Chapter 75
Come morning, I planned on asking Aegir questions about the meeting.
But I would ask later. Yes, definitely later.
I was too busy, with my arms outstretched, my hands clenching the headboard’s fur as I rode his beautiful face. His hands grasped my rear, guiding my thighs in tandem with his tender tongue strokes.
“Aegir, I—Aegir.” That was all I could breathe.
Then the whole world shifted around me, and I found myself half laughing, half panting beneath him.
“You bewitch me, you know,” he rasped, biting on my lower lip and clenching my thigh. But his mischievous smile faded into a glower as the door pounded in forceful beatings. I slid from beneath him and jolted off the bed, clawing at the infinite number of blankets in search of my buried nightdress.
“Hey, no, come back here,” Aegir said, reaching an arm towards me.
“Did you forget the sound barrier? The whole castle must have heard me!” I blushed at the thought.
More door pounding, then, “Are you planning on keeping her away from me forever?”
“Who’s that? And please don’t ever forget the sound barrier,” I warned, hastily putting on my nightdress. Aegir got off the bed and lifted several blankets, looking for his crumpled cotton trousers.
“That’s my sister, and I didn’t forget the sound barrier.
” Then he shouted towards the doorway, “Unfortunately, she is such a snoop that both Boreas and Sylva blessed her with the power of it.” Aegir reached for his shirt, then looked my way.
His voice lowered. “She can form and breach protection wards as she pleases. That’s one of her many annoying abilities. ”
The nightdress was certainly not enough.
I threw on last night’s coat whilst setting a mental reminder to get Emika’s from the guest room.
Then I stood by the bedroom doorway, hidden behind the wall.
Aegir adjusted himself before opening the door that was being knocked on in a repetitive and irritating manner. “Open the godsdamned d—”
“Go. Away! We’re busy.”
“Oh, come on! It’s not like I didn’t let her finish,” she argued, shoving both of her arms into his chest. My cheeks blushed and I took one step back.
“How dare you hide my sister from me?” she demanded, making her way into the seating room, pointing a long finger at Aegir’s face.
I was indecisive over whether to step out or retreat, but when I was certain that she was going to look my way, I cowered behind the wall.
My timidity only allowed me to get a few quick glimpses of her.
She was tall—taller than Nadya—and her skin…
I could tell that her golden tan was darker than Aegir’s, just from the colour of her face.
Her thick and curly hair was dark brown with the exception of one bit at the front, which was as white as the snow of Nivaria.
It wasn’t like Ryvar’s, where white streaks striated his hair as they pleased.
Hers seemed deliberate. Footsteps neared, and the thought of her witnessing our mess of a bedroom fuelled me with the courage I needed to finally make my way into the sitting room.
“And to find out that she is Queen Elara Briar—” Her gaze fell over me and I could see her eyes, also forest green, glistening. She narrowed them at Aegir. “And you stole one of my coats.”
Is the blue nightdress also hers? Eww.
“How long?”
“How long, what?” Aegir asked, his tone echoing annoyance.
“Silly! How long did it take you to breach my room?”
He gave her a partial eye roll before replying, “Five minutes, give or take.”
Her hand went to her mouth and she scoffed a laugh. “Oh, I’m getting better at this.” And although she was staring at her brother, I was sure she was only talking to herself.
“Will you go away now that you’ve seen her?”
“Oh! Stop acting like you haven’t missed me.”
Aegir flashed her a grin, then held her around the waist, trapped arms and all, giving her a big side hug. Then he tilted his head forward—I presumed to peck a kiss on her forehead—but she shoved him away and slid out of his grip. “Get that filthy mouth away from my face. Pig.”
I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Should I laugh hysterically? Should I throw up?
“And to answer your earlier question, yes, I am leaving, and I’m taking her with me,” she simpered, entwining her arm with mine.
“No, you’ll be seeing her later tonight,” Aegir replied, pulling me towards him by my other arm.
“Oh, come on! Let me have her, please,” she begged, eyes pleading. “Pretty, pretty please. I promise you I will bring her to the meeting in one piece. Besides, she needs more clothes. I’ll give her a few dresses from my room.”
“I asked the seamstress to come take her measurements this afternoon.”
“Measurements?” I mumbled.
“So? It’s not like she’ll be getting her dresses ready by tonight. Tell the seamstress to come tomorrow and I’ll lend her one of mine for tonight. Please.” I swore her final please was five seconds long.
Aegir blew out in exasperation. “Well, only if she wants to.” Our eyes met, then he said, “I warn you that you’ll need me to heal your head later. You’re in for one big headache.”
His sister punched him in the arm, and I think she might have hurt him a little. She was half Fae, half the daughter of a Strongman, after all.
Then she took two steps towards me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, urging me towards the door. She looked at Aegir over her shoulder. “Of course she wants to join me. Why would she refuse to spend a day with her sister?” Her head snapped my way. “How rude of me, my name is—”
“Amani. I know. Aegir has told me so many nice things about you.” I gave Aegir a wicked smile.
“I’m in big trouble, aren’t I?” Aegir mumbled to himself before Amani closed the door behind us.
A “Don’t be late!” was faintly heard.
Amani just shrugged and beamed at me. Her canines, I noticed, weren’t as prominent as her brothers’.