For however short-lived it might be, my heart is light and carefree.
Chapter 17
Aimee
“Ireallyshouldbetheone doing that,” Nella huffs from the armchair she’s perched on, glaring at Sariah’s fingers braiding my curls into a half-crown as if they’ve offended her.
“Oh, hush. You do enough already,” Sariah responds with a laugh. She grabs an apple from the overflowing fruit tray that sits on my vanity and throws it at the petite human, who scrambles to catch it before it hits her in the face. “Here, to keep you busy.”
Nella takes a bite of the apple, with a bit of juice dribbling down her chin. “You spoil me rotten,” she concedes.
“That’s what friends are for.” Sariah gives her a playful wink before finishing my hairdo with a crimson velvet bow that matches the long-sleeved dress I’m wearing.
The exact same shade as Killian’s shadows.
I play with the golden hem of my bell sleeves, smiling at their playful banter. It’s such a Sariah move to befriend Nella, and it reminds me of when we met. Sure, it turns out she had ulterior motives, but I can’t find it in my heart to stay mad at her for that.
Maybe having Sariah as a confidante will bring Nella out of her shell, just like it did for me.
I should have done the same, I realize with a start, but I was not in the right headspace when I arrived in Sangeries, against my will.
“Now, be honest, how do I look?” Sariah asks, doing a little twirl, the skirts of her pearlescent dress swaying with the movement. Her milky-white dress hugs her curves before flaring into ankle-length chiffon drapes that glimmer in the candlelight.
She looks like a dangerous angel, with her pale locks and cunning eyes.
“Like Blaise will have a stroke when he sees you,” I say mischievously.
“Oh, please, that vampire has a near-stroke every time he sees anyone with a pulse and a pair of good breasts,” she huffs a laugh.
“True, but the way he looks at you is different,” Nella says with a knowing smirk.
“Allow me to doubt that.”
“So you’re not interested in him at all?” I ask with unveiled amusement. I wonder if she remembers when he bumped into me on the streets of Annerough, all those months ago, and she was practically drooling over his retreating form.
“He’s good-looking, I’ll grant him that,” she answers, “but the guy’s one horny bastard.”
“You are too,” I huff a laugh.
“Exactly. I don’t want to date myself.”
“Who said anything about dating?” Nella wiggles her eyebrows conspiratorially, and I swear I see a hint of pink staining Sariah’s cheeks.
Interesting.
“I’m more intrigued about the brothers, though,” Sariah says without missing a beat. Changing the subject. “Mattya and Axel. I heard they sometimes share.”
“There are rumors among the maids, yes,” Nella confirms. “Are you into that?”
“Why not? I’m into anything as long as it’s pleasurable for me,” Sariah answers, smoothing the creases of her gown.
“Sariah, always the pleasure opportunist,” I giggle.
“Oh, I like that. Make sure to put that on my tombstone if I die before you. Which I will. Because you are the Foretold One, and I’m, well…not.”
Just like that, all the playfulness vanishes into thin air, and I frown.
“Sariah…”
