Chapter 63
Sag e
L ater that night, I stood in front of the window in the bathroom, brushing my wet hair, a towel wrapped around me.
I studied the full moon. It was huge, but despite its impressive size, it was the color of it that caught my eye—blood red.
It lit up the desert lands, painting the dunes an eerie, ominous color.
Von’s arms swept around me, pulling me into him. A smile bloomed on my lips.
He dropped his head beside mine, his heated breath tickling the shell of my ear.
“For many years, I stood outside your bedroom window, watching as you’d brush your hair, wondering what it would be like to do it for you.
Now that I’m on the other side, I intend to answer that question every night.
” Long fingers curled around my wrist, stalling my hand so he could pluck the brush from it.
I nibbled on my bottom lip then asked in a sensual tone, “ Are you sure that’s all you wanted to do to me back then?”
“Brushing your hair was one innocent thought . . . among a thousand depraved ones,” he purred, taking a step back. Playfully, he tapped my bottom with the flat of the brush. “Now let me brush your hair, wife, just so I can mess it up after.”
The unexpected little swat stirred a giggle from me. “Such a gentleman you are,” I teased warmly.
“If there is one thing I’m not, it is that.” He gathered my hair and swept it back. He started at the ends, but I’d brushed the majority of those tangles out, so he moved the brush further up, working on the middle section.
My hair could be a real nightmare sometimes. Although my strands were thin, they were bountiful, which was a recipe for calamity. It didn’t matter if I brushed it until it resembled soft silk; by the end of the day, my hair was guaranteed to be tangled.
And it had been like that for as long as I could remember.
In truth, it was something I used to be very self-conscious about when I lived in the Golden Palace, especially after I had overheard the other goddesses laughing and exchanging jokes about my hair—
What type of immortal has hair like that? At the end of every party, she looks like the king took her to a back room and had his way with her. That, or maybe he loaned her out to his friends.
Maybe someone should introduce her to a brush.
I would, but I’d be scared to lend her mine—who knows what kind of fleas that horrible hair harbors, especially considering the God of Death shows up and takes her every time she falls ill? Who knows what he does to her.
She probably gets down on her knees for him.
She’s got whore hair—makes sense she would act like one.
Disgusting female. The king should do all of us a favor and strap her to the tree with the white leaves in the courtyard.
He’s shown her nothing but patience and kindness, but she fails to bear children for him.
Sometimes, one needs to know when to put a useless bitch down.
They’d gone on and on, their words like knives, cutting me where I stood.
Tears pricking my eyes, I’d gathered my skirts and raced out of the room, searching the massive palace for Aurelius.
When I’d finally found him, I’d thrown myself into his arms and told him what I’d heard.
Soothingly, he’d stroked my hair and said he had a solution to the problem—instead of leaving my hair down, like the other goddesses wore theirs, perhaps I should wear it in braids or in an updo of some sort.
That way it wouldn’t get so tangled come the end of the day.
I had been hurt and saddened by his suggestion, but I had done as I always did when it came to moments like that one—I stuffed them in a box, shoved them into the furthest, deepest recesses of my mind, along with all the others, and nodded, telling myself he was right, that he knew best.
The next morning, when my lady’s maid came to my room, she’d told me I would be wearing my hair different from that day forward.
I’d never known the pain of my constrictive corset could be transferred to my head, but as she’d tugged and pulled on my hair, braiding it so tightly it felt like it was being plucked out of my scalp, I’d learned it could.
After she was done, I’d went to the throne room, taking my spot beside Aurelius’s throne.
He’d given my hand a squeeze, telling me this was a wonderful improvement, and then went about his duties.
All the while, I stood there, slowly dying inside.
But now, here I was, standing in front of someone who adored me. Who loved all the messy parts of me—tangles and all.
Von cared for me.
He loved me.
Aurelius never had.
He’d hated me.
And now I understood the difference.
Hate made you feel small. It stole your worth and drained you of all you were.
Love made you feel big. It taught you your worth and made you feel empowered.
Hate was trauma and tears and broken bones.
Love was healing and happiness and tender touches.
Love gave you courage.
“Von,” I said, my voice soft.
“Yes, my darling?” he asked, working on a section of hair.
“I need to tell you something,” I whispered, my heart quickening. I was ready to tell Von what Aurelius had done to me. I was ready to say the word I had been hiding from—
Rape .
I started out slow. “Do you remember when you asked me why my hands were trembling?”
The brushing stopped for a second then slowly picked back up. “I do.”
“I’m ready to tell you why.”
“Alright.”
I took a shaky, shaky breath, knowing I was going to need it and a thousand more. “When—”
Our door swung open, and the words on my tongue died. Footsteps rushed into our room, then into our bathroom. Folkoln .
“Don’t you know how to knock?” Von snarled at him.
“Knocking is for those with patience. I have none. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve walked in on you with a—” Folkoln clamped his mouth shut. His eyes slid to mine, and he reached up to scrub at the back of his neck, offering me an apologetic grin. “Never mind.”
The bond took over, painting my vision red. Now it was my turn to snarl at him. “Were you about to say with another female ?”
“No, no.” Folkoln shook his head. He stopped, quirked a brow, took a deep breath, and moaned, “Creator above, your jealousy makes for a tasty little meal. I wonder if your sister would taste the same.”
“Von?” I asked.
“Yes, love?” he replied.
“Give me the brush.” I held out my hand.
He dropped it in my palm. “Aim for his head.”
“Wait. Wait,” Folkoln said, raising his hands, stopping me just before I was about to chuck it at him. “I come in peace, alright? Actually, Von, I was wondering if I could talk with you.”
Von’s voice was flat. “Well, speak and get it over with. I have to finish brushing Sage’s hair.”
He smirked. “Is that code for some kinky sex thing?”
“Folkoln!” Von and I shouted at the same time.
He chuckled, lowered his hands into his pockets, and said, “I don’t think this is something Sage is going to want to hear. It’s about Artemesia.”
“Whatever you have to say about my sister, you can say to me,” I told him, lowering the brush to my side, my arm still more than ready to fire at a moment’s notice.
“You want to hear me talk about how bad I want to bone your sister?” he asked, looking genuinely surprised.
“No. No!” I shook my head, trying to forget what he just said. I turned to Von. “Before he says anything else I can’t forget, maybe you should go talk with him?”
“I don’t want to leave you alone,” he argued softly.
“His room is just down the hallway. I’ll be fine,” I reassured him.
Von sighed. “I’ll return shortly,” he promised. His thumb and forefinger captured my chin, lifting my face to his before he gave me a deep, breath-stealing kiss. Then, he and Folkoln left the room.
I finished brushing my hair and then headed into the bedroom. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth when I saw the silky bit of white cloth folded neatly on the bed.
A gift from Von before he left, no doubt. Always so thoughtful, my mate.
I ran my fingers over the smooth fabric, eager to put it on. As I got dressed in the lavish nightgown barely long enough to cover my bottom, I got lost in my thoughts.
Von and I were no closer to finding our child, but I still remained hopeful. My hand fell over my stomach. I wondered . . .
What if I had been carrying them with me all this time?
In truth, a selfish part of me hoped for that so that I could experience all those firsts with them. The first kick. The first smile. The first word. The first walk. I wanted to witness all of those big milestones, and I wanted to do it with Von.
My heart brimmed with happiness at the thought, of the possibility of a future like that.
But first, we needed to find them, and then we needed to get home.
Speaking of . . . I wondered how the others were making out, wishing I had a way to reach them—
Wait.
Soren , I said, the words echoing through the chasm of my mind. When there came no reply, I tried again, louder this time. Soren!
A shadow mouse appeared before me. Sage?
How are things going? I asked.
Soren rubbed his little paws over his face. Not great. Some lady groped Ryker and tried to buy him off Harper. He sighed. Harper knocked her out. Turns out, she was the mayor. So now we’re trying to keep a low profile. How are things going with you?
It’s a bit of a long story, but I might be able to power the energy stones, I said. There is a journal that might help us figure it out. The Goddess of Knowledge is going to see if she can find out where it might be.
That’s amazing, Soren squeaked. Oh, one second—Harper wants to know what you’re saying. I’ll relay the message to the others.