so, I’d have had to lie about being cursed, and I am many things, Rhys, but a liar isn’t one of them. Sleep well, Van Helsing,” I whispered, setting the glass on the table and leaving him to ponder my words.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I stared into the mirror, amazed and blown away by what the women working for Rhys had been able to do with my appearance. The dress he had commissioned for me was a work of art. Silver beadwork covered the corset, with a flowing bell skirt creating layers of fine silk that flowed to the floor beautifully. The only jewelry I wore was a simple silver necklace containing an infinity symbol dangling from a thin chain. It was delicate, simple, and beautiful. Rhys had dropped the necklace off earlier, and I wasn’t sure if it was for my protection or a gift. Either way, I was thankful to feel some resemblance of defense tonight.
My hair was curled and placed into an updo with a few strands left down to frame my face. Makeup was applied, but only to enhance my eyes and lips with light color since tonight wasn’t about transforming into something we weren’t. It was about freeing yourself from the constraint of the modern world.
Beltane was all about new life. It was the celebration of a man and woman coming together to create life. It was also the celebration announcing summer to the world. They lit fires to fill the world with new light while heating it with renewed warmth.
“I look like a goddess!” Nyx bounced from foot to foot in her red dress that had a deep V-line neck exposing the curves of her ample breasts. “I cannot wait for them to undress us, because I’m literally wearing nothing but panties beneath this dress!”
I swallowed, lifting my narrowing eyes to glare at her, shock filtering through my expression. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you, did he?” she winced overdramatically, even though her smile was firmly still in place.
“What didn’t he tell me?” I asked, assuming she was referring to Rhys. When she cocked her head to the side, slowly frowning, her mouth puckered into a tight line, and I groaned. “Spill it, Nyx!”
“Halfway through the night, they bare the maidens to the men. They strip us down to our undies before parading us through the courtyard. They do it so men who haven’t chosen a consort for the night can make their final choice on who to take into the forest until dawn.”
“Do they actually go into the forest?” I questioned, turning as a knock sounded at the door to my room.
“Well, no. Everyone has a room to sleep in, of course. Some will choose to go into the forest as is tradition, but pinecones in the vagina is a hard limit for some of us. Pine needles hurt in certain places, and they poke your ass as well.” She dabbed her finger against her ruby-red lips, fixing her lipstick before moving to the door, peering out into the hallway. “Your jailers are ready to escort us down,” Nyx called over her shoulder, and I exhaled a soft sigh.
I had knights escorting me everywhere since Rhys had started allowing me to move freely throughout his home. I was unable to escape them, even during mealtime. It was unnerving, but it made me feel safer while his family was here.
Moving to the door, I paused. Nyx grabbed me, turning me to face her as if she had something important to say. “You’re wearing something sexy beneath the dress, right? Like something that will knock Rhys’s dick right up to punch him in the nose?”
“It wasn’t that big of a dick, Nyx.” Swallowing, I listened as the knights choked or smothered their laughter with coughs. “Besides, he isn’t interested in me. He told me to choose a beta for tonight. That way, if I created a child tonight, he could take it. He isn’t choosing me tonight.”
“He named you the May Queen, and himself the Forest King. He basically wrote his name on your vagina, woman.” Coughing exploded outside of the room, and I stepped into the hall as my knight, Luis, smothered a laugh as he reached behind us to close the door.
“You look beautiful tonight, My Lady,” Luis said, bowing his head, which made me smile at the chivalry he was displaying.
“Thank you,” I replied, moving further down the hall. The knights surrounded us as other guests filtered from their rooms and into the hallway, making