“How was the wedding? Did you really do a sex ritual?”
“Yes.”
“Did it hurt?” she asks.
A pleasant shiver runs up my spine as I recall that night. “Only when I wanted it to.”
Aidia’s jaw drops. “I knew it. Did you have fun?”
“Once I got over the weirdness of so many people watching. But there was this whole part where he had to give me an orgasm to get a blessing from Kennymyra in this ornate bed, and I came so hard I broke their centuries-old sigil.”
“What!” The word is part shrill laugh and part gasp.
“Aidy—hush!” I glance at the door, hoping Gaven hasn’t heard her.
She smothers her laugh with a hand. “Say more immediately.”
At her urging, I give the quickest recounting of the wedding events, and she listens with her jaw progressively becoming more slack.
“Oh, he is going to fall in love,” she says. “Without a doubt. That man has no chance. You’re too beautiful for him to resist. How has the sex been since?”
I lick my lips. “We haven’t?—”
“Harlow Catherine Carrenwell! That man gave you an ancient-sigil-breaking orgasm and you haven’t fucked him again?” She points to the lingerie. “You have a closet full of the most intricate lingerie I’ve ever seen, and you haven’t used any of it.” She scoffs. “What a waste! You don’t deserve to have the best boobs in the family if you’re not going to use them to seduce our enemies.”
I stifle a laugh. “You’re right. I’m a terrible Carrenwell.”
Aidia’s bright smile slips into concern. “You promise you’re okay?”
I nod. “I did sleepwalk one night and Henry found me on the balcony in the rain. I don’t remember ever sleepwalking before.”
“You did it when we were younger, remember?” Aidia says. “You used to relive things from your day. Dance lessons once. There were a few others, but I can’t quite remember. Maybe it will come to you if you try to remember the last time you were on a balcony?”
I frown. I really don’t, but there’s a hint of desperation in her voice and her eyes are clouded.
“Aidy, can you hang in there? Just until after Dark Star Festival.”
She cocks her head to the side. “I can hold out a day longer than Rafe. Always. You know this.” Her voice is full of forced lightness. “Speaking of the monster. I should go.”
She walks back into the closet and it takes a tremendous amount of restraint to not grab her and drag her into a hug, but her ribs are probably still bruised and I don’t want to cause her any more pain.
Aidia pauses with her hand on the passageway door. “Low?” Her voice is so serious, it sends a chill through me. “Tell Henry to go down on you like he’s trying to honor the Divine again, because I’ve never seen your aura look more radiant.” She smirks at me over her shoulder.
I pull off my silk slipper and toss it at her. It hits the door as she wrenches it closed behind her.
It was good to hear her laugh—to fall back into easy teasing.
I blow out three slow breaths, but my heart hasn’t stopped pounding since I saw her bruises. The room feels too hot and stuffy.
Henry should be back any minute. If I don’t go now, I’ll lose my chance to get out.
Riffling through the dresses in my closet until I find the most indecent one I own, I slip out of my dinner dress and into the red lingerie Aidia was waving at. I slide the gown over my head, and the silk is so fine and delicate that it shows the texture of the lace below. Though the lingerie is bright, the dress is such a deep red, it looks almost black.
I tuck my feet into matching slippers and pull on my coat. Then, I sneak out the closet passageway.
40
HARLOW
