Chapter 29
In my haste to get away from Gabriel and Darragh, I became disoriented and lost. I wandered corridor after corridor, trying to make my way back to the grand staircase in the foyer or even the ballroom to look for Anya.
I turned another corner of a deserted hallway, my anger dissipating with each step, replacing it with guilt.
I should not have yelled at either of them, but most of all Darragh, who, once again, showed up to help me out of a situation that got out of hand.
He didn’t deserve my anger at all, and it had only been a few days since we began to put together the pieces of what was happening in Tironaill.
There was no way to accomplish all that needed to be done in such a short amount of time.
My complete embarrassment at my lustful activity with Gabriel made me lash out at Darragh so I wouldn’t feel the guilt.
I needed to apologize to him. I was disgusted with myself for giving in to Gabriel and liking every bit of it in the moment.
I wished it were Darragh who had me up against that wall.
A soft moan drifted toward me, making me pause.
I moved slowly and quieted my steps toward a door that was ajar.
Another moan, louder, beckoned me to look inside.
Beyond the door was a room full of instruments.
I shifted my view, and atop a grand piano, Devoruh’s top half came into focus.
The shimmer of her golden gown caught my eye immediately.
She rested on her elbows, her head thrown back, and she was panting and moaning.
“Yes. Don’t stop. Right there,” Devoruh moaned. She thrusted one arm forward, grabbing onto whoever was in front of her.
I should have left. I should have respected her privacy and turned right around and walked away from what I was seeing.
But I stood rooted to the spot. I angled myself to the side to see who could make Devoruh’s toes curl like this, and I had to stifle a gasp.
Devoruh’s golden dress was pulled all the way up, exposing her nude bottom half, and a tiara-tipped head of honey golden hair was stationed between her wide-spread thighs.
Queen Mollah. My jaw dropped.
Devoruh’s hand was wrapped in Mollah’s hair, pulling her face into the wet heat and grinding across her pillowy lips and tongue.
Mollah’s bejeweled hands were tightened around Devoruh’s hips, holding her in place.
Devoruh’s moans became louder, and her pants became more hurried.
With a final uneven breath, she threw her head back and moaned, “Mollah” as she came.
Her thighs trembled, and her body shook from the release.
Queen Mollah stood from where she knelt between Devoruh’s legs and kissed her passionately.
“Your turn, Your Majesty,” Devoruh purred. “Let me taste you.”
I turned and, quick as a flash, raced down the hallway, turning a different corner.
The shock of what I just witnessed left me speechless.
The queen of Tironaill was having an affair with a soldier.
There was no way I would tell anyone what I witnessed.
It was none of my business what the Queen did and with whom.
King Torrish would certainly have them both killed, and I wanted no harm to come to either of them.
Even if Devoruh was a sour bitch who hated me.
After five more minutes of wandering, I finally heard the sounds of the ballroom and followed them until I found the entrance to the party beyond.
“Lady Aurora, there you are,” Anya called out to me. I closed my eyes and released a breath, thankful that it was her and not Gabriel. I didn’t think I had another conversation or encounter with him in my mental capacity tonight.
“Lady Anya,” I sighed.
“Rory, are you alright?” Anya whispered to me as she approached.
My lips trembled. “I…I don’t know. The last few days, or hours, have been mentally draining, and I need to get back to my rooms before I start crying.”
Anya said nothing and grabbed my hand, leading me through the halls and up the stairs to my rooms. “Do you want to talk about it?” She asked as she closed the door behind us.
I shook my head. “I don’t think I have it in me. I am so scared, frustrated, and worried about what the future holds for Cora and me. I wish I had my herbs to make a tonic that would knock me out so I could get a full night’s sleep before waking to more misery and chaos that is my life.”
A sly smile spread across Anya’s face. “I can make that happen. I have access to the healer’s stash of herbs. One of the healers is a good friend of mine. Give me an hour and a list of what you need, and I can bring it to you.”
“You would do that?”
She grabbed my hand. “Rory, you’re my friend. We haven’t known each other long, but I can see what a beautiful soul you have and what an amazing mother you are. I always take care of people who are important to me. You and Cora are important to me.”
“Thank you,” I said in a low voice. I couldn’t even express how much her friendship meant to me. A woman my own age, and a noble at that, who genuinely liked me. She was a gift from the gods.
I wrote down all the ingredients I needed and handed them to Anya. “If they don’t have it all, I gave alternatives in case they had a different herb instead.”
“Sit tight, and I will be back soon. Go change and sit by the fire in the meantime. I'll bring you some tea as well.”
She walked to the door, and before she could open it, I blurted out, “Anya? Thank you for your friendship. It means more to me than you know.”
“No, thank you, Rory. I don’t think you realize how much I needed you and Cora in my life.” She closed the door with a quiet click.
I nodded off on the sofa in the sitting room, the fire lulling me into a fitful rest, battling with my never-ending thoughts, when a soft knock made my eyes shoot open.
“Thank goodness, you’re here. I need…” I opened the door with a jolt. Darragh stood rigid, brows creased, and arms folded in front of his chest. I couldn’t tell if he was angry, confused, or about to hurt me.
I blinked. “Darragh?”
“Expecting someone?” His voice was steady but wasn’t exactly friendly either.
“Yes. Anya.”
He held my gaze but said nothing.
“Please, come in.” I gestured to the room beyond.
“No.” His voice held no warmth. “I have something to do this evening. I wanted to make sure you were back in your room safely.”
“Oh. Alright.” He was frighteningly still. “I—"
“I told Gabriel that I took you to Toolock Farm, that I got intel there about humans in the west, and that I tracked down seraphs in a western forest who mentioned a shipment. I didn’t tell him you were with me, and I left out names to protect the staff.
I am not taking this information lightly, my lady. Even if you think I am.”
My lips parted, eyes rounded. “Darragh, I never wanted you to have to resort to that. I have kept that secret from him to protect you and Lyrik. Also, ‘my lady?’” The propriety felt like hands squeezing my neck.
“Yes, and you wanted Gabriel and me to work together, so now I made the first move and told him what I knew. You got what you wanted out of me.”
My stomach turned, and I shook my head. “It isn’t like that at all.
I was angry, not at you, but at Gabriel and myself!
My anger was directed at Gabriel. I felt guilty the moment I left about what I said to you.
” I lowered my head and twisted my fingers.
“I am embarrassed about what you saw happening in the hallway, and it turned into me lashing out. It was never meant for you. I never meant to let it get as far as it did with Gabriel, but I have no interest in him. You must understand…I am trying to protect my daughter.”
He hiked his one eyebrow up, staring at me, searching me. “Have a good evening.”
My breath hitched. “Please. I am so thankful for everything you have done for me.” My voice rose in panic.
I couldn’t lose him. His friendship. The building connection we had.
“I…” My heart pounded. “I need you in my life. Not to get back home or collect information, but because…because I feel a pull to you, damn it! Don’t you feel it?
” Tears welled in my eyes. Perhaps I admitted too much, but I would concede to him my vulnerability.
Not only to let him see how sorry I was but also to stop hiding my feelings for him.
His stoicism dropped briefly. A blink of something I didn’t recognize flickered across his features, but he pulled right back into a state of indifference.
I took a step toward him. He took a step back, maintaining his distance.
A fracture slowly moved across my heart as a well of emotions filled up inside me.
Longing but also fear that our connection had been irreparably damaged by my own anger and stupidity.
Darragh inclined his head. “Goodnight, my lady.” He turned and strode into the darkness of the hall before disappearing around a corner and out of my life.
Heart hurting. Guilt consuming. I poured myself out to him, and I had been made a fool.
I couldn’t stop staring down the hallway in hopes that he would come back.
Anya approached as tears spilled down my face. She blinked at me wide-eyed. “Rory? What in the world just happened? You are positively flush with emotions. It's overwhelming.”
I shook my head as I tried to pull myself back together. “I just need to rest.”
“I brought you everything. Let me help you.”
“No, I am fine. I want to be alone right now,” I sniffled, wiping away my tears.
She handed me the ingredients and a mortar and pestle that I requested. “I will be back to check on you in the morning. Don’t you dare try to hide from me. Something happened, and you’re going to tell me. This is what friends are for.”
I silently closed the door as she strode back down the hall. I hurriedly made my tonic between my sobs and tears, guzzling it down.
The tonic took hold quickly, and I didn’t want to wake Cora, so I opted to sleep on the sofa. It was a tonic for a dreamless sleep, but the dreams came anyway.
Dreams of heartache, betrayal, lies, and longing.