Page 100 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

“Thank you,” I said. “I tried. I thought I’d feel better if I looked more like myself.”

“That was a good idea.” She smiled. “I’m glad to see you and Meera out tonight.”

“If only Lyr were here,” I said.

The Imperator lifted his chin. “She’s at combat clinic where she belongs.”

“Of course. I expect nothing else. However, seeing as I am also returning to my studies after…a rather eventful winter holiday, I’m finding myself a bit overtired. Would you mind if I excused myself early tonight, your grace? Might I take Meera with me?” I winked conspiratorially. “She was yawning earlier. We’re not yet back to our old routine.”

“Of course, my dear,” Arianna said. “And you know, you can still call me Arianna.”

I nodded.

“Go on.” She waved, the official dismissal of an arkasva.

The Imperator’s eyes dipped down my body, roaming over my breasts and waist. His aura reached out, predatory and aroused. He was sensing my own aura, my own memories that were all I had to protect me from the chayatim by his side.

I retreated again to my memories. I imagined him lifting up my legs, and my ankles locking behind his back while his cock pounded into me relentlessly.

Nice dick. Whose is it?

I stared down between my legs in the memory, watching him slide in and out of me. I watched his hips thrust and his abs flex as he pumped.

Hot. Are you trying to turn me on?

His dick slid in again and again.

I know what you’re doing, she thought. You’re far too obvious.

I swallowed. “Thank you, Arianna. Your highness. Good night, then.”

I practically ran from those pale blue eyes and the thoughts invading my mind.

I’m going to figure it out. You can’t hide.

I grabbed Meera’s hand. “Get up and follow me, you vapid, mindless idiot. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice? You stole my shoes.”

Meera’s eyes widened, her face paling, but then she stood. “You know I saw them first, and they’re my size, not yours. Stop pretending they’re your shoes.”

“You know Godsdamned well they’re my size. And I’m meeting him tonight. So I need those shoes back. He likes them on me. Likes when they’re the only thing on me.” My heart pounded. I could feel the chayatim’s eyes us, as I gestured at Soturion Jace to follow us.

“Are we going to my room to get them?” Meera asked, her hands shaking at her sides.

“No,” I said cruelly. The chayatim would hear us from anywhere in the fortress. There was only one place loud enough to block the sound of my thoughts.

The ocean.

I grabbed Meera’s hand.

“Morgs!” she cried out. “That hurts.”

I kept gripping her. We had to move. Meera understood the code, understood to keep her mind blank, to play along with whatever stupid distraction I gave her—like shoes—to focus her mind on. But she wasn’t trained to control her mind like those who took the elixir. She couldn’t keep this up for long. I needed to get us to the ocean.

I dragged her through the halls of Cresthaven. There was still trust in Meera’s eyes, but she was losing patience. I’d never played this game with her for this long, and I’d never been this rough with her.

Morgs, you’re scaring me. What is it?

“I changed my mind. I want to take a walk on the beach. Until I meet him.”