Chapter 31
The Doll
“You are drooling,” a deep voice drawled, pulling me from my sleep.
The same piercing green eyes I was dreaming about stared at me, familiar notes of amber and smoke floating in the air.
“Why are you in my room?” I swiped at the corner of my mouth as I lifted my smushed face off the emerald silk pillow.
I was, indeed, drooling, considering the back of my hand was now wet. The Serpent King smiled down at me, as if to say I told you so.
He bent at the waist, bringing his face closer to mine. “You may be a guest in my family home, but I can go wherever I please, whenever I want.”
“I don’t give a serpent’s tail if you were the very ruler of this realm, you have two seconds to get the fuck out for disturbing my slumber, or I can force you.
We all remember the other night, hm? The one where I broke your nose not once, but twice?
Ringing any bells for you, Serpent King?
” The last thing I saw before flopping onto my back and rolling away from the menace was his furious scowl.
I snatched the cashmere green blanket and pulled it up to my chin, preparing to sleep for a while longer.
Yet, as I was snuggling into the soft bed, cold air splashed over my bare legs.
A grimace settled onto my face as I planted my hands behind me onto the golden silk sheets, lifting myself to face the king.
The snake was wrapping my blanket around his neck, wearing it like a scarf.
He finished draping it across his neck with a smug smile.
“Mhm, this blanket is rather cozy. I can see why you looked so comfortable just a moment ago with it wrapped around you.” His eyes flickered over my bare legs, before he lifted the longer part of the blanket dangling along his chest to his nose, inhaling the cashmere deeply.
“It smells like you . . . ” He sniffed the garment again. “Cinnamon, jasmine, and—ah, of course.” He gave me a sickly sweet smile. “Dead roses.”
“Something is deeply wrong with you.” My lip curled at the menace who was grossly detailing my scent.
The smell of something I only dreamed of tasting after nearly eighty decades cooled my annoyance like a lovely breeze.
I inhaled like an animal on the hunt, my eyes scanning the room for the glorious scent.
On the table before the hearth was a tray with one mug, with steam rippling from its surface.
The king’s gaze followed mine. “There is cream and sugar, just as you like.”
My gaze shifted to him, noting how his spine stiffened after uttering his last words.
“You brought me coffee?”
Slowly, he turned to look at me. “I remember how much you enjoyed it, when you—” He cleared his throat. “When you resided in my realm.” He started to shift on his feet, all hints of his previous charm gone.
The Serpent King brought me coffee.
I peeled myself from the cozy sheets, drifting toward the delicious aroma beckoning me.
My mouth watered as I neared the beverage, but I didn’t reach for either the cream or sugar.
Instead, I took the black cup of coffee and turned to face the king.
With my lips against the rim, I looked up at him through my lashes as I blew on the piping liquid.
“I don’t like sweet things anymore, and I’m not the girl you once knew. It’d do you some good to remember that.” His eyes dipped to my lips as they wrapped around the forest green mug.
For Serpent’s Sake, how did I live without coffee for all these years?
A moan slipped past my lips, and the king’s eyes darkened upon hearing the sound.
Fuck, he was looking at me like—like he wished to be the cup of coffee my lips were snuggly wrapped around.
I quickly strode to the bathing chambers to escape his fierce stare and hopefully find a robe to combat the frigid temperature. Yet, being the pest I knew him to be, the Serpent King’s dark chuckle chased after me.
“To what do I owe you the pleasure of you being a royal pain in my ass this early in the morning?” I glared at him through the golden framed mirror.
“First off, it’s nearly noon.” He lifted a pompous finger at me, then raised another. “And second off, weren’t you the one pestering me to take you to the library to learn more about the gods?”
I sighed with exasperation at the fact he was right, though I’d never admit it.
Instead, I spotted a velvet emerald robe hanging on the back of the bathing room door and reached for it. The moment my body was wrapped in its warm embrace, I felt myself relax.
“There is a matching pair of slippers too,” the king drawled, giving a pointed look at the ground.
Sure enough, he was right . . . again. I grumbled as I slipped my feet into the matching pair of deep green slippers.
Why wouldn’t Adalina be a thoughtful host, considering since she was perfect from head to toe?
My mood soured upon thinking of the god who claimed the title of the Serpent Queen, and I moved toward the sink in hopes to wash away my anger. Scalding hot water streamed from the gold-plated chrome sink as I splashed my face and proceeded to scrub my skin.
When I looked into the mirror while patting my face dry with, of course, an emerald green towel, my eyes snagged on my chest—right where my serpent tattoo peeked out from my robe drifting open.
Bits of my lacy black nightdress became exposed while I was bent over the skin, along with the head of the serpent marking—its maw wide open, fangs flashing as if ready to inject its venom into our enemies.
Quiet footsteps fell against the gold and white tiles, then the king was towering behind me, his eyes dipping to the bit of cleavage on display.
“Beautiful,” he whispered softly, granting him one of my questioning glares through the mirror.
As if remembering himself, his lips curved into a lazy smile.
“I mean, it’s beautiful seeing my mark permanently sealed into your skin.
” He dragged a finger along my shoulder, and I was thankful the robe was thick enough to prevent me from feeling his unwanted contact.
Even though he didn’t touch my skin directly, I still snatched his finger between my fist and spun to face him.
“What did I say about touching me unsolicited, Serpent King?” I hissed through clenched teeth, all the while gripping his finger harder.
His nose pinched while his eyes slightly crinkled, the only sign I was causing him any pain.
Good, because I owed him decades worth of agony as payback for how he made me feel the night of our bargain.
“Apologies, my Queen,” he forced out.
I gave his finger one more sharp twist, finally drawing a beautiful yelp out of the menace. I savored the sound, his pain, and the feeling of hurting someone for the first time in what felt like a century . . . even though I kicked his ass just the other night.
“The next time you touch me against my will, there will be no time for apologies. I will snap your fingers off and not even your immortal status will be able to properly heal them,” I seethed, clutching him for another moment.
Something like amused surprise flared in his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it came. I released the Serpent King’s finger, shoving his chest hard before proceeding out of my bathing chambers. Hesitant footsteps followed me back into my personal quarters as I shouted for my lady-in-waiting.
“Reena is enjoying breakfast with my mother, so I’m afraid you are stuck with me to help dress you.” I glanced back at the annoying gnat I couldn’t get rid of, noticing his smile was more forced than usual.
He tried to portray his usual arrogance, but it seemed like a shell of what it usually was.
Maybe my display of power in the bathing chamber truly ruffled his feathers.
Splendid.
I ignored the king as I made my way behind the gold and emerald stained-glass dressing screen.
I shucked off my robe and nightdress, reaching for the gown that was already hanging atop the screen.
The forest green velvet felt cool against my skin as I shimmied it up my body.
I was grateful to find a side zipper on the dress, no sign of strings or boning within the garment, so I could dress myself with ease.
The dress clung to all my curves, but it flared out along my thighs, with a modest slit running up my left leg.
With it only exposing half of my thigh, it was far more reserved than the gowns I wore in my queendom.
A velvet train pooled behind me, but not long enough to be a bother.
In fact, it helped make me look like the queen I was.
The dress was stunning, but I’d like it far better if it was red or black.
Right as I was glancing along the white and gold tiled floors for a pair of heels, the Serpent King’s pale hand popped over the divider. He dangled a pair of shiny gold heels before my face, and after I didn’t reach for them, he vehemently shook them.
A small smile danced along my lips as I finally reached for the shoes, and I was grateful he couldn’t see the delight his silly action made me feel.
Although I only lived in Morotis for a few weeks many decades ago, it seemed the king was paying closer attention to the things I liked than I thought.
Upon examining the heels closer, I noticed the subtle snakeskin design within the gold band crossing over my toes and along the straps I worked to criss-cross up the entirety of my calves.
Once I was done putting on my heels, I straightened, smoothing my gown as I examined myself in the gold floor length mirror beside me.
I kicked my leg straight up, nodding with satisfaction that I could move with ease in this dress. Considering I was in a foreign realm that was full of potential enemies, I needed the ability to move freely, should I have to show Adalina who the real Serpent Queen was.
Feeling satisfied with my attire, I strolled out from behind the partition and to the vanity along one of the walls covered in golden, floral wallpaper. I grimaced at all the shades of gold and green in the room, at the sickening floral patterns surrounding me.
Gods, this room felt like my own personal form of torture.
Snatching a tube of lipstick from the vanity, I popped the cap open, only to be greeted with a horrendous champagne color with flakes of gold shimmering within it.
“Where is my red lipstick?” I snapped the cap onto the lipstick harder than necessary, already scanning the table for other options.
The king came into the reflection of the mirror as he moved closer behind me.
“About that, I felt your style could use a little revamping while visiting the Emerald Glades. Your whole Serpent Queen look,” he said, gesturing at my face while frowning. “Well, to put it bluntly, it doesn’t suit you.”
I whirled toward him. “You have no right to tell me what does or doesn’t suit me. How dare you try to dress me like your own personal doll.” I jabbed a sharp nail into his bare chest, courtesy of him leaving a few buttons undone like he infuriatingly always did.
He glanced down at my finger spearing into his skin, then softly wrapped his hand around it.
“I see you for what you truly are, Seera. All I want is for you to stop pretending to be something you are not.” His gaze slowly drifted up to mine, and my mouth parted from the sincerity shining within his clear green eyes.
I quickly remembered myself, clenching my jaw shut and slamming my face into a cold mask of hate.
“Let me remind you for a final time, you know nothing of who I am anymore. Whoever you once knew died the day we made our bargain, and you would know that if you ever cared to contact me in the past seventy-five years.” I knew my last words were a mistake the moment they flew from my mouth, but it was too late, for the Serpent King’s mouth parted with surprise.
I sniffed the air when a deep wrinkle formed between his brows, only to start coughing from the overwhelming cloud of smoke wafting off him.
So much regret clung to the king.
He released my finger, grinding his teeth as he realized his mistake of not hiding his emotions from me. He shook his head, like the motion could clear any of his unwanted feelings. Then, he turned to flee for the door.
“Reena will bring you breakfast. I expect you to meet me in the Emerald Library in thirty minutes.” He barely barked his last command before slamming the door behind him.
I was left alone, desperately trying to piece together all that just occurred between the king and I.
He reeked of regret, but why?
He was the one that shoved me from his lands the moment our bargain was complete, his parting words so cold they still haunted my nightmares.
Warmth bloomed from my hand, pulling me from my thoughts.
I glanced to see I was tightening my hand into a fist so intensely that my sharp nails tore open the flesh of my palm. Blood coated underneath my nails, small beads of it slowly staining the white and gold tiled floors crimson.
A gentle hiss wrapped around me, then Ember was there curling along my shoulders.
She gently nudged her head against my cheek in an attempt to soothe my vexed mood.
I softly stroked the top of her head. When I was rewarded with a happy hiss, warmth curled into the void in my chest. I looked at my gorgeous scarlet snake, her black eyes squeezing shut as I pet her.
What did I do to deserve such a creature to stand by my side through the darkness?
As I continued to stroke her, a thought drifted in my head upon seeing the small bead of blood still at the tip of my finger.
A devious smile spread across my face as I turned toward the mirror, then swiped the drop of blood across my lips.
Although it was nowhere as deep of a color like the one I typically wore, the sheer red tint now painted across my lips was better than the champagne lipstick that horrid man wanted me to wear.
The Serpent King may think he can change me, even try to make me into some sick version of his own living doll. Since he was raised by a god, I couldn’t say I was surprised by his vile actions. If there was one thing I was certain of, it was that the gods didn’t care about anyone beyond themselves.
Yet, the king was an utter fool for doubting the force of the true Serpent Queen, but I’d happily remind him of his mistake when I faced all the gods one by one as soon as our mission was over.
After all, the Serpent King should know best that I was strong enough to shake the world when coming into power, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.