Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
“And why would you think that?” I asked, walking toward the chests. “Callum is an…ever-faithful servant.”
Veses smirked as her gaze flicked to me. “Because, unbeknownst to Callum, he and I share something in common.”
“Being obnoxious pieces of shit?” I smiled.
Callum’s head whipped to me. “Silence.”
I lifted a hand and extended a middle finger.
“She’s so classy, isn’t she?” Veses purred, facing me. “But no, my dear, that is not what I was referencing.”
“What do you have in common, then?”
Her syrupy-sweet smile returned. “Loyalty.”
I stared at her, stuck somewhere between disbelief and revulsion. And gods help me, a little bit of pity rose because if she truly were still loyal to Kolis after the events in the Council Hall, and was still in love with the false King, then she hopelessly hated herself.
“I know you’re loyal to Kolis,” Callum said, stepping closer to her. “But you still cannot be here, Veses. Even if I said nothing to him about this visit, he could find out. And that would not end well.”
“He will not harm you.” Veses kept inching forward. She was close enough now that her rose scent reached me. “You’re like a son to him.”
For some reason, that disturbed me as much as her loyalty to Kolis.
Callum’s jaw tightened. “I’m not worried about me.”
My gaze shot to him. Was he…? He worried about Veses?
“That’s sweet of you.” Veses touched his cheek this time, just below the golden paint. “But I can handle Kolis and his punishments.”
His chest rose sharply. “Can you?”
A pink flush stained her cheekbones. “I can.” She withdrew her touch. “And, actually, that is what I wanted to speak to her about.”
He stiffened. “Veses…”
“I’m not going to hurt her.” Her chin lifted. “I’m not foolish.”
His pale eyes widened. “I wasn’t suggesting you were. That is the last thing you are.”
Besides the fact that Veses was very, very foolish, Callum did not seem concerned for her. And he obviously harbored some level of fondness for the awful—albeit pretty—monster. I didn’t know what to think about any of that. Actually, I simply didn’t have the mental capacity for it.
“Look, I just want to talk to her about what happened. You know why I would want that. You were there, after all.” Thick lashes lowered. “All I want to do is speak to her about…”—her delicate shoulders shuddered—“about that in private.”
My eyes narrowed. Yeah, I didn’t think that was why she was here at all.
Callum’s lips pursed as he glanced in my direction. “Fuck.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “You have ten minutes.”
“That’s all I need.” Veses smiled brightly, taking his hand and squeezing it. “Thank you.”
Shooting me one last look, he cursed again and then left the chamber.
Leaving me with the Primal who had already tried to kill me once.
Not that he knew that.
The door snicked closed, and Veses said, “Just so you know, I’m not here to thank you for attempting to intervene the other night.”
“It didn’t even cross my mind.”
“Good. Because I actually enjoyed it,” she said. “Kyn has a certain…sadistic edge to him that just gets me…” She shivered. “Wet.”
“Sure.”
“What? You don’t believe me? That wasn’t the first time I’ve been punished in such a way. If one can call it punishment.” She trailed a finger over the neckline of her gown. “If you really anger Kolis, and he’s in the mood to be entertained, he’ll give you to one of his draken for the evening.” She drew a plump, pink lip between her teeth. “And trust me, when their claws and scales come out, they fuck hard.” She laughed softly. “Normally, Kolis likes to watch, and I enjoy it even more. When I come, it’s while looking at him. Sadly, whatever you said put an end to things before they got real nice and—”
“Convincing me you speak the truth seems really important to you,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear any more. “Or are you trying to convince yourself that you liked it?”
Her finger halted in the center of the bodice.
“Maybe you did.” I stepped close to the bars. “I’m sure Kyn’s sadistic roughness speaks to your sadism. That is what makes you wet.”
Veses’ nostrils flared.
“But I also know what I saw in your face when Kolis summoned Kyn. You may have gotten off, but you did not want it at first.” I held her stare. “I’m sure both mortals and Primals call that the same—”
“Don’t,” she warned, her lips peeling back, “even finish that sentence. It was nothing, and I owe you no gratitude.”
“I wouldn’t want it even if you did.” I looked down at her. “How are you even here?”
She let loose a delicate yet still-somehow-attractive snort. “I could ask you the same question.”
“I think it’s obvious why I’m here.”
Her stare turned shrewd. “Perhaps.”
My eyes narrowed on her, unease building.
“But to answer your question, I had to…chew myself free.” She lifted her slender arms as my brows shot up. “If you’re thinking I had to chew through my muscle and bone on both arms, you’d be correct.”