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Before Lanthe’s eyes, the nymphs’ flirtation transformed to brazen desire
What would Thronos think about their interest? As they raked their gazes over him, she delved into hislustful thoughts about them and didn’t want her to know?
Dick Typical male
So this is jealousy How had Thronos lived with it for so long?
She glared daggers at the females Back off, ny that as like a gunshot triggering an avalanche of emotion
She and Thronos had literally been through hell together Act like partnersThey’d beco hile of Nereids finally sashayed away, Lanthe said, "Perhaps I should go without this top? Since the nymphs wear none, I don’t want to be overdressed"
He drew closer to her "That is not going to happen"
"You sure? You seemed as taken by them as they were by you" Jealousy sucked
His expression was inscrutable "Did I? Hed the subject "If we’ve been healed and dressed, have we escaped a fate as ‘entertainment’?"
"No, not necessarily" She didn’t need to be hissying over Thronos; she needed to be plotting "This could be part of the setup Be wary I’ve heard that if guests bore him, Nereus smites them down"
As she and Thronos neared the sounds of revelry, she squared her shoulders, feeling like she was going to a court event in Castle Tornin
Under the reign of Oues, plots, and uard could mean a stolen power--or death
She was ready for this, had been honed in a war zone like no other
Outside an arched doorway, she et hi can get in the way of escape Okay?"
"I understand" He pinned his wings as htly past his broad shoulders
"And, Thronos, this sea god considers hiot to roll with it"
"Of course," he said, even as he draped an arm over her shoulders "Lead the way"
They stepped into the hall to find the feast in full swing The area was resplendent with shirass Pearls the size of bowling balls adorned the walls and ceilings There were ed from theuests were in attendance Their species ran the Lore gas--but none from the air
In addition to the mercreatures, she saw selkies with their seal-skin coats, tree nyremlins scurried about underfoot Lanthe even spotted a no-nosed fuath--one a an evil species of water spirits It had webbed feet, a blond, shaggy mane down its back, and a spiked tail
They all looked wasted
The dining table was ilass surface laid over coral tubes The chairs were uests Others danced and played instrunal their arrival, announcing them as "Melanthe of the Deie Sorceri, Queen of Persuasion, and Prince Thronos of Skye Hall and all Air Territories"
"Welcouests!" a male called froly tall His long red hair and beard were streaked through with blond He wore only the botto the brawny muscles of his oiled chest, arms, and shoulders Gold bands encircled his beefy biceps
His ereen eyes roved over her with such intensity that Thronos’s arhtened around her
Nereus waved them over On the surface, he seemed in a joyous aze, so that turned his handsome mien alht sreeted Melanthe and Thronos, all the revelers stared
Though not as intently as Nereus hiled Thronos’s mate!
Out of the corner of her mouth, she said, "Just s to a single ured this was another cultural reference he didn’t understand
The entire trek here, he’d worked to re her breaking point Perhaps she had been, but no longer
Now she looked like a knight about to enter a fray: focused, confident, yet aware of the stakes
"Join me here," Nereus called At the far end of the table, he pointed to a pair of chairs just to the right of his throne
Why would he seat them in such a place of honor?
The festivities ra was strangely relaxing, but Thronos knew he needed to stay sharp
He assessed his environs Exits: only the doorway and floor cutouts Adversaries: unknown So he’d consider every single being a potential enees: they were deep beneath the ocean, not exactly his preferred battleground A week ago, he would have said this was his worst night his th of the table, Thronos worked to limit his limp--in hostile situations, opponents always scouted for weaknesses Though his arued hiuests were already seated, soas, their heads decorated reaths
Thronos counted himself lucky to be dressed in traditional Vrekener attire
At some sections of the table, water-filled tanks had been pulled up for the cooblets Though the tanks were transparent, tentacles groped orprobed
That’s just not right But Thronos showed no reaction
Farther down the table was even more lechery Nymphs perched across knees or astraddle lass tabletop The way one nyured the male had to be inside her, concealed by her sea-foam skirt
Melanthe cast hi he couldn’t handle the iniquity of these scenes After Inferno, he was growing more accustolances at her How could they not? None of the females here could hold a candle to his She was a sensual sorceress, blessed with unes Her glossy braided hair shone in the hall’s light Her eyes were sky blue behind her arments in the Territories Coasoe, Melanthe appeared al was relative--a startling realization for an all-or-nothing thinker to have
Nereus told the crowd, "Everyone, partake heartily of libations, feast on rich foods, and fill my hall with merriment!"
Melanthe murmured to Thronos, "Libations? Rich foods and merriment? In other words, this is your special kind of hell" She made him sound like a killjoy She’d called him a killjoy
He could be merry if he wanted If it was so bloody iistered in this hall, he beca" would never be a favorite activity He was used to action, used to searching for Melanthe