Bride of the Traitor (The Prophecy of Sisters #1) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,17
you what she wants you to see. Perhaps she hides her true self from you.”
I still at his words. He could be correct. I debate telling him, but decide that he must know. “She used her mouth on me, cousin. Never… a lady?” I shake my head before I continue. “Never has a maid offered that, not unless visiting a frauenhaus and even then, you know as I do, that not every woman performs this.”
Merek clears his throat, taking a step back, most likely in surprise. “This she offered, cousin?”
“Freely, Merek.”
He frowns, his eyes searching mine.
“We need another witch, maybe one more powerful than Aleida, just to ensure that this woman, is indeed, human. I have heard tales of a woman of the crystal with extreme powers in Kelna.
“Also, find a geographer. I want to know if anyone has heard of these places she’s mentioned. I am very intrigued by her, extremely so.”
Merek chuckles, his lips turning up into a smirk. “I bet you are.”
“She joins us for sup, you’ll not mention this conversation.”
“Indeed, I will not.” He grins.
“Rowan and Henry will guard her until I feel she is not here with ill-intent.”
“And you will guard her evenings, I assume?”
It’s my turn to smirk. “I will. Though, I must admit with how drawn I am to her, it will be naught but my pleasure to entertain her.”
Merek and I both chuckle before I dismiss him to find not only a geographer, but also a powerful witch, in the neighboring town, only half a day’s ride from Aerilon. He’ll be back by the morrow, hopefully with the witch at his back.
Whoever and whatever this Sybilla is, I want it discovered. I will not be my father and make the same mistakes, being a traitor to my people for my own selfish gains. I am a knight, a warrior, and naught has, nor ever will, best me.
Chapter Six
SYBILLA
Jasmine enters a few moments after Elias has left me in nothing but the paper-thin undergarment in the middle of his bed. To her credit, Jasmine doesn’t show even an ounce of surprise at the way that I’ve been found.
Instead, she snaps her fingers to the other women and they begin to put me all back together again. My breath hitches as they tighten the dress and I debate asking them some questions, and decide to just go ahead and ask.
“Whose dress is this?”
Jasmine freezes behind me. Ellyn makes a noise in the back of her throat, at the same time Katrina’s hands freeze in my hair. None of them answer me and it causes my heart rate to pick up and my body starts to feel hot.
I’m imagining it’s the woman who was kidnapped before me and Elias probably killed her or something, needless to say, my imagination runs completely wild as they freeze without saying a single damn word.
“Girls?” I whisper.
Jasmine, as obviously the woman in charge, is the first to snap herself out of her shock. She jerks her body, her eyes lifting to mine in the small mirror’s reflection.
“This was the dress, as are the others that have been placed in the Queen’s quarters, of the previous king’s paramour.”
Blinking, it takes me a moment to register the word that she’s just used. “Do you mean his mistress?” I hiss.
Jasmine’s eyes shift to the side, then come back to meet mine. “Yes, madam.”
“But not Elias’?”
Ellyn is the one who answers me. “Oh no, Miss Sybilla. King Elias is not the same sort as his father. Well… at least we didn’t think he was.” She realizes her words and immediately lifts her hand to cover her gasp.
Pressing my lips together, I realize that she thinks of me as the same. As some kind of mistress and I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Is Elias married?” I almost demand.
“Nay, madam, he is not. Ellyn has spoken out of turn. I can have her whipped if you would like,” Jasmine offers, her face appears as though she would like anything but that to happen.
Shaking my head, I release my pressed lips. “No, I would not like that. I wish that the three of you would please speak candidly with me. I don’t know anyone here. I also don’t know the rules, what’s normal and what isn’t. I’m completely lost,” I admit on a whisper.
Even if this is some kind of cosplay kidnapping thing, no matter how I got here, I am indeed completely lost.
“Will you do that for me, please?” I ask, pleading, almost begging.