were the same white spidersilk.
She couldn’t imagine that a simple dinner would require her to wear something that beautiful, but her skin tingled with the urge to put it on.
Nymiria never hated dresses. She just hated the ones that Dorid gifted her, knowing that they were rewards for killing, or a costume she would weartokill. There was nothing about this dress that felt quite as threatening.
She rushed to the washroom, making a quick job of bathing and oiling her skin with a cherry blossom scent before she carefully worked her way into the dress. It molded to her form perfectly, every inch of the moonflowers along her arms visible. She turned from side to side, astonished at how well the colors complimented her skin.
“Does it fit well?”
Nymiria released a squeal, snatching her discarded dagger from the top of her vanity and turning towards the intruder. Aziel was leaning against the arch of the doorway, his dark clothing a stark contrast from her own. His black horns curled out from his head, his silver hair nearly entirely darkened. She drew in a calming breath, dropping the dagger. “You should have knocked.”
Aziel smirked. “But you’ve made barging in unannounced look like suchfun. I thought I would give it a try.”
She couldn’t even be angry with him about it. Though she wanted to say something smart in return, Nymiria merelyturned away from him and walked towards the jewelry box beside her armoire. She sorted through hair ornaments and earrings, glancing up when he began looking at the wall of oils and soaps. “I don’t know what soapmaker you had to rob to get all of those, but I appreciate the thought.” She bit back a smile, plucking one hair ornament out of the box.
He let out a low chuckle. “Shedidlook rather astonished when I put in my requests.”
“So, itwasyou, then? You arranged everything in this room?” Aziel approached her with sensual grace. Despite the urge to move away, her muscles, her heart included, would not allow it.
“Down to everyfinedetail,” his voice was dark, his breath warm against her cheek as he spoke. She kept her eyes focused elsewhere, but could not control the way her heart responded when he moved her hair out of her face. “It was rather disappointing to hear you say that you didn’t like this room.”
It was rather disappointing to find out that he’d had a room made for her when she never asked him for one. She would have preferred his—
“Moonflower.”He tisked, everything about him taunting her. She shivered, desperately wanting to inch away from him, but was only able to manage a twitch. Everything was far too warm—his body, far too close.
When he released a breathy chuckle, he finally took a single step away from her, reaching into his pocket and procuring a small white box. “Happy birthday, Nymiria.” Her name rolled off of his tongue in such a sinful way that her stomach twisted. She glanced at the box in his hand and then at his eyes. His smugness had disappeared, replaced with a sense of reverence that was hard to digest.
She took the box from his hand, only slightly hesitant, and then opened it.
