From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 81

Chapter 81

1 brush one of the stones with my fingers.

“I want you to wear it tonight, ruby queen.”

His hands vanish completely from my body, and in the blink of an eye, Cassian is gose–leaving me with a racing heart, swollen lips, and my naked body sitting on the vanity.

I stroke the ruby again between my fingers and turn to look at myself in the mirror–pale where the explosion of color decorates my neck.

I don’t have much time to think about what just happened, much less to regret it.

Naida and Clarissa burst into my room, as always ready to work their magic with their hands on me,

I’m sure Cassian has everything to do with this

“Good morning, mixa,” Clarissa sings.

1 see her with her lips pressed into a trembling line and her cheeks flushed from trying not to laugh.

What is it” 1 ask.

She bursts into laughter, and Naida–more animated than the last time I saw her–approaches ine, making faces and odd hand gestures.

“Oh, I’m Gavin’s enemy? I hate that wicked vampire!”

I cover my face with my hands and stifle a groan of frustration

The whole dann castle knows, and no one plins to let it go.

“Did you hate him before or after he carried you through the castle!” Clarissa accuses

“I’m not going to talk about this with you two.”

They look at each other and shrug, unconcerned.

“You’ll come to us eventually”

“Is that a threat!”

“It’s a fact–women talk.”

Naida gives a playful cap on my shoulder.

“And the experience with a vampire is one worth sharing

“Do you happen to know something about that?” I reply accusingly, narrowing my eyes.

Her cheeks flush, and she looks away.

Suspicious.

Clarissa comes to the rescue, sends Naids off to the wardrobe, and takes her usual place behind me.

Thank goodness she gives me a bit of time to cover up again.

She wears a smile full of warmth, and despite the embarrassment I just felt, Eknow neither of them is going to judge me.

They probably, more than most, understand that there are things you can’t light–and when your life is going to unfold permanently within these walls, you can’t help but live and seek out the experiences you would have if your life were fully your own

That makes me wonder–what twists in my chest, is it real, or just something born of the need to feel!

fear the answer is clear.

Under normal circumstances, Cassian and I would have always been enemies.

“Seems like tonight is going to be a little special for you, Clarissa comments.

What do you mean!”

12:22 PM c d

Chapter 81

“I have the feeling that Cassian doesn’t intend to take you as just a feeder,

I’d dare say you’re going as his companion

“What makes you think that?”

“1 quote, directly from his mouth: “Elars already shines on her own, but tonight I want her to blind everyone who looks at her. Can you make that happen?

“Well, that doesn’t have to mean anything

Clarissa rolls her eyes and resumes her task.

Between the three of us, a comfortable silence settles, only interrupted by small comments about my preferences for tonight and the soft clatter of their tools.

They slide a beautiful white dress over me, pull the laces in the back until my breasts peek generously, and I’m surprised to see it’s one of the few dresses that isn’t as floury as the ones I wear daily.

They cover my hands with gloves that go above the elbows, fasten matching earrings to my ears that go with the blood–red ruby necklace, and before I leave, they drape a white fur cape over my shoulders.

A quick glance in the mirror reveals that everything is designed to make the red of the jewels pop.

“It’s beautiful. I manage to say.

I’m completely captivated by the shine of the gems and the contrast with my skin, my hair pinned up to reveal my neck, and my gray eyes that seem to hold the clouds of a stormi

“You’re beautiful–will you believe me now!

“Maybe another day”

I smile and wave goodbye to them, then clutch the cape to my chest,

I descend the steps carefully and am surprised to see Cassian at the foot of them, waiting for me.

He always was inside the carriage.

“I see your maids took my words very seriously

He bites has lower lip with a fang.

“You look like the sin I’d commit over and over again, Elara”

I don’t need a mirror to know the color of my checks right now

I try to suppress the small smile threatening to curve my lips and slide my gloved hand over his

He doesn’t take his eyes of me–not when he helps me into the carriage, and not when we begin the ride

We’ve been bumping along the road for a while, sitting across from each other.

I don’t know if it’s that or the dress that’s making it hard to breathe.

“You can’t breathe,” Cassian says, as if he read my thoughts.

“I’m fine.” I smile faintly to downplayi

“Will you tell me what’s expected of me tonight? Where exactly are we going?“.

“Tonight there’s a celebration hosted by one of our kind–a Pureblood of lower rank, but known for throwing great parties.”

“Is there a special

occasion!”

“You don’t know!” He arches a brow, his eyes never ceasing to warm my skin.

“Tonight marks the signing of the Treaties

It’s been four hundred years? Or was it five hundred I’ve lost count.”

2.4

Chapter 81

“That still dorint answer my first question.

You’re my companion, therefore I want you with me.

“With y

you?

“All night.”

That means he won’t vanish from my side at the first opportunity, leaving me alone among people I don’t know, nor will he only corne looking for me when he needs a sip of my blood

“Have you grown tired of ignoring me?”

“I told you I never

I never ignored you,” he huffs. “I was doing what I had to do to keep my sanity”

Again, that breathlessness

I think in has more to do with him than this beautiful but uncomfortable dress

“Turn around”

What? Why?”

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