Page 222 of A Touch of Poison
I’d exchanged a few polite words with Lucius and his wife, who sat to one side. Questions about unCavendish and the Crown of Ashes plagued me whenever I saw him, but they were questions that had to go unasked.
From the rows of seats, a steady murmur of conversation filled the room as guests waited. Towards the back, Faolán’s bulky form stuck out, and I met his gaze. He went still, brow furrowing. Mine matched it.
This was only the second time I’d seen him since Kat had rid herself of her husband. The first had been a terse exchange, giving him orders as part of the security preparations, and Rose had given me an apologetic look after.
It felt like I was the one who should be apologising to her—she was the one caught between us, after all.
I pushed myself to give him a nod. He wasn’t to blame—not solely. And hadn’t I held on to old rules too long, myself? Childhood lessons were hard to escape.
As I continued surveying the crowd, I caught myself searching for rich red hair, even though I knew she wasn’t here yet. Force of habit.
As an offering of friendship to Dusk, Zita had asked Kat to be one of her attendants. I struggled to believe their good intentions, but Sepher told me she’d taken a liking to Kat.
There was plenty to like.
I tugged on the collar of my formal shirt, stomach dipping at the memory of Kat on her knees for me yesterday. Holding my gaze as she took my cock down her throat, she’d responded to my directions exquisitely and gone on with her own explorations until I’d erupted over her tongue.
After, perhaps high on being cured or what she’d done to me, she’d begged me to take her to a piercer. I’d sat there as she’d bared her breasts and had them pierce her nipples. She’d barely flinched as they’d pushed the needle through, but last night I’d been gentle and thorough with my ministrations, cleaning her skin and applying a healing salve.
Just when I thought I knew her and all that she was becoming, she surprised me.
I’d left her getting ready in our rooms a few hours ago, and now I burned to see her.
“You look more excited about all this than I do.” From his seat, Sepher arched an eyebrow at me. Ankle resting on his knee, he spread out, taking up the chairs either side of his.
“Aren’t you eager to see your future wife?”
His lips curled. “Not as eager as you are to see yours.”
I had to bite back a smile. Nowtherewas an idea.
This new Sepher—the one who’d been exiled from the city for years—I almost liked. If not for our shared past and divided courts, we might’ve been friends.
I let myself indulge in his suggestion. What would it be like to stand up here as the groom waiting to marry Kat? It felt warm and tight like one of her hugs—like I was safe.
The cello struck up at that moment, soon followed by harp and flute, breaking through my daydream.
I kept hold of a wisp of its disappearing form and tucked it in my heart.
Sepher flashed a wide grin and stood. “It’s time.” His hands clasped together, knuckles whitening, and for a moment I had a glimpse of the nervous excitement behind his easy façade.
I waited to one side, making space for the ceremony. I only had a small part to play in—
Every thought I’d ever had shattered.
I couldn’t draw breath.
My heart might’ve stopped.
Because at the end of the aisle stood a goddess.
Loose red hair spilled against a gown that seemed to be made of molten gold. The strapless bodice draped over her full breasts, clinging and cupping to highlight every curve, even the points of her nipples and the fresh piercings either side. It nipped in at her waist before the skirt flowed over her round hips like liquid metal.
She carried a simple bunch of white narcissi, signifying spring and growth—the potential of new beginnings. Each step revealed her thigh through the long slit, and on that glorious thigh sat a golden serpent.
This time it wasn’t onlylikeshe was mine—she truly was.
For a moment, I thought someone had added a drum to the lilting music, but it was my pulse, heavy and so, so loud it could’ve shaken the earth.
