Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109099 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
For a moment my eyes were drawn to the large vein throbbing just under his skin and I could swear that I felt my new little baby vampire fangs itching to pierce his flesh. Then I pushed away from him, shaking my head.
“No—that’s not happening. I’m not going to bite either one of you!”
But even as I spoke, my throat felt as dry as sandpaper. What was wrong with me?
“You’ll have to eventually,” Seldarin said, straightening up.
“Best to wait until the first Quenching tonight,” Krynn said quietly.
“You don’t think we should at least try to help her take the edge off?” Seldarin raised his eyebrows. “Because I think we fucking should! Otherwise she’s liable to kill one of us.”
“If I die from the bite of my Queen, I will have served my purpose,” Krynn said. “I will take whatever fate she brings to me.”
Their words horrified me! Did they really think that I was going to develop a thirst for blood? And that I would get so thirsty for it I would want to bite them and drain them dry?
“This is stupid! Stop talking like this!” I demanded. “I need to get out of here!”
“Yes, you do,” Krynn said, unexpectedly agreeing with me. But then he added, “You must make your presence known around the Palace.”
“Not looking like that, though,” Seldarin added, frowning. “She needs to be dressed like a lady of the Court.”
“Leave that to me—I believe the gowns I ordered for the Princess should be ready now,” Krynn said. “Let me go and get them and we’ll dress her in the latest style. Then everyone will have to acknowledge her Royal blood.”
18
Lily
“But I don’t want to get dressed up and parade all around the Palace showing myself off to people!” I protested, when Krynn returned with several long, elaborate gowns draped over his arm.
“You must, my Lady,” he told me. “You’ll need the support of the Court behind you in order to ascend to the Silver Throne.”
“Mordren must not be able to persuade them you aren’t the true Princess,” Seldarin added. “The more they see you—see your Royal Purple eyes and the Mark of Lolth on your forehead—the more they’ll believe you’re truly the Lost Princess returned to us.”
“I’m not sure I believe it myself!” I protested. “What if I’m a regular human and the food and that nectar stuff you gave me just made me look like this?”
“Large amounts of Fae fare like you consumed last night would kill a regular human,” Krynn said quietly. “In fact, it killed the human part of you already—do you not remember the distress you were in?”
“I remember feeling sick and having bad dreams. And then I woke up naked between the two of you.” I glared at them. “What was that all about, by the way? What exactly did the two of you do to me?”
“Nothing but warm you up when you would have frozen to death from the effects of the Nectar of Lolth,” Seldarin growled.
“If you were trying to warm me up then why was I naked?” I demanded.
“Because prior to freezing, you were burning up,” Krynn told me. “I swear to you, my Lady that Sel and I didn’t take advantage of you in any way.”
“We’re not rapists,” Seldarin added, frowning. “Besides which, it would be fucking disrespectful and wrong to take advantage while you were so helpless. We have more honor than that!”
Their promise that nothing had happened between the three of us made me feel a little better about waking up naked between them.
“Well…all right,” I said, accepting their explanation. “But I still can’t get over the fact that you two fed me food that you knew could kill me and just kind of hoped for the best.”
“We weren’t fucking hoping for the best—we knew you were the Princess,” Seldarin growled. “You bear the Mark of Lolth on your forehead.” He pointed to my birthmark, which I now realized was warm and tingly again. Why was that?
“But—” I began.
“No more ‘buts,’ my Lady,” Krynn said firmly. “You must get dressed and go out to meet the Court. You must be seen around the Palace—it is your birthright, after all. You must claim ownership of it.”
“Claim ownership? Of this whole huge Fae Palace?” I demanded, my eyes getting wide. “Are you serious?”
“Of course he’s serious. The Palace and all its wealth belong to the ruler of the Dark Fae,” Seldarin said, frowning.
I shook my head, having a hard time taking this in.
“What, my Lady?” Krynn asked gently. “Are you really that surprised?”
“It’s just…” I cleared my throat. “I’ve been homeless for weeks—living in my minivan in abject poverty. I mean, I couldn’t even afford a jar of peanut butter yesterday! And now you two are telling me I’m actually the heir to a massive palace and the wealth and status that comes with it? That’s a lot to wrap my head around.”