Wait. What?
“There was also a branch from an oak tree.” Her pointy chin lifted, and light glanced off the gold shimmer of a sharp cheek. “I am not sure what one is supposed to do with a branch, other than mourn the senseless violence against the tree.” She paused, glancing over at the Primal.
Kolis was, yet again, staring at me.
She cleared her throat. “Kraig, with a…” She frowned. “With a K, wished only to speak poetically and at great length about his devotion to His Majesty, leaving a—”
“Enough,” Kolis barked, startling both the goddess and me. “Excuse me.” He rose, looking at me. “I will return shortly.”
The goddess turned from where she sat perched on one of the chairs, watching Kolis stalk from the chamber. Then she looked at me.
I shrugged.
Long, glossy hair slid over her shoulder as she cocked her head. Drawing her plump, red lip between her teeth, she glanced at the open door, and a hint of mischief flickered across her pretty face. Her form-fitting gown slid down the length of her long legs as she stood. Lowering the parchment to her side, she approached the cage. Well, approached was too tame a word to describe how she moved.
The goddess prowled, clearly aware of how well the gown complemented her curves.
She came to a stop a foot from the bars. Under the softer glow of the light where I was, I saw that her gown was about as good at concealing her body as mine and all the gowns I’d seen the other goddesses wear.
And I could safely say that her breasts were quite perky.
She grinned as she saw where my attention had gone. “Do you like them?” she asked, her tone softly teasing. “I like yours. Perhaps not as much as dear Kraig with a K likes His Majesty, but I do find them quite enjoyable to look upon.”
I raised my brows, oddly entertained by the goddess. Her amber eyes were light, and she didn’t stare at me like the others.
Not that she didn’t look at me as if she wanted some alone time with no bars between us, because she did. But she didn’t leave my skin feeling like it was trying to detach itself from my body.
I quickly glanced at the doors, not seeing Elias or the other guards stationed out there. “What kingdom was this Sun Temple in?”
Surprise flickered across her face. “Oh, she speaks,” the goddess remarked, and my spine stiffened. “None have done so before.”
At the mention of Kolis’s other favorites, my amusement rapidly began to fade.
“But you are…different,” she added, lowering her voice. “There are rumors about you, you know. That you are the Shadowlands’ Consort.”
A prickly sensation rippled over my skin as I stared at her. This was the first indication beyond Phanos and Attes that others knew who I was, or what they may be thinking regarding my presence here. I wasn’t sure others were even aware of me, especially those who hadn’t seen me when I attempted to escape.
“The Sun Temple is located in the kingdom of Terra,” she answered in the silence.
My breath caught. Terra was a neighboring kingdom to Lasania, one that Ezra was in talks with. With the exception of the Undying Hills, much of Terra was farmland. How had I missed this? I leaned forward. “Do you have any news about Lasania? Have you heard anything about them?”
Delicate brows furrowed. “You speak of the kingdom that makes me think of tasty, layered noodles and cheese?”
“It’s not pronounced—” I stopped myself with a curt shake of my head. “Yes, I’m speaking of that one.”
“Not particularly.”
Disappointment swept through me.
“Though several of those who left offerings at the Sun Temple were from Lasania,” she said. “They mostly asked for good fortune with their work within Terra.”
Could that mean that Ezra had successfully strengthened the relationship between the two kingdoms? It must. Because while Terra had land, they didn’t have the labor Lasania did. A shudder of relief swept through me. “Thank you,” I said, sitting back.
The goddess started to speak.
“Dametria.” Elias filled the doorway, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. I silently mouthed her name, committing it to memory. “Out.”
My eyes narrowed on the guard.
“I’m leaving,” the goddess said, returning her attention to me.
“It does not appear as if you’re doing so,” Elias pointed out. “His Majesty will return soon.”
“Yes. Yes. He will when he’s done pleasuring himself.”
“Fucking Fates,” Elias muttered, and my lip curled in disgust.
“At least that is what I expect he’s doing based on what I saw.” Dametria’s voice lowered. “By the way, I know the rumors are true.”
I stilled.
“Dametria,” snapped Elias.
The goddess stepped back, her next words barely audible. “I was there when you were crowned.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I would not think about Kolis pleasuring himself as I made quick use of the cage’s bathing chamber. I would focus on the knowledge that Ezra had likely successfully negotiated a deal with Terra.
It wouldn’t save them if Ash didn’t get the embers out of me, but it would help them survive for as long as they could.
A platter of cheese, fruit, and bread had been served, and I ate a few pieces of each in silence, mulling over what Dametria had shared. She’d been at the coronation. So, did that mean she served within another Court? Or was she a member of the Court here, in Dalos?
I didn’t know, but she’d seemed so unlike the others, especially when she finally strutted from the chamber, tapping the rolled parchment off Elias’s armored chest.
Any thoughts about her slipped to the back of my mind when Kolis returned.
The false King looked a bit more at ease as he seated himself on the throne again, lending some credence to what Dametria had alluded to.
And that was far more disgusting than anything Uros had said.
A few more gods entered, but the sudden pulsing of the embers in my chest had me paying attention.
I saw no god beside Kolis as I turned to the doors. Then a tall, broad figure appeared, wearing deep brown leathers and a black tunic beneath armor that bore the emblem of a helmet.
I recognized the sandy-haired bastard immediately.
After all, the Primal of Peace and Vengeance was identical in appearance to his brother, except his features bore no scar.
Kyn was responsible for Ector’s death and many more. A rush of anger went through me as I tracked his movements.
“Kyn,” Kolis acknowledged, inclining his head.
The Primal bowed. “Your Majesty.”
“I assume you have news for me?”
News? My ears perked right up.
“I do.” Kyn stopped where Uros had ended up as slime on the floor.
“Then have a seat.” Kolis extended a hand toward the chairs and settees as the Primal of Peace and Vengeance finally looked in my direction.
Resentment was evident in his eather-filled eyes and the hard press of his lips.
Kyn did not like me.
I could understand that, even though his feelings were misplaced. Kolis had forced me to kill Thad, one of Kyn’s young draken, as punishment for Ash not seeking his approval for my coronation. I’d brought Thad back to life, but Kyn didn’t know that. Maybe if he did, his raging dislike of me would change.