Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51407 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Ramanu’s perfect coy persona flickers, true shock showing. “So quickly.”
“Yes.”
“And yet you’re not exuberant.”
I can’t hold still any longer. I pace from one side of the room to the other, my long legs eating up the distance before the motion can satisfy the tumult inside me. “It’s wrong. It would be taking advantage.”
“It would help your territory. Isn’t that your end all, be all?”
I snap a look at them. “Don’t act the part of a hurt lover now, Ramanu. You were no more invested in our fling than I was.”
“It’s true.” They shrug. “But so is the fact that you have gone to extreme and occasionally harmful lengths to be a good leader to your people. Far beyond what other leaders do.”
“That just makes them poor leaders,” I snap.
“I see.” They nod slowly and rise to their feet. “What will you do?”
“Scare the shit out of her.” I hold up a hand when they tense. “Not like that. Give me some credit. She’s so twisted up, she doesn’t know what she’s feeling at any given time. She wants, Ram—it fills up a room—but the shame she feels chokes it near to death.”
They lean forward, interest lighting up their pretty features and warming their crimson skin. “You’re going to seduce her.”
“Not yet.” I want her. Gods, I want her. More than I could have anticipated, even after that delicious dream. Me, who can find something worth desiring in any partner. Belladonna aches, and I ache in time with her. “I’m going to bring her to a play party with a handful of trusted friends. Observing only.”
This time their chuckle is full-bodied and fills up the room. “That’s going to blow her mind.”
“Likely.” I’ll have to pay close attention in order to ensure it doesn’t push her over the edge. I’m well aware that the price for harming Belladonna is my territory, but that’s not my sole motivation for being careful.
A good leader is ruthless, yes, and cunning, but they don’t trample on people more fragile than they are. Doing so damages a community—do it enough and there’s no community left to speak of, nothing to protect. If more leaders took that truth to heart, there would be less sorrow in the dreams of humans I visit.
Ramanu sighs, some of their amusement filtering away. “Seems like you have things well in hand.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed that there’s no drama to stir up.” Their propensity to wreak havoc is part of what first drew me to them. Life is rarely boring when Ramanu is making an appearance. I motion to the door. “She’s in her room if you want to check in on her.”
“And traumatize the poor thing further? Between the horns and my humor, she’s unlikely to recover in her current state.” They laugh. “I think not. Let her settle in a bit more. I’ll return at a later date.” They pause. “But, truly, congratulations, Rusalka. I know what this will mean for you.”
I shake my head. “Don’t congratulate me yet.”
Ramanu grins. “That right there is why I am. You’ll do right by her. I have no doubt about that.”
I don’t ask about the other territory leaders, though curiosity threatens to sink its teeth into me. I may not know them on a personal level, but I know how they operate. Some of them will fare better with their humans than others. Still, Ramanu’s confidence in me smoothes something jagged in my chest. “Thank you.”
“Wear that dress for your party.” Their smile goes mischievous. “If she doesn’t have a heart attack from shock, she won’t be able to keep her hands off you.” There’s a slight pop as the air pressure changes, and then Ramanu is gone.
I glare at the space they just occupied, but the expression is half-hearted. “Dramatic to the bitter end.” I move to my bed and pick up the dress they tossed there, then run my claws carefully over the slick fabric. They’re right, of course. This dress is meant to seduce and may even be enough for Belladonna to forget her shame and see what it could be like on the other side . . .
It’s perfect.
9
BELLADONNA
Ikeep expecting Rusalka to return, but they don’t. Not through the long afternoon hours where the sun creates lazy beams through the window that I can hear people moving about the square through. Not as the sky deepens to a dusky blue color and stars begin to appear. Not when dinner is brought to my door by a cranky, short woman named Jitka who demands I eat the whole plate before leaving and slamming the door behind her.
That makes me wonder if I’ve upset Rusalka.
No, that’s not the truth.
I know I’ve upset them.
I want to pretend I don’t know why, to cling to some indignation at the fact that I’m giving her what she wants and now she doesn’t want it. That would be false indignation.