27
Valine was invited to the immaculately maintained back lawn late in the morning the next day. She arrived on scene, surrounded by palm trees and crescent-shaped gardens filled with golden and violet flowers and a scattering of shades propped on the edges of the area delegated for games. The scent of jasmine, gardenia, and fresh fruit was ripe in the air, interspersed with the bite of liquor. People milled about with drinks and food in hand, and Valine was disgusted to note that aside from the servants and guards, the darkest-skinned people present were Malik and Sarim—and they were hardly that compared to many people she’d encountered.
Jacira was nearby, wearing a sheer gown in powder blue that had strategically placed gold swirls over her breasts and matching bangles that clinked together whenever she moved. There was a high slit in the side that exposed her light skin and a row of golden anklets that danced up her calf. She grinned when she noticed Valine approaching, dropping Pandora’s hand with a quick kiss to the knuckles. The gesture had Valine’s face flaming at last night’s memories, and she had to forcibly cool herself as Jacira flung her arms around Valine happily.
“Val, my sweet, you must be my partner for the three-legged race!” Valine resisted the urge to snap at the nickname. “There is something utterly athletic about you!” Jacira simpered, leaning into her, and Valine wondered what number of mimosas the princess was on.
“I would be honored, but wouldn’t you rather have Pandora?”
Jacira groaned and threw her head back, arms still wrapped around Valine—it wasn’t even noon yet, and Jacira was already well imbibed. “My father’s rule; no teaming up with romantic partners. We’re encouraged to seek out guests in the spirit of fostering a friendship.” Jacira’s glassy eyes turned sly—or at least, that’s what Valine guessed she tried to do. “But we are already friends, so we don’t even have to try, right?”
Valine sucked on the inside of her cheek, considering and hiding a smirk. “Right. But you must tell me who the incorrigible cheaters are, so I am on the lookout for them.”
Jacira squealed with delight and disentangled from her. Looping her arm through Valine’s, she guided her on while her ever-present and near-forgettable guards followed them. “Balchon is a horrible cheat, and Cersei denies it, but one time I saw her pull the tie of Tallulah’s dress, and the entire thing unraveled! Of course, it was all fine since Tallulah used it as an opportunity for an improvised orgy. My goodness, what a rush it was! Have you been to an unplanned orgy? Oh, Valine, there is so much more passion in it—albeit, it goes by much faster as the stimulants aren’t provided in advance—but gods, what a time it is.”
“Aren’t you and Pandora monogamous?” Valine questioned.
Jacira seemed taken aback, shocked that Valine had not only called her out but refused to play into the fantasy the princess was surely going to try to bring to fruition. Valine wondered if she’d overstepped too far. She was trying to ascertain what, and if Jacira knew about the affair. Not that Valine was one hundred percent certain there was an affair, but she was sure enough to tell Malik. But it seemed her worries were for naught because, in a blink, Jacira had resumed her blissful expression, slapping a languid smile in place.
“We are, but…” She cast her gaze around furtively. “I happen to like watching.”
“Everyone has things that get them off. There is no shame in that matter,” Valine reassured her as they joined the rest of the group. Jacira made hasty introductions, and Valine only processed a handful of them, managing only to remember one fact about each of them and not the three she’d mentally trained herself to.
Cersei, a voluptuous woman with long honey hair and tawny skin, tanned from the sun with a scattering of freckles across her pert nose, grinned at Valine with perfect little teeth. The ferocity in her amber eyes had Valine immediately thinking of a lioness. She was likely Valine’s age, as was nearly everyone present. She wondered if there was anyone over the age of thirty on the lawn.
“Has Jacira laid claim to you, hon?” Cersei, her voice a smoky growl, asked her as she puffed on a phoenix-shaped pipe. Gray coils dissipated in the air.
“She has. Apparently, I’m an athletic choice.”
Cersei surveyed her, seeing past her coral silk and the gold rings that held it all together to the muscles and curves beneath it. It was true, Valine did have somewhat of an athletic build to her. However, no matter how hard she tried, there was a stubborn amount of weight that refused to leave her thighs, hips, and rear, giving her a perpetually shapely form. She knew this was desirable in many parts of Enneive. However, it greatly impeded her ability to pose as a man when need warranted it.
“I think she just wanted to see firsthand any jealousy you may have.”
Valine narrowed her brows. “I don’t understand.”
“Ah, she has paired her darling Pandora with your king for the race. If you did not know, Pandora is a charming creature, and an unabashed flirt. Shame she had such a terrible headache last night and sought a dark room and her own bed, hmm?”
Valine had to physically bite her tongue to keep her face neutral.
“Quite the pity,” Jacira responded airily, “but I assure you a good night’s rest and quiet seems to have rejuvenated her greatly.”
She directed attention to her lover. Across the space, stretched out beneath a linen tent, was Pandora, with Malik standing nearby, conversing carefully. The blonde did seem to be lively, though Valine knew it had less to do with rest and more to do with at least two orgasms. She laughed, and the sound was like tinkling bells. Valine narrowed her eyes and fought the ire that rose. She had no right to feel jealous. However, she had every right to feel betrayed by him reneging on their deal. She ignored the small voice in her head reminding her that she was a lowly assassin and he was the king. She then squandered it by telling it she was a lady with the Desdemon name and a necromancer, and he was just a man.
“I may not be able to partner with her for the tournament, but I assure you I will use every opportunity to keep her nearby. Like now, we will go around and ensure everyone has a partner for today!” Jacira nodded towards the two of them. “Lovely speaking with you. Valine, I will seek you out at the noon bell. That’s when we begin.”
Without waiting for a response, Jacira sauntered across the grass, plucking another mimosa up on a passing tray. On her way, she gathered Pandora, plundering her with a wild kiss as she brought her up to height.
“I thought it was a race,” Valine queried Cersei, confusion written across her face.
“Oh no, that’s only the first part of it. There is also a scavenger hunt, a game with an ice cube, another with an orange, and, of course, tug-of-war.”
“Fuck, how did I get tricked into this?”
“Don’t be so quick to dismiss it,” Cersei chided. “There is endless food and equally endless refreshments.”
Valine sighed. “Who is your partner?”
“That very tall warrior whom you travelled with—Sarim.” Cersei’s eyes turned feral, and Valine recognized the intent there. It was a hunt, and that look was attraction. “Do you know if he is Valmotti?”
“He is,” Valine confirmed.
Cersei side-eyed her and licked her lips. “That is very good news, indeed. I suppose I should get to know my partner for the day, should I not?”
“It would be wise, I think.”
“Well,” Cersei declared, standing up gracefully, her coral gown sticking to her like a second skin, “I shall be on my way, may the best team win, hmm?” She good-naturedly jostled Valine’s shoulder, and the assassin offered her a sharp smile.
“May the best team win.”
Valine was left alone again, and as a server passed, she secured her first mimosa of the day and found an empty tent behind a tree. Her drink was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of champagne, and fresh-squeezed orange juice—they’d even added a decorative slice dipped in sugar.
“Care to test mine as well?” Malik asked from her right.
“It would be quite daring to poison all these mimosas, would it not?”
“This is true. However, imagine how chaotic it would be if only one were poisoned—left to chance.”
“Mm, you’re right. We shouldn’t tempt fate.”
She handed Malik her own mimosa—sipped once—and traded it for his. Valine took a healthy swallow—not poisoned—and crossed her arms over her chest, the mimosa dangling from her fingers. Malik turned to face her, his eyes playful, a hint of smile curling up the edges. He was dressed in black, a loose shirt whose buttons were half undone, and sleeves rolled up to display wonderful arms. They were brown and traced with veins. A gold ink athame with a wickedly curved blade was tattooed on his left forearm, as well as a black ink tattoo of script—though he moved too quickly for Valine to read it.
“How did you sleep last night?” he inquired blandly.
“Fine. And yourself?”
“Great, made even better knowing what I know.”
Valine felt blood rush to her cheeks. “And what is it you think you know?”
Malik leaned down to her, whispering in her ear, and his daemons-damned scent enveloped her. “Did you think of me when you did it?”
“Did what?” she asked, voice strained.
He softly chuckled in her ear, and the places she’d touched last night came alive again. “When you pleasured yourself. Did you imagine it was me? That it was my fingers inside you and not your own?”
“I’m sorry, you’re mistaken.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, so you neglected your needs and left yourself untouched all night with all that wet silk? You didn’t let that pussy come on your fingers?”
“No,” Valine lied, her throat thick.
“Do you know what I think?” he asked, catching her earlobe between his teeth. He was really doing this, in front of everyone—granted, they were shielded beneath a tent behind a palm tree. She wasn’t even sure his silent and near invisible guards were privy to this encounter.
“What?” Her voice was embarrassingly thready.
“That you are still a pretty little liar.”
The wildest desire slammed into her, and in that moment, Valine wanted nothing more than to throw Malik down onto the lounge chair in this one-walled tent, kiss him, and fuck him into oblivion. She wanted to tear his clothes off and feel his fingers between her legs like she imagined last night. She wanted to feel even more than that. She wanted to feel him beneath her while she rode him or to feel him roll her over and pin her to the grass, thrusting into her. Making her scream.
Valine met Malik’s eyes, and she knew he saw what she wanted. He opened his mouth and shifted towards her, but just then, Jacira whistled.
“It’s time! Find your partners and follow Hanish. He will explain the rules!”
And so, they parted, having not said anything, but having said almost everything between gold-blue and night-dark eyes. They wanted each other, and she didn’t know how she was going to keep her hands off him with only a single door separating their suites.