their flesh gleam.
They began to dance. Fog clung to them or dashed away as if it were dancing, too. Some of the dancers were human, some were nymphs, some centaurs, and some were an unknown species, but they all moved with a fluidity that made every leap, sway, and dip mesmerizingly graceful. Soon, the dance took an explicit turn as the dancers began pleasuring themselves and each other with inventive, uninhibited gusto.
Phanes leaned toward me. “Beautiful, are they not?”
“They are,” I replied.
He settled back into his chair. “Pick one. Or pick several. Or pick all of them. Whatever you desire.”
My brows rose. “Pick them for what?”
“Pleasure.” He spoke as if the answer were obvious. “They are the most skilled lovers you will ever find, barring only myself, of course.”
It took all my willpower not to roll my eyes. First, Phanes plied me with excessive pampering, then enough food to choke a horse, and now, he was offering me my own harem. Never let it be said that he did anything by half measures.
“Thank you,” I said in as appreciative a tone as I could manage. “But you know what I came here for, and it isn’t that.”
He leaned in, an odd intensity in his gaze. “Very well. Then, tell me what you think about the play. It will begin soon.”
The music increased in tempo. The dancers matched the new pace until their movements were almost a blur. Then, with a crescendo that thrummed through me like an artificial heartbeat, the dance came to an abrupt, dazzling end.
Everyone applauded. Then, Phanes clapped his hands, and there was instant silence. The fog around the stage rose, covering the dancers.
Phanes clapped again. The fog cleared, revealing the stage. The dancers were gone, and a temple appeared to loom in the distance, with people and creatures of all types frolicking in a village in front of the temple. No surprise, the frolicking soon turned erotic.
I fought a sigh. I had no interest in watching another orgy, let alone one with a Fifty Shades of Centaurs subplot, but Phanes apparently didn’t offer any other form of entertainment.
Ian wouldn’t be bored. He’d be taking notes, my other half thought with more amusement that I had believed her capable of.
She was right, and it only made me miss him more.
It hurt to dwell on that, so I concentrated on the play. Thankfully, the orgy was soon interrupted by a new actor and actress who were clearly playing the part of villains. The actress had fake, frost-coated wings, and she froze several of the revelers in place with a mime of a deadly ice storm. The actor scattered the remaining revelers with a mock earthquake that destroyed the temple. Then, the evil duo set up a new temple, and the remaining revelers now had yokes on them and looked miserable as they mimed serving their new rulers.
A new actor swooped onto the stage wearing large, fake golden wings. He began vanquishing the villains to cheers from the villagers. By the play’s conclusion, the villains were in cages in a dark pit, and the actor who was clearly representing Phanes ascended to a duplication of Mount Olympus. When the fog finally rose to cover the stage, the audience broke into wild applause.
I clapped, too, since it was only polite. Once the applause died down, Phanes turned to me.
“What did you think, my lovely one?”
That having an entire play performed to praise you is so arrogant, even Vlad Dracul would tell you to tone it down.
I didn’t say that, of course. I just replied, “I’m overwhelmed,” which was also the truth.
He leaned in so close that his lips brushed my ear. “Once, before the Great Flood, I saved your world from the cruel deities ruling it. Now, I can give you more riches, pleasure, and protection than you’ll ever need. That’s why your father honored me by betrothing me to his future seed. He wanted you to be with a worthy mate. I am that mate, Veritas.”
It took everything to keep my smile frozen in place, let alone keep my other nature from showing her opinion of being referred to as “future seed.” Phanes came from an era where family-arranged marriages were the norm, and where offering to buy my affection with jewels, orgies, and protection was probably a compliment.
“You’re a very worthy mate,” I told Phanes, which was what he wanted to hear. Then, I kissed him.
He was so startled, he didn’t react for a full three seconds. Not