Page 81 of The Rat King
At my agreement, she straightened and took my jaw in her hands. “Thank you,” she said, and gave me a long, lingering kiss.
When she pulled away, she asked, “How long do I have until you’re gone again?” A mischievous smile lit her face, and she ground her pelvis down onto my swollen cock.
My dark chuckle rang through the garden as I slid my hands up her thighs, lifting the layers of her skirt so I could get to her firm ass. “We have more than enough time for me to show you how very much I missed you.”
Chapter 58
Avery
TonightIwouldgreetRas alhague formally as its queen, for the second time. Jetta and I had been over every list a hundred times and there was nothing left to do but get ourselves ready.
Jetta came out from behind a screen in her room, which we’d turned into a full-blown dressing room, even going as far as stringing lights around the full-length mirror we’d brought in. I waggled my eyebrows at her breasts, which were currently defying gravity in the gown that we had designed for her.
“Wowzers,” I said, and she adjusted them, so they’d stay put.
I finished filling in my eyebrows and went to slip on my dress. When I came back, Jetta dragged me in front of the mirror. “Damn,” I said. “We look good.”
Her gown was a deep red satin, with a balconette style bodice, a belted waist, and hugged her hips, running straight down to her ankles where her nude strappy heels were exposed by a single slit which ran to mid-thigh. Attached to the wide shoulder straps holding up the top, was a matching cape which brushed the floor. I talked her into doing a heavy, smokey eye, and nude-pink lipstick which I had to create by blending several shades from her palette of makeup from this plane. Her dark hair was pinned back on the sides and ran straight down her back. She was giving off futuristic commander vibes, and I loved it.
I, on the other hand, was channeling Guinevere energy. Lush navy velvet crisscrossed my chest and sat off my shoulders, so my glowing décolletage and upper back were exposed. Each strip of the velvet was trimmed with gold stitching and the sleeves were past my fingertips, but a large slit ran up the center to my inner elbow. The bodice hugged my curves and low on my hips, I wore a braided gold rope belt. The skirt flowed gently down to my feet, and to make the dress a little more modern, the front panel was unattached and two large slits came to my upper thigh similar to the skirt I wore earlier in the week. I had to show off my new boots. The shiny gold grommets carried the theme through, matching the gold crown which sat upon my head.
My hair was half up, and the loose strands floated in gentle waves over my shoulders. I kept my makeup simple and natural, relying on the warmth of my skin and the pink and peach color palette I had selected, and only a dusting of gold glitter on my eyes.
“Of course, we do,” she said, grinning at her reflection before her eyes caught on mine. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said, and she shot me a frown that said,liar. “It’s only that half of these people still probably hate me for murdering Xavier.”
“But you didn’t murder him, and the talk of your heroic defense of yourself has been circulating,” she said, winking. I’d heard murmurs of this, and I knew my friend had started the rumor. “Besides,” she continued. “I think you’ll find people are more curious than anything.”
“Yeah, but I’m still nervous. What if I get cornered by someone who really liked him, therefore really dislikes me?” I asked. She turned to me, taking my hands in hers. I felt my face blanch. “Like that lover of his, Olive. I told you about her, right? I caught her complaining about me to Leviticus and the kitchen staff, and essentially had to ask her to leave the castle. She was still living here.”
“You didn’t tell me that, but I’m aware of her, as are many of the Ladies who will be attending tonight as she tended to proudly overshare about her affair with the newly risen king. From what I heard, she’ll be attending on the arm of a lower lord who, in an attempt to gain status for himself, and misinterpreting any importance she might have gained from her former liaison, has taken her as a lover.”
I raised a curious eyebrow. “Interesting,” I said, though the story was not fully disposing of my worry.
Jetta shook my hands, squeezing. “Trust me, no one would dare say anything. The worst you’ll get will be a sideways glance which will be quickly hidden. I’ll be near and make sure to show you who to steer clear of. And once I introduce you to my friends, everyone will know not to mess with you.”
Her sly smile gave me the impression I was about to be inaugurated into this plane’s version of a bitch pack which was perfect as far as I was concerned. Having a group of women who had my back would feel really good. The thought excited me so much that a pang of melancholy hit me as I thought of the witches in my coven I’d enjoyed a close friendship with growing up. Yes, that would definitely be welcome.
“I’m in,” I told her.
She spun me back to the mirror. “I mean look at you. You deserve to feel as confident as you look, my queen,” she said.
“Thanks, my friend,” I said, and she nodded.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Let’s do this,” I said.
Butterflies danced in my stomach as we made our way to the Great Hall. According to Jetta, everyone who was anyone would be here.
The guests would be arriving through massive wood entry doors at the long end of the hall. Once they were gathered and Leviticus made an official announcement, Nighval and I, along with Jetta, Link, and Eshan, would enter through a discreet door beyond the dais at the opposite side of the room. We rounded the corner, and I caught sight of my husband. Our motion drew his attention from the conversation he was having with the warlocks, and his eyes tracked up and down my figure, landing on my boots. I knew it was unconventional, and I loved designer heels as much as the next girl, but these just made me feel powerful. And I needed to feel that way tonight. When the corner of Nighval’s lips tipped up, my stomach swirled for an entirely different reason.
“You like?” I asked.
He nodded and approached me, bending down to place a gentle kiss on my neck. As he did, his hand slipped inside one of the panels and grazed against the warm skin of my thigh, giving me goosebumps.
“I like this a lot,” he said, his hot breath tickling my neck. “You look like a queen.Myqueen.”
