Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Before I could reply, his lips were on mine and, and my brain went meh as I couldn’t think again, so I just kissed him back.
“This is going to be a killjoy.” Ulrik’s voice drew our attention. When I looked over at him, both he and Melora were unfrozen. Ulrik pouted as he looked at me. “Sister, one of the great joys of my life is tormenting my brothers—well, anyone, but especially my brothers. If you use magic and stop me, it ruins all the fun! What am I supposed to do to keep entertained for all eternity? Besides, Theseus does not mind.”
“I very much mind,” Theseus shot back.
Ulrik went on as if he hadn’t heard him. “I break things in his hall, then he gets creative and fixes them and explores greater artistic talents. It’s a win-win for both of us. So, ease up on the magic, okay?”
“Can you fling him again?” Theseus inquired, and I thought about it.
“I think we’ve gotten enough entertainment for the day,” Melora said, grasping hold of Ulrik’s ear, who was still pouting. “Really, though, you two must get ready for the evening. Theseus, Jabari, and M’kena will pop in here within the hour.”
After saying what she wanted to say, Melora dragged Ulrik away in an instant, leaving us both in the ruined hall. Theseus looked around the hall and shook his head. They had done a lot of damage in such a short amount of time.
“Sometimes one would think Ulrik was a child trapped in the body of man,” Theseus muttered as he bent down and picked my new clothes off the ground. “I wish I could say such incidents don’t happen often, but sadly, they do with him. This palace is often a madhouse because of him.”
“I don’t mind. I like your family,” I replied, taking the clothes from his hand. “It’s lively. I don’t feel as weird here. Even though I had no clue about my magic again, but they didn’t make a big deal of it. They were not even really angry at or scared of me.”
I was so used to always being careful when I was around humans, trying not to stand out or cause issues. Here, I was kind of like Ulrik and Melora, breaking things as I went, and it wasn’t a big deal. We just moved on.
“Druella.” Theseus lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. “It is our family now—your family. There is no real anger or fear among a family. And even if there were, it would fade like a drop of blood in the ocean. You are free to be who or however you wish to be here with me.”
I nodded. “Good to know.”
“Yes, now come so we can get dressed so they do not return,” he replied, taking my hand and leading me back into the room. He paused, though, thinking. “By the way, what is a Shrek? I did not understand this reference? Is it a new one of this century?”
I just looked at him and laughed again.
Oh, yeah, I could deal with days like this. Weird but simple days.
I wanted it to stay like this.
* * *
Stunning.
I always knew that no matter what I wore, I would be stunning. So, clothes didn’t really make me feel a certain way—up till now. The dress Lucy had picked out for me in Montréal didn’t compare to the dress I wore now. It was red, bright red, with the straps hanging off my shoulders, perfectly exposing my brown skin, shoulders, and chest. The cinched waist pushed my breast up slightly more, and the slit that started at the very top of my leg and went all the way to the ground to show off my long legs made me feel like a femme fatale—as if I were about to seduce anyone who dared look at me.
In the mirror, I watched as Theseus stepped up behind me. He did not say a word. Instead, he placed a golden reef, like the ones they wore in ancient Rome, on top of my head and placed a golden necklace with forty little gold spearheads around my neck. The weight of them told me these were not costume jewelry.
“Where did you get these?” I said, reaching up to run my hand over the string of gold.
“Long ago, near the shrine of the Goddess Tyche.”
My eyebrow raised, and I glanced over my shoulder at him. “How did you get it?”
He kissed my shoulder blade. “With the help of the goddess of luck and fortune, of course.”
I shook my head. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
“Yes, you are,” he whispered as he kissed the side of my neck. “We must make this welcoming quick, for I am not yet done having my way with you.”
“And when will you be done?” I asked as I leaned against him.