Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“But my dear Princess Aurora, whatever are you doing here?” he asked, looking bewildered.
“I…I’m not here for me,” I said quickly, reaching for an explanation—anything that didn’t make me seem like a strumpet or a woman of the night. “My…my husband had something to get here,” I continued desperately.
“Ah yes, your ‘husband.’ Does he make you dress like that too?”
His beady eyes traveled slowly over my body, taking in the short, tight dress with the plunging neckline. I could almost feel his scorn.
“Well…yes,” I faltered, too confused to explain. I had always disliked Hornsby—he was quick with a jab and a jeer and I had overheard him speaking to the other men at Court more than once in a way that disgusted me. I did my best to avoid him…but there was no avoiding him now.
“I had heard that you sold yourself in a marriage of convenience.” A look of disgust came over his rat-like face. “But I had no idea the rumor would prove true in quite so literal a fashion.”
I wanted to sink into the ground in humiliation. He thought I was a woman of the night! And no wonder—the revealing dress I was wearing was exactly like something such a woman would wear back on L’Crist while she was plying her trade.
“No, no—you have it all wrong!” I protested, determined to disabuse him of his wrong-headed idea before he could spread it to the rest of the Court back home. Lord Hornsby was known to be a terrible gossip. “My husband—he wanted me to dress like this,” I went on, trying to explain. “This is the latest fashion here on Rigelis Nine!”
“I see.” He nodded, clearly unconvinced. “So putting your body on display is the ‘fashion’ here. Tell me, my dear, does this ‘husband’ of yours have you selling your wares down on the street corner? How much does he charge for a taste of the Royal charms?”
“You…you…” I was too offended for a moment to think of an answer. The man had all but called me a whore! It was the vilest, lowest insult he could give me and yet he stood there, smirking, as though he had every right to say such things!
“How dare you speak to me in this fashion, Sir?” I demanded, lifting my chin as embarrassment turned to anger. “I am a Princess of L’Crist!”
“Not anymore—it appears you’re a whore of Sin World now,” he snapped and then gave an ugly, high-pitched titter to convey his amusement. “How the mighty are brought low! Do you remember when you snubbed me at the Winter Ball, Princess? Well, it appears you can’t snub me anymore. Tell me, how much does your pimp charge for an hour with you? I think I’d like to pay you back right now.”
“What did you say?” I gasped, unable to believe the words coming out of his thin-lipped mouth.
“Yeah, what did you say?” It was Slade, coming up behind me. He had a black bag in one hand and he was glaring at Lord Hornsby menacingly.
“Oh, you must be our dear Princess Aurora’s husband.” Hornsby smiled spitefully up at the big Brute. “It seems you got quite a bargain when you bought her. Tell me, what is the going rate for an hour of her time?”
“The fuck did you just say about my wife?” Slade’s golden eyes had narrowed and his voice was a low, menacing growl, but Hornsby didn’t seem to notice or to care. He felt secure about his safety—no one had ever dared to even call him out for a duel in Court, no matter what incendiary things he said to them. He was much too rich and influential for anyone to challenge him.
But we weren’t back at Court on L’Crist and my new husband’s anger was clearly growing.
“Did you just fucking imply that my wife is for sale?” he growled, glaring down at Hornsby with eyes that had gone pure black.
“Oh, well…isn’t she?” For the first time, Duke Hornsby looked slightly unsettled. “I mean, just look at the way she’s dressed! You must be renting her out by the hour—I was simply interested in trying her wares.” He gave that high, tittering laugh again, this time tinged with just a slight bit of anxiety. “No need to get upset, man! I just wondered if I might give her a try.”
“Give her a try?” Slade’s voice had dropped to the guttural growl of the Darkness inside him and he seemed to be getting bigger.
My heart started pounding against my ribs—I feared his Darkness would come out at any second!
As though to justify my fear, Slade’s hand began to change. His gray skin went black as the Darkness flowed from his elbow down to his fingers, which were suddenly tipped with long, sharp claws. With a snarl, he took Hornsby by the throat and began to squeeze.