Chapter 30
Alora
Nothing could have prepared me for the grandeur of the expansive gardens that had been meticulously curated to resemble a sunset but in bloom.
Deep reds, maroons, and plum color tapestries hung along the carpeted pathway. The large wooden beams that the tapestries hung from were so massive, I can only imagine the timber came from the ancient forest.
Looking from Jessamine to Leeson, their expressions mirrored my own.
Our nerves were palpable as we caught one another’s gaze.
We’d met under the cover of night and prepared for our arrival into King Euron’s grasp.
We’d laid out the plan, going over every detail time and time again, until it was second nature.
Jessamine, Leeson, and Rune would go seek out the leirunes where Rune had said they would be hidden in the library.
My job was to distract, keep King Euron busy and enamored with my magic so he would not notice others slip away.
Magic I finally began to understand in the deepest moments with Kassiel.
I’d practiced until I knew it like Kassiel said I would.
It was like coming home. I just had to forgive myself and walk through the door.
Leeson smiles at me and winks. She gives me strength even now.
Hope finally feels tangible, like the stars are aligning giving us a chance to drive out the wickedness of the realm.
I look to my companions, our ball gowns were vastly different.
Jessamine in a stunning golden red metallic fabric that hugged her curves and was fitted in the shoulders with low hanging sleeves that draped near her breasts.
It looked brilliant paired with her fiery hair and red painted lips.
She is lust incarnate, thanks to the Luxuria magic humming off her skin.
Leeson was in a deep plum dress, one that reached her wrists with a loop around her middle finger and flared dramatically by her legs, giving the appearance of a fish tail.
She looked sophisticated and witty, but the color was not bold enough to attract attention, which was our goal.
She could meander in the background unnoticed while the attention was on Jessamine and me.
And then there was me, in a silvery grey dress that hugged my waist, backed with boning and corset closures.
My sleeves draped off my shoulders, the bell shape transparent and speckled with woven diamonds.
The skirts were gathered below my midsection and then flared in a princess style that accentuated my rear.
My gown was eye—catching and vastly different from the hue of reds that most other maidens wore. Whereas they looked keenly familiar to the Blood Eclipse, I looked like the stars that sprinkled the sky.
Channeling the reverent energy from the goddess herself, we sauntered down the walkway of rugs. I swallowed thickly, realizing one of these rugs easily was worth more than most people made per turn in Noxia.
But I was Lady Orlah, I had no cares about these trivial things, I was here for one reason alone—to force King Euron to fall for me.
“Ladies,” I toyed with the words, letting disinterest drip off my tongue, “I’d like you to assist me in finding our Majesty. I’d like to show him something special.”
I hated acting this way, as though they were beneath me, but clearly after witnessing King Euron earlier, he desired women who took little pity on servants.
Whereas I was kind, he preferred someone cold.
A woman who would be dutiful, hanging on to each of his words like they were nectar from the gods themselves, but also cared about appearances and knew the importance of the hierarchy.
Someone who wouldn’t care about his twisted desire to collect people and would turn their gaze elsewhere when he was brutal and calculating.
Someone who wasn’t me.
Jessamine’s grin was all the encouragement I needed. Channeling everything she taught me about seduction, I leveled my gaze on the crowd at the end of the carpets.
I tossed my hair behind my shoulder and set my chin elegantly, demanding attention from the attendants waiting at the end to announce us to the court.
With each step and sway of my hips, my dress swished seductively, promising the allure of my curves under the gauzy fabric.
If the Blood Eclipse promised the Sun God’s retribution, as King Euron phrased it, I would be the sinful starlight that accompanied the turning of the moons red. They would worship me in the same way they worshipped this celestial event.
The balmy air caresses my skin and stirs my curls behind me. Though the spectacle of the moons’ eclipse hasn’t happened yet, spectators have flooded the gardens, washed in their red attire.
As I reach the end of the carpets and step soundly onto the garden’s stepping stones, the steward asks for my name card and I grasp it from where it’s tucked beneath my gloved hand.
I hold my stare at the guests who have turned to study me. Feeling Jessamine’s and Leeson’s bodies come to stand behind me, I press my breasts out ever so slightly and roll my shoulders back, baring my décolletage and neck.
“Presenting, Lady Orlah and her ladies in wait.”
The crowd hushes with the baritone voice. Whispers slither their way through the members of the court, they’re familiar with the name due to my encounter earlier with King Euron in the side yard.
Instead of waiting for someone to escort me among the crowd, I simply walk forward to where a bench lies unattended.
“This is the perfect spot to be noticed, sit here,” Jessamine whispers.
As I pass a group of Lords and other nobles, rakish smiles snake out and carnal gazes look exactly where Jessamine had planned. Unlike the other ladies here, my neck is bare, nothing but flesh exposed.
I sit on the hard stone and lean my body back in an effort to elongate my petite form. Jessamine stands behind me, and Leeson sits upon a circular pillow thrown on the ground. The wind picks up, blowing my hair over my shoulder.
Jessamine quickly uses the opportunity to our advantage and takes her long fingers and grabs the hair that’s fallen between my breasts between her forefinger and thumb.
Delicately, she moves the stray hair slowly away from my breasts, dragging her pinky along my skin and up my throat column, causing my flesh to pebble.
The lurid movement catches more than just the carnal Lords, some women look onward yearningly.
“I’ve heard King Euron prefers the more erotic nature of experiences,” I say loud enough that the king can hear it as we watch him drift toward us.
He’s dressed in all gold, adorned with a cloak woven with reds and golds depicting his crest among the Blood Eclipse.
It’s almost sickening seeing this man look so handsome, wrapped in his elegance. The most beautiful beasts can hide the most insidious monsters within them.
“Lady Orlah, you’re beyond ravishing.” His sun—kissed skin is painted in gold shimmer, giving him an ethereal look. I watch his vision trail down my face and over the unguarded skin, the hunger growing within his lecherous eyes.
“I have a simple confession, your Majesty.” His gaze locks on my painted lips and his mouth parts, his tongue darting out to lick his own.
“I’m more than eager to hear your admission, my star.”
I have to mask my face to keep the nausea down. As unfortunate as it is to have this man so eager to claim me, it’s more important for the cause of The Hidden.
I can make myself a weapon just like Kassiel’s been welded before.
Letting the promise of retribution for Hanin and the rest of the magical folk steel my spine, I continue on.
“You see, my king, I have a very special talent I’d been waiting for the perfect moment to reveal to you, and I can’t think of one more perfect than the Blood Eclipse, where we honor the sun god’s wrath and rightful vengeance.
” I hate it the moment those vile words leave my mouth.
I meet King Euron’s eyes, the blue of them visibly lifeless the more I peer into them. This all feels so wrong. Like my soul is screaming to run but I’m a rabbit in a snare.
His chin tips up, the authoritarian posture natural for the bastard. He watches me from the tip of his nose and arches an eyebrow expectantly.
If the world paused right now I wouldn’t know it. Everyone surrounding us is too still, too expectant.
Thinking of Kassiel’s kisses and his obsession over licking every inch of me, my magic begins to hum. My hands illuminate and my magic peels out, strong and un—sputtering, thank the gods. I imagine the light bending and forming a raven. The mirage is so realistic he reaches out to touch it.
Gasps are heard all around and murmuring grows louder as I cause the raven to spread its wings.
“Blessed gods, Illusion is a rarity I haven’t seen in … ages.” His jaw hangs open, hand still outstretched as I bend the light again to have the raven fly to him. Willing the raven to set upon his outstretched hand, it does so. My body starts to grow weary. I haven’t expanded this much magic ever.
As he lowers his hand, the mirage quickly dissipates, the light twinkling away.
“You really are my little star, aren’t you Lady Orlah?” He’s quick to stand even closer to me, to claim me.
My body riots when he grabs my arm and tucks it into his, leading me away from the stone bench and onlookers.
Leeson jumps up from her seated position and Jessamine is quick to follow.
The only reassurance I have at this moment is my opaline dagger strapped to my thigh. The cool stone gently taps my leg with each step.
Our plan has worked and I should feel relief, but the opposite fills me. I grow more anxious with each step, praying that Leeson and Jessamine can stay with me wherever we’re going.
I look to the sky and see the moons are starting to bleed red, starting on the smaller moon.
Anticipation grates against my bones as I think of Rune searching for the leirunes.
My heart starts to beat faster and I’m worried that King Euron will feel it in the arm that he has locked in an iron grip.