“Right,” she said, muffled by his stubble as she climbed his throat with her lips. “You could do that.”
“I should do that,” he whispered, his fingers tightening their grip on her hips as her lips brushed against his earlobe. “As,” he warned.
“You know,” she said between nips of his skin, even warmer than usual as blood rushed to the surface at her touch. “I could still be your queen yet.”
He did not speak, but a quick release of his breath encouraged her.
“Perhaps I should remind you of your duty?” She tangled her hand into his thick curls, pulling to the right and exposing more of his neck to her. His eyes closed against the pressure, hands clenching into fists against the soft fabric of her dress.
A smile tugged at his lips. “And how might I prove my loyalty to my queen?”
A scarlet ripple curled around his heart, beckoning her to press her fingers tighter around his throat as she ran her teeth along his jaw.
“On your knees, Commander.”
Luxuros did not hesitate to hit the floor, the cobblestones of the cellar cracking against his knees as he crawled his hands over her thighs, prepared to worship her in any way she saw fit.
We’re in the library. Ameera’s voice interrupted the tightening spiral in her belly as she threaded her fingers through his curls.
“Godsdammit,” Astra huffed.
Luxuros gazed up at her, full lips parted, a purple disappointment rippling through his chest.
“Go,” he sighed, rising to his feet. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, caressing the pout that formed as he glanced at the stairs.
“I’ll return in a few days. I can properly worship you then, my queen.”
Astra tapped her finger against the soft velvet of Ehlaria’s novel, watching her sister as she scanned the Shadow Bargaining manual in the back corner of Lunaria’s library.
Maidens hovered, but most knew they were out of luck when it came to intriguing gossip between Ameera, Astra, and Lunelle. Anything even remotely sensitive would travel between them in silence.
The halls of the library rose over them, glass ceilings bare to the Moon and her cohorts. Astra counted the stars she could name as she tried to take her mind off what she was missing in the distillery.
You know, I always thought Selenia had a strange coldness to her, Lunelle sent across the table.
Astra nodded. I said the same thing. I don’t want to give too much credit to Ivonne, but she may have been onto something.
“I found a few more notes in this journal,” Ameera said quietly, flipping open a navy-bound volume overflowing with elegant script. Prayers, incantations, and diary entries fell off the pages. “This one in particular was interesting.”
Astra stood over Lunelle’s shoulder to read.
Cycle Day 28
Wolf Moon 2,486
The queen has finally enacted her revenge for Spring’s argument. This month’s funding was three-quarters of the typical allotment. She cited the need for more military protection along the Rift as the cause, but I’m certain it’s a reprimand for daring to question her mother’s motives.
Ellume will pay the price for Selenia’s bloodlust.
“I saw her at The Flare,” Astra whispered. “Selenia.”
Ameera turned to her, a twisted violet flooding the walls of her lungs. “You didn’t?—”
Leona and Solan were Tethered, she sent to Ameera, and then to Lunelle, both responding with the same sharp gasp.
Lunelle’s lips tightened into a line as Ameera asked, “How did you?—”
“I went within,” Astra whispered. “You can spare me the lecture. The commander already gave me an earful.”
