Page 104 of A Dance of Water (Moon Song #2)
OTHER GODS (TASTE ME AGAIN)
LUELLA
P racticed, methodical hands massaged fragrant oils into Luella’s thighs.
She stood in a gossamer-thin gown, the diaphanous white material clinging to her oil-glistening curves.
The hem stopped at her upper thigh, so high that with every step, it revealed the small birthmark on her right thigh.
The Temple Mother’s hands worked the oil into her skin, clinical and unobtrusive.
Strangely enough, she had not been forced into another bath after Vale had stormed out and two Temple Mothers had quickly entered.
The dragon shifter’s actions never failed to confuse her.
He was a dichotomy. Calling her darling one moment, then ripping himself away from her the next as if her scent was putrid.
The threads of their bond inside her tugged harshly, and she dug her teeth into her lower lip, desperate for anything to distract her from the feeling.
Careful what you wish for, Bastian’s words filled her head, and she gasped aloud.
The Temple Mother paused, the hood of her cloak shifting to reveal the gruesome sight of her sewn lips, before she finished working the oil into Luella’s skin.
Bastian? Luella thought, but the vampire did not answer. She was on her own for now .
The Temple Mothers stepped back. Chills raced down her spine as they surveyed her.
Finally, they waved a hand to the side, beckoning her.
Luella was led out of the stone room. Instead of winding deeper into the mountain, the path ventured up.
They arrived at their destination. She would have known this place was her destiny, if not for the grandiose appearance, then the way a chill swept over her, lighting her nerves on fire as if electricity simmered inside her veins.
A feeling of rightness clung to her like smoke as she entered the room.
High ceilings with walls carved into the rocks, jagged edges perfectly placed to give the whole room the feel of being inside a geode, almost. Lights refracted through the stained glass pieces that hung about the cavern, casting strips of rainbows against the grey ground.
Her eyes must be playing tricks on her, shadows mingling with the flames and various sources of dim light within the room, but she swore stardust danced among the strips of rainbow-like light cast along the ground.
But she blinked, and it dissolved like an illusion.
Arched hollows were cut into the walls, filled with glass, but instead of looking out into the world, she saw herself reflected back to her. Mirrors, not windows.
Her white hair was simple as it fell around her shoulders, the points of her ears peeking through the tangled mass. The sheer material of her gown hid nothing. She blushed, looking away.
Her eyes fell to the far side of the room, where a stone altar loomed. Candles were scattered around it, held up by long, thin stands. Its grey bareness was a presence she could not ignore.
Heart in her throat, Luella looked away, only to find that the Temple Mothers had left—replaced by a silent King Vale.
The dragon shifter stood near one of the hanging pieces of stained glass, violet and blue hues rippling across his tanned skin.
All at once, the realization hit her: she could not get out of this. Her whole body started to tremble, and she backed away, her knees hitting the edge of the stone altar.
Vale took a step forward .
"P-please don’t… don’t make m-me do this," she begged, holding her hands before her to ward him off.
His footsteps against the stone echoed as he came closer. She flinched away with a strangled sob as the King gripped her wrists.
"Calm down." The order washed over her like ocean waves, forcing her to settle.
Her breathing evened out, but nothing could stop the force of her heartbeats.
She found his eyes; the green was vivid in the shifting colors of the dimly lit room. "Please," she whispered. "If you have a heart, if there is any one thing you would ever grant me, have it be this. Give me a choice." The plea was barely audible.
His eyes flicked between hers as he seemed to search her soul. "Do you think so lowly of me that you believe I would force myself upon you?"
Her lips parted. What did he want her to say? Lie? She closed her mouth, shaking her head slightly.
"Of course." Vale gave a sardonic laugh. "Of course, you do."
Her brow furrowed. "How could I not?" she whispered. The King had proven himself to be as wicked as his reputation decreed.
He released her wrist but did not step back. Draconic heat radiated from him, burning her from their proximity. "I deserve your distrust, but I hope that in this, you will see some of my intentions are honorable."
She swallowed, unable to stop herself as she said:
"You have no honor."
King Vale turned his head, rays of color hitting his eyes just right and making them sparkle like emeralds. "I can have honor, when it suits me, Princess Luella." Her title rolled off his tongue with weight, filled with secrets. He grew silent, and in that silence, she heard heavy footsteps.
What awaited her now?
From the darkness in the corner of the room, where the shadows were thicker and a stone pillar carved with etchings stood, a figure emerged.
The Prima’s white hair was undone, with only a few braids woven with his usual copper and silver threads. She didn’t realize how long his hair was; it fell to his waist. His white shirt was simple, laces undone at the top to reveal his tanned skin marked with thick ink.
He walked closer, the rainbow light doing nothing to make him less frightening.
"The little lamb led to slaughter." Tharen inclined his head toward her, then toward the altar at her back. "The only thing missing on the grey stone is your blood," he said.
She flinched.
They herded her between them—Vale on one side, Tharen on the other, with the altar at her back.
"Do not frighten her, Tharen. You hear her heartbeat." Vale’s eyes lowered to her chest. "She may not be able to take anymore, especially from you."
Tharen cocked his head, icy eyes pinning her to the spot. "I hear her heart… the blood flowing through her veins. It’s a wonder you haven’t passed out yet."
She raised her chin even though her voice shook. "Why are you here?"
The Prima arched a brow, stepping so close to her that the tips of his muddied boots brushed her bare toes.
He ghosted a finger over her chest, sliding the dream amulet to the side as he revealed the tiny red circle of their deal, etched right beside the Binding mark.
His fingers pressed hard against it. "You really think you would be able to be here alone and fuck him with your end of the bargain still unfinished? "
He didn’t mean…
"Come on, lamb, don’t be so stupid," Tharen taunted.
Given how scared she had been, she had not allowed herself to dwell on the ramifications of their deal and the Winter Solstice tradition.
"So, what do you mean? You will f—" No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t bring herself to say that word. "You will force me?"
Tharen clicked his tongue. "For a brief moment, I thought you had been corrupted. But no, Princess, not unless you want it. "
Luella scoffed. "What?"
"You are not being forced to lie with anyone," said the King.
She turned to him, confusion etching a line between her brows.
"It was all a ruse. We could not have our enemies or the citizens of Serpentis thinking you were favored—you were more than the Chosen and the war prize of Solis…
We are always being watched, Princess Luella.
Did you truly think I would force you beneath me?
" He stepped closer and reclaimed his grasp on her wrists.
Holding her arm up to his mouth, he breathed in, nose nearly brushing along the thin, delicate skin on the inside of her wrist.
"Why should I b-believe you?" She shook her head, trying to step back but feeling the immovable stone of the altar cutting into her thighs—one more step, and she would fall backward.
Smoke curled between them as Vale continued, "And did you truly think that your demon would allow it?"
Her legs grew numb. "Az," she breathed. "That was why he so easily went along with it. I thought… I thought he didn’t want to risk putting me in danger and going against you."
The dragon shifter laughed low. "He has no qualms about going against me.
No, when we talked him out of trying to escape with you again, he realized this was the only way.
Tricking you was the only way. You believed us so easily.
" Vale nipped at the webbing between her thumb and pointer finger.
"It almost pained me to think you distrusted us so much. "
Her breath hitched at the feel of his teeth against her skin. "Not Az. I thought he would have a reason—I hoped, at least. He did not let me down… but I suppose, neither did you."
Everything had grown still in the wake of his admission. As Luella took in what he said, a million more questions came to her mind.
She looked to Tharen, who watched her and Vale with a heated stare.
"If I am not to lie with you, then may we leave?" she asked.
Vale was already shaking his head. "No. The Solstice tradition must still be upheld.
Your pleasure, as a gift to help the flowers bloom in these cold months.
It will be known if you do not fulfill your duty.
The Temple Mothers are beholden to the gods, even above me, their King.
They will share what transpires here. That is why we must be careful, why Tharen hid himself away from them. "
"But how will they know?" Luella’s head hurt from the influx of information—the schemes that had been transpiring without her knowledge. To think, this had all been planned, while she had been worrying herself to sickness over what she would be forced to endure.
But was she free now?
A gleam in their eyes told her that she was not.
"We are in the Temples of the gods," Tharen proclaimed. "The gods know all."