Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“That was different!” Addison protested. “They wanted us to get all the way naked. At least with the feasting dress on I’m still fully covered.”
“And fully exposed at the same time.” Drago allowed his eyes to drift downwards again, taking in the slinky black dress that clung to every curve and hollow. He loved the way it draped over her wide hips and thick thighs—he could just imagine dropping to his knees before her and getting his head under the black skirt of the dress. He wanted to trace her sweet pussy slit with his tongue while she moaned and tugged his hair…
"Hey, you're staring again! I thought you said you had self-control!" Addison exclaimed.
“I do.” Drago gave her an angry smirk, allowing one corner of his mouth to rise. “But since you’re determined to show yourself off to every male in this fucking palace, why shouldn’t I look too?”
“Oh, you’re impossible!” Addison covered her breasts with her arms again. “Just…go away and leave me alone!”
“You know I can’t,” he growled. “I’ve sworn to protect you, Addison. From all kinds of predators, which is exactly what that fucking Lx Sambla is!”
“Don’t start on him again!” Addison exclaimed. “If you showed me even a quarter of the interest he does, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now! But no, you have zero interest in me until I put on a sheer dress and smile at another man. Well, it’s too late now—and you don’t get to dictate who I’m interested in. You can’t—”
There was a knock on the door—interrupting what was turning out to be a really nasty fight—and the shortest lady-in-waiting came back in.
“Oh, there you are—look what I brought you!” she exclaimed, going over to Addison. She opened a flat rectangular case, exposing a sparkling necklace made of silver wire and smoky black jewels. The front of the necklace formed a pattern almost like a spider’s web, Drago thought—though he was too angry to examine it closely.
Addison’s eyes—which had been narrowed in anger—now widened with excitement.
“It’s beautiful! Thank you, Sparki!” she exclaimed and gave the shortest lady-in-waiting a big hug.
“You’re welcome. It was my grandmother’s but I want you to wear it tonight.” Sparki lifted the necklace out of its box and placed it carefully around Addison’s neck. “There—now isn’t she beautiful?” she asked, turning Addison to face Drago when she was done.
Addison looked gorgeous with the necklace draped over her chest and the tops of her full breasts, Drago had to reluctantly agree. The smoky jewels sparkled against her fair skin and made her hair look like a waterfall of flames falling over her shoulders. But he was still angry.
“She’s beautiful and she knows it,” he said shortly. “So when are we going to this fucking feast?”
“Drago! Watch your language,” Addison exclaimed. “We’re guests here!”
The shortest lady-in-waiting laughed.
“It’s all right. I was raised with brothers—I’ve heard it all. And actually, it’s time for the feast right now. Shall we go?”
Addison hooked her arm through Sparki’s and shot Drago a final glare.
“Yes, let’s get out of here.”
The two women turned to exit the bedchamber together, leaving Drago to follow along behind, still fuming. This fucking feast had better be spectacular and the ceremony afterward had better end quickly, he thought to himself. He was already fed up with the Vargan palace and all its inhabitants.
He had no idea that things were about to get much, much worse.
7
ADDIE
Sparki led them to a feasting hall that looked like it was straight out of a sword and sorcery epic. Soaring walls made of the same black stone as the rest of the palace and covered in tapestries—all of which depicted Sheelash, the spider goddess—were the first things Addie noticed. The second was the long wooden table, lit with many intricate silver candelabras, which stretched from one end of the vast hall to the other.
Seated along the table were all the most important people in Crimson Moon—at least, if the color of their hair was any indication, Addie thought. Almost all of them had stripes of platinum blonde—or “Sheelash White” as they called it—in their hair. Only a few, like Lx Sambla, had pure blonde hair.
Speaking of the Vargan ambassador, he was heading in their direction now.
“Ah, Lssa Addison, how lovely you look! I knew our native fashions would suit you,” he exclaimed. “Let me see you fully.” And taking Addie’s hand, he turned her slowly around in a complete circle so he could see every bit of her body.
Addie went along with the little display, but she couldn’t help feeling extremely naked and uncomfortable. It was different, somehow, than when Drago had been looking her up and down. She’d kind of liked the way her Protector’s golden eyes went wide…and then half-lidded with lust as he surveyed her. Though she’d tried to hide from him at first, she couldn’t deny the satisfaction she felt at finally getting the big Drake Kindred’s attention.