Page 49 of Lady Knight and the Thief

17

And for the Lady, Perhaps An Aphrodisiac

Wearingafinerdressthan she had ever worn, Cypress emerged from her rooms once more. A lively, jaunty tune already vibrated the halls.

Infectious laughter roared from the lips of revelers.

The aromas drifting from the kitchens made Cypress’s stomach rumble as she retraced her steps back toward the throne room.

The dress she wore had so much of the iridescent, sage green fabric that Cypress had to hike it up in order to descend the stairs safely. The bodice of the gown was tight around her breasts and ribs, tied at her shoulders with thick velvet bows. The skirts flowed from her waist, accentuating the cut of her rib.

The worst part of the gown was the dainty straps that put her biceps on display in a way she was wholly unaccustomed to.

A crown of delicate vines was woven across her brow with a single rough-cut olivine stone set in the center. Similar gems were around Cypress’s throat and at her ears. The effect the ensemble had on her was indescribable. She felt as if–for once– she truly looked, and felt like a Lady.

When at Caelith’s Keep, mingling amongst the Ladies in something like this would have gotten her mercilessly tormented. The ladies of Caelith’s court were some of the cruelest people Cypress had ever encountered, if she were being honest. Cruel and hateful in ways Cypress could not fathom.

When she reached her destination, the throne room was full of bodies, and wine flowed freely. Servants wandered the room with trays laden with small finger foods and fruit, as well as glasses of wine, while others held an unfamiliar deep-blue liquid.

And no one paid her muscled arms a second glance.

Cypress spotted Torren easily, standing at the edge of a mezzanine, now wearing a dark, floral-embroidered coat and pants, his entire chest and stomach bare. Gold shimmered over his skin, and he now wore a crown of antlers, the points arcing around either side of his head. On anyone else, the crown would look ridiculous.

On Torren, the Prince of Faerie… The effect was… Commanding.

Cypress aimed for Torren, ducking around Fair Folk dancing to the beat of the music.

“Ah, Lady Cypress has joined us!” Torren said when he noticed her approach, drawing the eye of several people surrounding him, who nodded their heads in her direction.

“This is… quite the celebration,” Cypress said rather than scold him for the continued use of Lady Cypress.

“I told you, we love to love in Faerie.”

“I didn’t realize that meant you loved… well, all ofthis,” Cypress said, holding her arms out to indicate the festivities behind her. Even she knew that the real party hadn’t even begun.

“Don’t tell me you don’t like parties, Lass?” Torren said, pulling her arm into the crook of his elbow. Then, he led her toward a long table at the front of the room.

“Would you blame me if I said I didn’t?”

“Now, why would a pretty thing like you not enjoy parties? Is it because you threaten all your suitors' manhoods before they even ask you for a dance?” Torren asked, humor lining his every word.

Cypress elbowed him. “No, you shit. I always had to pay attention at parties.Captain, remember?”

“Yes, I remember. So you had to watch everything but never interact?”

“Essentially, yes.”

“You poor, deprived Lass. Come, sit. We’ll make sure you have fun this evening.”

“I wasn’t asking,” Cypress began, but Torren cut her off.

“Neither was I, Lass. I won’t be having you stay in my kingdom as a guest and leave one of my parties feeling as if you didn’t enjoy yourself,” he said, and pushed Cypress into an ornate, high-backed chair with deep green checkered cushions.

“You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“Consider it part of my charm,” Torren shot back, a grin plastered across his lips.

Cypress narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t have the opportunity to continue their verbal spar.