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Lord Evermere is always more than?—

Lord Evermere can sit on a cock! I don’t want Lord Evermere, I want… I want?—

“Excuse me, Your Grace?”

My shoulders bunch as I jolt, turning gradually to face the owner of the soft, sultry voice that I’d recognize anywhere. It’s one of several faces that have haunted my dreams.

I spin around to face her. “Violette?”

She blinks at me with beguiling innocence as though surprised I remember her. “Yes, Your Grace. If you’re looking for portal services, I can help you.”

A year’s worth of guilt is stifled as my heart bursts with hope.

“You have portal magic?”

Violette’s lips twitch. “Yes, Your Grace. Among a great many other things.”

I can’tin good conscience pay her out of the royal coffers, and I don’t have any money of my own left, but…

My mind procures the image of my dusty coronet. Even if I only gave her a single diamond from it, even the smallest of them is no smaller than my thumbnail. Perhaps one day, after Reginald works his magic and Cerulia has finally recovered from the war, I can replace it. No one would have to know.

Before I can think better of it…

“I would pay you handsomely.”

Even if Reginald will want to wring my neck.

Violette’s eyes sparkle, and I willfully choose to ignore the flicker of darkness I see lurking in their depths.

It’s not like she’s going to follow me into whatever realm I ask her to bring me just to torture me.

“Are you still working at the brothel?”

Please, say no. Please, please, please?—

“I am indeed.”

Fuck.

“Well, perhaps now, you won’t have to any longer. I do want to apologize that I wasn’t able to extend that loan last time, and...”

Violette waves me off. “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Your Grace. As you said, you’re not a bank. And I’ve nearly saved enough coin to start my matchmaking business on my own.”

I rear back with relief and pleasant surprise. “Oh, Violette, I’m so relieved to hear that! You have no idea how guilty I’ve felt!”

She offers me a small smile. “Not to worry, Your Grace.”

“Well, hopefully, this will give you all that you need and more to make your dreams come true.”

WINNOW

BELLORUM REALM

Violette’s grin widens to reveal her petite, pointed fangs. Unease tickles the back of my mind again, but I shove it away in favor of my blessed vacation. “It would be an honor to serve you, Duchess Paramount.”

Before I can blink, she’s folded us into what I assume is the front door to her home. A small, but surprisingly quaint cottage. I’m still staring up at the creeping vines and flora, where I see fairies darting about, when she yanks me inside with jarring strength.

Before I can utter any complaint, my lips part in awe. From the interior, one might guess she was a botanist or alchemist, not a brothel mistress. Plants and vines grow in an untamed manner over the walls and window frames, a wild variety of bubbling potions and all manner of other scientific-looking accoutrements that I know woefully little about. Ancient tomes are neatly organized on built-in corner shelving that reaches from floor to ceiling, making my fingers twitch with the need to graze their weathered spines.