“That’s not necessary.” Veses glanced down at the small draken trying to peek around me. I moved, shielding Reaver. He was far too young to see all that Veses had going on. “I’m not here to see Nyktos.”
Fear. Rhain’s eyes widened, and I thought I saw fear in them. “But—”
Veses flicked a finger.
Rhain went skidding backward, out of the chambers and into the hall. That was all it took—a move of her finger. “You can take him with you,” she said, and Ector’s unconscious body went sliding across the floor and out into the hall, as well. “He should wake up… I think.”
Rhain pushed off—
The doors slammed shut, one of them hanging crookedly from the frame. They’d broken when she threw Ector through them, but I doubted anything but another Primal was getting through them now.
“What do you hear?” Veses asked. “It’s silence, isn’t it?”
Utter silence. No one banged on the doors. There were no more pounding footsteps.
“At least Rhain remembers his place. Perhaps he’ll remind Ector of his when he wakes,” she continued. “And maybe I will forgive him for his grave overstep and for standing between me and…” That smile returned, but it was mocking. “You.” She shook her head.
“Do you know he actually drew his sword on me?” Veses laughed as my eyes widened. “What was he thinking? Striking out against me when you’re not Nyktos’s Consort.”
Shit.
What was Ector thinking?
Feeling that Reaver was still behind me, I swallowed. “Maybe his sword slipped and fell into his hand.”
Veses laughed again, a full-body laugh that shook parts of her I shouldn’t be able to see. “I’m not sure. But perhaps Nyktos will be able to convince me of such.”
I didn’t let myself respond. I didn’t even bat an eyelash.
“You know, I couldn’t believe it when he told me the rumors were true.” Kohl-lined eyes drifted over me in a way that made me painfully aware of how I must appear in the robe with my hair looking like I’d been caught in a windstorm. “What little he did say about you left me confused.” Laughing softly, she began to prowl. And that was exactly how she moved. Like the large, striped tigers that roamed the drylands of Irelone. She sat on the couch, draping her arms along the back as she crossed one leg over the other. “Sera? That’s your name, is it not?”
“It is.”
“Well, it’s Seraphena, to be exact,” she said, and unease blossomed. Had she been to Dalos? And had Kolis spoken of me? Or Hanan? “I thought we should have a little chat, Seraphena.”
I flicked a glance at the doors. “About?”
“Many things.” Her smile remained. “Don’t worry. I doubt we will be interrupted. Rhain will find it a bit difficult to make his way to Nyktos. At least, for a little while.”
I couldn’t let myself think about exactly how Veses had ensured that.
“How did you become his Consort?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“As I said, he spoke very little of you.” Her eyes glittered as if made of gray diamonds. “Of course, I’m dying with anticipation to learn how.”
Too bad that wasn’t a literal statement. “We met in the mortal realm. I was swimming in a lake when he stumbled upon me.”
Pale, pink-tipped fingers splayed across the back cushions. “And?”
“And we spoke.”
“That can’t be all.”
“It wasn’t.”
Veses went so still, I wasn’t sure her chest moved for one breath—and I thought I’d know, since I could see straight through her gown. “Do tell.”
“I think you must already know since I’m here,” I said, angling my body so Reaver stayed behind me.
“Actually, I do.” Veses shifted, drawing her elbows to her thighs and resting her chin in her cupped hands. The fact that she actually looked even more stunning was highly displeasing. “Which is how I know you are…lying.”
“I’m not lying.” I held her stare.
She laughed. “But so was Nyktos.” Eyes glowing faintly with essence narrowed slightly. “I suppose it makes sense.”
“What does?” I reached down, blocking Reaver as he started to inch around my legs.
Her smile returned, a tight slash of berry. “That he would take a freckled and fat Consort.”
My brows shot up so far on my forehead I wouldn’t have been surprised if they hit the ceiling. The insult was so pathetic, I couldn’t feel anything but disappointment. I’d expected better from a Primal.
“Your hair is lovely, though, I’ll give you that. And”—she rolled her eyes—“your face is pleasant enough, I suppose, even with the freckles.”
“Thanks.” I drew out the word.
Veses smirked. “But then again, you are his Consort in title only, correct?”
Prickly heat scalded my skin, causing my throat and face to flush. It was the truth. But he had told her that? There was no other way for her to know. That shook the box inside me free enough that I felt a quick jab of pain… It stung like it had upon seeing them together in his office.
“Oh.” Her eyes widened as she pressed slender fingers to the base of her throat. “I’m sorry—”
“What are you apologizing for?” I cut in, sealing myself off. “You didn’t say it.”
“True, it wasn’t me. It was your soon-to-be husband. That’s gracious of you to acknowledge,” she said, and I almost laughed. Not for one second did I believe she thought that. Thick, dark lashes lowered. “Did he tell you about me? About us?”
I stiffened. “He did.”
Eather-filled eyes lifted to mine. The essence wasn’t the only thing brimming in them. So was eagerness. The cruel kind that I’d often seen in Tavius’s stares. “What did he say?”
“He didn’t say much, to be honest,” I said, even as I told myself to be quiet. To not needle this Primal. To not taunt her with her own words. That voice went largely ignored. “It was my turn to be confused. You see, I saw you when you were here last. I saw how beautiful you are. But all he has said about you is that you’re the worst sort.”
“Did he say that?” Gravel replaced the velvet in her voice.
“He did.” And he had at one time, so it wasn’t a lie.
Her lips thinned. “Nyktos does have a poetic way of speaking of the women in his life, doesn’t he?”
A short, dry laugh escaped me. “That he does.”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“Does it bother you?” I asked in return.
Golden ringlets slid over her chest as she tipped her head. “I’m not the one who will become his Consort.”
“So, is that what bothers you? That it’s me, freckled and fat, who will? And not you?”
“Come now.” She rose with fluid grace. “I am a Primal. I can be no Consort.”
“But you could still be his wife. You want him,” I said. “Obviously.”
“Want him?” Veses moved closer, stirring Reaver. I reached behind me, grasping his hand. His talons pressed lightly into my skin. “My dear, I already have him.”
The sharp twist in my stomach and chest sickened me. “Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?”
She shrugged. “Well, since your future with Nyktos includes me, I figured we could get to know each other better.”
Acid pooled in the back of my throat. “My future with Nyktos has nothing to do with you.”
“Is that what you think?” Veses’ laugh was as brittle as dry bones this time.
“That’s what I know.”