26
As I paced my room, I braided then unbraided my hair.
It seemed silly to start caring about how it looked. How I looked. Besides, Voran would only tangle it with his fingers when he kissed me. But I checked my reflection in the moonlit window one last time. Curfew was at least two hours ago.
So I crept out into the hall.
On the way to the stairwell, I discovered I wasn’t the only one getting up to no good after dark.
A moan, light and airy, escaped a room ahead.
More worried than curious, I quietened my steps until I was almost tiptoeing. If I could hear a moan that light through a closed door, then someone could have surely heard any of the sounds I’d made in Voran’s—
The door to the room beside the stairwell wasn’t closed.
Alixa’s room.
She, or perhaps the male she was with, had left it open. Just enough for passersby to catch a glimpse of her near-white hair. A glimpse of golden-blond hair. And black.
Meront and Darcen.
Alixa was sandwiched between them on her tiny bed. Meront lay closest to the door, naked and thrusting, while Darcen lay facing Alixa, holding her leg over his and kissing her. Kissing her as Meront…
A soft creak from a door opening behind me interrupted my gawking.
I twirled in fright.
Celestine stood there, a weary look on her face. “Did it wake you too?”
Still dumbfounded, it took me a moment to understand what she’d asked. To remember what I’d really been doing out in the hall.
Seizing the opportunity, I nodded.
She stepped back and waited for me.
A groan, then a curse, sent heat to my cheeks and my feet scurrying into her room.
Celestine closed the door. “Your face right now.” She tried to laugh, but sniffed. “I would be howling with laughter if they weren’t doing it to…”
To sever the bond between her and Darcen.
I sat on her bed. “You looked.”
Her lower lip wobbled, and I held my arms out. She joined me on the bed, where she mumbled through tears, “Wouldn’t want them to go to so much effort and risk punishment for nothing.”
“Assholes,” I said. “All three of them.”
Although I knew this was for the best when Darcen had no intent to claim her, every shake of her shoulders filled me with anger. So much so that I was left wondering if I was only mad because the princes had hurt my friend.
I no longer wanted Meront. Not like I once had. But what he’d said to me mere hours ago outside his room now seemed like a hideous lie.
I supposed I was in no position to judge harshly. I’d told many lies myself lately. Knew I’d probably tell many more if I had to.
“Will you stay?” Celestine croaked. “I know we could get into trouble, but I don’t want to be alone.”
Voran was waiting for me. If I didn’t go to him, he would make good on his threat to come to me.
Still, I couldn’t imagine leaving Celestine. So I answered instantly. “Of course.”