Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
KYELLA
When I emerged from the tub some time later, it felt as if I’d left behind a version of myself I was happy to shed.
I felt a lightness and a spring to my step that hadn’t been there previously, and I found myself humming a nursery song my aunt used to sing to me as she brushed and braided my hair after washing up for the night.
She told me it was mother’s favorite when they were kids, and it had always stuck with me since then.
While I was in the tub, my bag of personal belongings had appeared inside my room, which I’d found after giving myself a tour of the suite.
There was a formal sitting area with a soft black couch and two matching chairs opposite in front of two windows that stretched from the ceiling to the floor.
A small coffee table was placed in the middle, set with elegant cups and cubes of sugar, which I assumed was for tea if the occupant of this room was entertaining guests.
On the opposite side lay a bar full of both wine and blood, which made my throat begin to itch and my stomach growl. I still hadn’t come to terms with what my body so plainly craved now, so I quickly diverted my thoughts to getting ready.
Approaching the vanity in my bedroom, I realized that it was full of skincare and makeup products and a plethora of supplies for hair.
Never before had I had the opportunity to do my own makeup, so I was a bit lost on what to use and how much.
Still, I gave it a try, feeling a surge of excitement that I was in a position to do so.
After a botched attempt at kohl liner on my eyes, I quickly wiped it off and settled on using a light application of pink rouge on my cheeks and a clear lip balm that made my lips feel moisturized and glossy.
Examining my face, I inhaled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the change I could see in myself, and not just physically.
There was a spark of life in my eyes that had been dimmed for so many years now.
Eyeing the pins and clips for hair, I did my best to braid back the front pieces of my hair and pin them in place.
Leaving the rest of my dark waves flowing around me, I hoped that the Empress wouldn’t be offended by my lack of ability to get ready in the manner I often saw women in court showcase.
I suppose I could’ve called on maids to help me, but I wanted to do things for myself.
This newfound freedom could be short lived, and I was going to make the most of it. I never realized how much I would appreciate doing what I wanted with my appearance, especially when it wasn’t forced upon me to impress someone I held disdain for.
I thought I looked beautiful. I felt good about myself, and for once, that was all that mattered.
Giving my reflection in the mirror a smile, I pushed from the seat and made my way to the dress that had been laid out for me.
Running my fingers along the red satin, I sighed in appreciation at how soft and beautiful it was.
It was simple, with two thin straps and ruching down one side that led to a long slit down the thigh.
Taking off my robe and hanging it in the bathroom, I slipped into the undergarments and dress and found it was the perfect fit.
The hem reached below my knees, and I enjoyed the way the air kissed the skin of my left thigh when I walked.
Looking back in the vanity mirror, a surprised smile appeared on my lips at how flattering the dress was.
I had never been blessed with beautiful curves like so many women I saw in Malakai’s castle, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an insecurity of mine. In some ways though, I’d felt lucky, because it was my hope at the time that it made me less alluring to the vampyres under his rule.
But in this dress, my small waist was accented, giving my hips a slight flair I had never noticed before. My small breasts filled the relaxed neckline enough that it didn’t gape open, and for once, I appreciated my proportions.
A knock came on my door, followed by Kolvar’s voice. “Kyella, may we come in? We’re here to accompany you to dinner.”
Nerves erupted in my stomach at the thought of what the three Lords would think of my appearance.
But it was fleeting, and I raised my chin with confidence.
I loved the way I looked right now. I hadn’t done this to impress them.
It had been for myself, and I would own that.
If they happened to find it attractive as well, that would simply be a plus.
“I’ll be right out,” I called, glancing around for the shoes that had been left for me. I slipped my feet into the short black heels, thankful I’d been forced to wear them in Malakai’s empire. Otherwise, this would’ve been a very ungraceful entrance.
Grabbing the thin gold necklace that had been my mother’s, I clasped it around my neck, making sure the golden flower charm lay centered in the center of my chest. No one knew what type of flower it was, but that only made it that much more special to me.
I stepped into the living space, the Lords’ conversation coming to an abrupt halt.
I swear you could’ve heard a pin drop, and I didn’t know whose gaze to meet first. Feeling a bit uncomfortable and nervous under the weight of their stares, which looked to hold heat and desire in each of their depths, I ran my hands down the front of my dress.
“You all look nice,” I offered, truly meaning it. They’d donned black slacks and thick black jackets with the golden crest of the Tridian Empire on the breast area and gold flourishes around the cuffs of the sleeves.
Dakath was the first to recover from their odd trance, stepping forward to grab my hand and press a kiss to the top of it, causing me to blush. “We don’t hold a flame to the beauty that you are, Kyella.”
Oh wow. The intensity of his words caused my skin to prickle.
It was impossible to not feel drawn to these men even more than before, now that I was getting to know their gentle and kind natures.
The open affection Dakath and Kolvar had shown me made it hard to not picture the other touches I’d like to experience with them.
My cheeks and ears heated with the thought, and I pulled my hand from Dakath’s with a smile. “Thank you.” I’d never received such a wonderful compliment, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. ”Is that the formal outfit that Lords here wear on special occasions?”
“Yes,” Elijah answered. “When at a party or gathering of any kind in our ruler’s presence, it is customary.”
It was then that I noticed the two swords hanging from Dakath’s hip as well as Elijah’s.
“Where’s yours? Afraid you’ll poke yourself with the wrong end?” I teased Kolvar as he came closer to me.
He turned, showing the strap I’d missed on his front, allowing an ax to hang across his back. Turning back, he shot me a wink. “I know exactly where to point my weapon, darling.”
A scoff of amusement came from Dakath, and a glower of judgment from Elijah, at his words.
A giggle bubbled up from me as I picked up on the innuendo, but unfortunately a hint of insecurity came along with that thought. My mind tried to wander to the idea of Kolvar with someone else, and my smile melted away, replaced with a furrow of my brow. I didn’t like that at all.
I also didn’t have a right to be so territorial…What was wrong with me?
Before I knew it, Kolvar had me wrapped in his large arms, and his lips brushed against the shell of my ear. “I have eyes only for you, darling.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, trying to contain the surprised sound that threatened to escape.
He had read my mind. That was the only option, right? Were my emotions that easy to read?
“Oh,” I breathed out, experiencing the overwhelming warmth that spread through my chest at his admission but unsure of how to respond. I’d never had experience with flirting and being courted. Thankfully, my brain caught up quickly, and I reached up to wrap my arms around his neck.
“That makes me happy,” I admitted. If he could be vulnerable and open, then so could I.
I turned to face the others again, loving the easy way in which my body melted into Kolvar’s side as he put his arm around my shoulder. He was such a calming pillar for me, an anchor to this new reality.
The moment caused Dakath’s darker, more intense side to come to the surface as he offered what was almost a challenging look. Somehow it was a dangerous look with the way his eyes glittered with heat.
“And what about me, Ky?”
Ky…The nickname made me pause, but I found that I liked the way it sounded. It felt intimate.
All three of these men seemed to call to a different part of me and maybe it was because I finally felt like I had more of a clear head, but I couldn’t help but want to embrace the draw to each one of them.
Where Kolvar was like a ray of sunshine in the darkness I’d been cast into most of my life, Dakath was an intense wildfire that was contained underneath a reserved and more serious front…
one that seemed constantly on the precipice of shattering.
Then there was Elijah, who despite his duty bound collected and honorable manner, clearly felt something for me.
I could feel a spark between us and I had a feeling that he needed me…
I knew that didn’t make sense, but I could feel it and because of that I kept pushing him.
I just couldn’t bring myself to give up on him.
Being surrounded by the three of them felt right.
Feeling emboldened by Kolvar’s admission and the confidence I felt in myself after getting ready, I detached from my gentle giant and walked to Dakath. Grabbing his large hands, I tipped my head back, noting that the bronze streaks in his chocolate eyes were brighter than normal.
“Are you interested in me as well?” I questioned boldly.
I thought that he was—my instincts told me he was—but it would be foolish to assume. That would only lead to heartbreak or embarrassment. I loved the easy and open communication I had with these two, and I wanted to keep it up. When it came to Elijah, I’d have chip away at that wall a bit more.
Pulling his hands from mine, Dakath moved to grip my jaw in a commanding hold as I saw a flicker of vulnerability and maybe even nervousness run through his eyes. I was about to ask what brought that to the surface, but a second later, his soft lips were pressed to mine in a featherlight touch.
My lashes fluttered, my body stilling. Holy crap.
As he went to pull away, probably thinking he had done the wrong thing due to my lack of reciprocation, I snapped out of it and drew him back to me, closing my eyes and pressing my lips to his.
The world fell away, and all of my thoughts of the unknown and the nerves about the outcome tonight were suddenly far, far from my mind.
I felt a slight pain on my ribs as Dakath pulled me tighter against him, his other hand gripping my waist in a hold I couldn’t break away from as he deepened the kiss.
A kiss that had gone from sweet, to deadly, as a heated flush broke out on my skin and I felt my head spin from the consuming nature of it.
A low growl from Elijah’s direction broke the intoxicating moment between Dakath and me. As we pulled away, Dakath gripped my chin slightly tighter and dipped his head to press a kiss to my forehead. “Is that answer enough?”
Yeah, that was an amazing answer.
“If you three are done, we have a dinner to attend,” Elijah snapped, his voice sounding rough and uneven. While I understood that he wasn’t as open with his emotions, I was frustrated with the tone he was taking, especially towards these other two men.
I spun to face him, and our gazes clashed, the anger in his bright eyes clear as day.
Words poured out of me before I could think them through.
“If you would take a moment to stop pretending like you feel nothing for me, you would see that I feel similar for you, Elijah. But if you continue to act this way…I won’t accept that.
I’ve been through too much to be treated that way. ”
Once I realized what I’d admitted, my instinct was to cower away, but this was my truth, and I would stand tall in it. Even if it was beyond nerve-wracking.
His annoyance melted away, replaced with genuine surprise and then…longing? Was that what I was seeing in his gaze?
Shaking his head, the emotion was gone in a flash, replaced with his normal tightly controlled expression as he gestured towards the door. “Please, can we go to dinner? Our ruler is waiting for us, and considering the decision being made, it wouldn’t make a good impression to be late.”
My lips thinned at his dismissal of my statement.
Fine. If he wanted to deny those emotions and that part of himself, there was nothing I could do about it—for now.
I didn’t think he could last forever though…
or maybe the truth was, that I couldn’t last forever.
There were only so many times I could handle this dismissal he seemed to revert back to.
Had I imagined the tender moments? Sometimes they seemed fleeting enough that I could convince myself that they were imaginary.
Whatever the case, I wouldn’t allow him to be rude to Kolvar or Dakath for not following his lead, and I wouldn’t let it tarnish the blossoming affections I held for them.
My response was short and clipped with attitude. “As you wish.”
Hooking my hands into the crook of Dakath’s and Kolvar’s elbows, we began our walk to the dining room.
I refused to look back at Elijah the entire way down—he’d made his bed, and he could lie in it. Alone.