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Slowly, I lifted my arms—holding them out to my sides as if ready to receive my lover—and began to dance.
Drop, turn, twist. I wined and gyrated my hips, dancing like a snake under a charm. Slowly I spun, gifting him a view of every naked inch of me. If only I had skipped getting men thrown out of windows, and went straight to the companions. No one could stand strong against this dance. I fell half in lust with Honora while she taught me.
Eat your shriveled, removed heart out, Alisdair.I bent at the waist, shaking my ass for his benefit.Two can play at the game of love and lust. You’re mine. Your love will be mine—
A noise sounded behind me, snapping me up and twisting me around.
Alisdair clamped hard on his mouth, but he couldn’t keep it in. Dam breaking, Shadowsoul burst out laughing.
Loud, bed-shaking, eye-watering, chest-wracking guffaws split his sides and threw his head back. He howled so hard and loud, he couldn’t breathe.
Humiliation flooded my body and cheeks, lighting my face on fire. “You bastard!” Whipping around, I lit on the nearest weapon, and flung it at his head.
SOFT, TSKING, GROWLYchuckles sounded a continuous chorus—as did my grinding teeth.
Alisdair and I found ourselves in the newly remolded throne room the next morning. I wore a fixed glare, and he sported a large, purpling bruise on his forehead, courtesy of the candelabra.
A line of peasants beheld their cold, evil king with wide eyes. The man before them was bruised, relaxed, and laughing his ass off.
“My lord?” Aeris stood two paces back, as if wary of getting too close. “You’re in a good mood today.”
“I am indeed,” he crowed, shooting me a grin. My balled fist ached to punch it in. “I was treated to a show last night—best I’ve seen in ages. Would you all like to see it too?”
I stiffened as murmurs and yeses went around the room.
Alisdair turned that blinding smile on me. “My queen, would you do us the honor of treating us all to a dance? It’ll surely brighten the day ahead.”
I glared at him through the narrowed slits that were my eyes. “No, thank you,” I gritted. “I’d much rather show them my candelabra-throwing skills. I’ve gotten quite good at it. I beat the target to death every time.”
Alisdair laughed out loud, as always, unconcerned by my threats.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Frowning, I twisted in my seat.What is that?It sounded like a heartbeat, but how could it be? How could it be Shadowsoul’s? I’d believe he’d hide his heart behind a magical wall in his castle, but he wouldn’t put it back in his rotted chest, or cart it around the throne room. Was I imagining things, or...?
I pressed the heel of my palm to my thrumming heart. Was this about my curse, and not his?
“You seek permission to divorce?” Alisdair repeated, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Must it come to that? Why not tempt your wife with a dance of seduction? Works every time.”
I hated him.
By some Meya-blessed miracle, I made it through court without killing him. The minute I was released, I took off in the opposite direction of the war room, gritting my teeth against the searing pain lancing my ankle off at the bone.
“Fox Boy? Fox Boy?” I limped through the dungeons of the east wing, knowing behind one of the doors was a siren. Who knew what other secrets these doors concealed? “Is there a littlefox boy down here? Come out or call to me. I won’t hurt you. I want to get you out of here.”
I screamed up and down the dungeon, then hobbled upstairs to scream through the servants’ quarters. Yes, screamed. The growing pain in my leg wouldn’t let me do anything else, but I didn’t care. I was finding the boy and we were getting the fuck out of this place. Alisdair would never love me. The beast was incapable of love! Let him rot in this frozen wasteland, cursing the little bird who flew away.
“Fox B—”
“Lady Ana?” Aeris appeared at the end of the hallway. “What are you doing? You must be in agony! You need to return to my lord’s side at once.”
“Fuck him!”
She tutted, giving me a knowing look. “Here, let me help you.”
I was in too much pain to stop her putting my arm around her shoulder and leading me off.
“What’s happened, Lady Ana? Have you given up making our lord fall in love with you already?”
