Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 165618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 828(@200wpm)___ 662(@250wpm)___ 552(@300wpm)
“So what you’re saying is, she needs to dose herself with magic.”
“Baby,” he muttered.
“Even accredited witches get it wrong,” I reminded him, though I didn’t share she’d said she went to the best of the best. “You have to have heard the horror stories.”
Of which there were many (though, granted, they were usually because someone got spelled by an uncredited witch…but not all of them were).
“Maybe she can give it to me, and I can have it tested by trusted witches to see if they think it’s safe,” he suggested.
“Are you saying that male can’t access even a modicum of self-control?”
“I’m trying to find a compromise.”
“Newsflash, Your Majesty, that isn’t a compromise. That’s expecting Gayle to do all the work and giving Cormac what he wants.”
I could tell I was testing his legendary patience when he stated, “Us arguing about it doesn’t help the situation.”
I pointed to the door to the closet. “When we go to that dinner, Tanyn, I need you on my side.”
“Your side?”
“That being Gayle’s side.”
His Palm bleeped and he pulled it out, returning, “Maybe you should let your friend speak for herself.”
“With Cormac at the same table, fucking with her head by just existing?”
But I lost his attention because he was reading his Palm display.
And then he bit off, “Gods fucking dammit.”
“What is it?”
He looked at me. “It’s a message from Landing Control. Sirk Parrin is requesting permission to land at Berg Castle.”
I blinked and whispered, “What?”
“Fuck me,” Tanyn bit, and prowled out of the room.
Usually, I was good in heels.
But damn his long legs and agility, and my super tight skirt, he was outdistancing me.
Thus, I was forced to shout, “Tanyn!” when we were both in the hall, but he was quite a ways down it.
He turned, glowered at me and said, “I’ll deal with this and meet you for drinks.”
“Deal with it how?”
He didn’t answer.
He initiated his demon speed and disappeared from sight.
“Damn it! Tanyn!” I yelled.
A door opened and Aleece stuck her head out.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“I need a drink,” I announced.
And then it was me who was stalking.
Direct to the antechamber to get a drink.
It had seemed a good idea at the time.
But when the females started arriving for drinks, looking like varying versions of bombshells, with what we were facing, it turned out we were wrong.
Fortunately, when I arrived, the only beings there were Nayden, Uly and Manny.
Therefore, I was able to say, “Warning. Tanyn and I are in a tiff. He’s in the wrong, but you might not agree, because he’s being male. So don’t get your boxers in a bunch about it. We’ll work it out, but I’m mad at him.”
Uly saluted me with his glass and said, “Although I should side with my brother, I can’t find it in me with you wearing that dress.”
Manny chuckled.
“I’m sure Estra would love to hear that,” Nayden remarked.
“Estra is constantly showing me pics of Euan Seafarer and Luchen Prideblood, mostly shirtless,” Uly returned. “And she’d agree with my opinion on Catla’s dress.”
Before they could descend fully into their bro-dom, I butted in to ask, “Does anyone need a refresh on their drink?”
“Sit, luv,” Manny murmured. “I’ll get your martini.”
I didn’t demur.
I sat.
And that was the extent of the fortune that shined on us, for Bainon walked in before Manny even made the cart. Cormac wasn’t far behind him. And Aleksei and Laura came in with Zyra right after him.
I knew Laura got the treatment I did when Aleksei saw her in her metallic purple, skintight, strapless minidress, because she’d attempted to calm the sex hair (I hadn’t bothered), but she’d failed.
However, then Aleece came in wearing a dress made of champagne-gold disks that were formed in a manner that made them look like fish scales. Short sleeved, high-necked, padded shouldered, it hugged her curves lovingly and had a swing skirt that was so short, it was a centimeter away from being indecent. It also put on prominent display her long, shapely legs.
Bainon actually groaned, out loud, when she walked in.
Mm-hmm.
Take that!
But shit got real when Gayle arrived.
She was wearing an iridescent light-green dress with a high side slit, no sleeves, collared neckline with a massive keyhole opening that went from the base of her throat down to her waistline. Her lovely shoulders were on display, as was full inside cleavage, midriff and lots and lots of leg.
Her glorious chestnut hair was out to there, and the color of her dress set off the moss green of her eyes.
This made Cormac growl, “Are you serious?”
Which in turn made Gayle reply, “Yes. But are you serious?”
“I’m very serious about you putting on another dress,” he retorted.
Oh my gods!
“And I’m very serious about telling you to go fuck yourself,” Gayle fired back.
Go Gayle!
“Let’s all take a breath,” Uly tried.
“Actually, let’s not and have this shit out,” I suggested.