“Well, as always, my offer stands.” She flipped her long hair, sending flawless, green waves to her opposite shoulder before turning her sights on me. “And this…human…is too well dressed to be part of tonight’s meal.”
“Observant as always, my lady,” he barely agreed. “But no. I proudly present Lady Reyva Bergmont. She is here as the regent’s special guest.”
“Special guest, you say?” she quipped, chewing on her fan.
Gorvin continued playing the role of my shield as he explained, “Lady Valta is from the Northern Hive. Visiting to attend your welcome ball as a proxy for her regent, isn’t that right?”
Valta’s gaze narrowed. “Mmm.” Her indifferent hum rode atop a strained smile.
“Pleasure to meet you.” My instincts from Illica court kicked in and I dropped into a practiced curtsey.
“Pleasure? Maybe. Time will tell.” She tapped the fan in her hand and looked at me like I was a bug she wanted to squish. “Humans are normally messy little things, but here you are, a pristine specimen. Untouched even. Curious.”
The oil Dommik had delivered worked. I was a blank canvas again and my muscles melted in relief that I’d used it thoroughly and correctly.
“Quit torturing everyone, Valta.” A vision in all black, Dommik entered the room and met our small circle in a few effortless strides.
“Dommik Thorne.” Valta postured herself, shoulders back, encouraging her nearly bare breasts further upward. “It’s been far too long.”
Valta didn’t greet Dommik with the distant air kisses she’d given Gorvin. She lingered, letting her lips land on one of his cheeks, then the other. She hovered there, hands wrapped around his biceps, a wicked side-eye fixed on me as she whispered, “I’ve missed you, Dommik.”
His name on her painted lips inspired a jealousy I wasn’t entitled to. I needed to become indifferent when it came to Dommik, and quickly. A passing servant offered me a glass of wine from a golden tray, which was the exact distraction I needed.
“Ladies, Commander Thorne, please take your seats. His Majesty will be with you shortly and sends apologies for his tardiness.” Gorvin’s oversized sleeves flew like playhouse curtains as he ushered us to assigned chairs.
Ornate plates and decanters descended upon the decadent table. Each savory delicacy was illuminated by dozens of twisted, tapered candles. It was an excessive feast.
“So, what makes this human guest special enough to sup with us?” Valta’s disdain for me was as concealed as her breasts in her plunging neckline.
“Does she need any other reason than being a guest of the regent?” Dommik cautioned the female as he placed a napkin in his lap.
I took refuge in my goblet, sipping often but in small amounts to avoid making a fool out of myself at an official dinner.
Valta’s piercing eyes flashed to me before turning to Dommik and softening. “I just don’t see the point in entertaining some random fleshy?— ”
Clang.
Eyes bolted to the sound.
“I’m going to ask you to refrain from that kind of inferior language at this table,” Gorvin interjected. His hands were neatly folded together next to his jostled cutlery, but I was close enough to notice a vein flicker across his hairless temple.
“I’m sorry, I temporarily forgot myself.” Valta laid her manicured hands flat on the table. She tempered her features for all of a moment before she sent her brows to her green hairline. “But I simply mean, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. She’s a human. A plain one at that. Not pretty enough to fuck—apparently—so what’s the point of all of these additional privileges? His Majesty has never taken on a pet before.”
A pet?
“Valta!” Dommik barked through gritted teeth.
“Enough!” The room stood as Rhazien made an abrupt and sweeping entrance. “Lady Reyva is my prospect and should be treated as an extension of myself.” He waved absently at his guests and strode to my side. He captured my hands in his as he placed an apologetic kiss on my knuckles. “I swore to myself I wouldn’t be tardy, but urgent matters required my attention.”
Rhazien’s attention was consuming. His eyes bored into mine, begging me to believe him. And I did.
“Think nothing of it,” I murmured through a timid smile but the words weren’t enough for him.
“No. Please. Accept my apology.”
Valta’s fan appeared but did little to conceal her rolling eyes. I was hyper-aware of the room around us. Of the soft clang of silverware Gorvin was putting back into place after his outburst. Of the crinkle of fabric from Valta’s waving fan. Of the knuckles cracking beneath Dommik’s grip.
This is what I was brought here to do. To be Rhazien’s prospect. To belong completely to him.
