A Throne of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales #2)(65)

She slackened against her binding, her mouth pulling into a smile. “Hmm, yes, Daddy, punish me.”

The man licked his palm and then slapped the woman on the ass. A moment later, he reached around and did the same to her breast. She cried out, and then the sound reduced into a heady moan.

“I think we’d better get the nipple clamps,” he said, thrusting rhythmically.

“Or how about the hot wax…”

Nope, I thought. I’m not cut out for these shenanigans. I need those pearls.

The second he pulled out and ducked to the side to grab whatever torture device she wanted, I hurried by. She couldn’t see me, and he had his focus elsewhere.

Down the hall a ways, the door came into sight—but so did shapes off to the right, in a shadow by the bench. This must’ve been a favorite spot, because this was where Nyfain and I had seen the people in furry costumes. That, or it was the same couple and this was their hangout.

A nude man was on his knees, bent over a bench. The head housekeeper crouched behind him, wearing that leather halter that exposed her boobs and the briefs with the strapped-on purple dildo. Given she wasn’t directly getting pleasure, she was free to pound him while looking around the hall. I’d be noticed in an instant.

Side door? I thought.

Just go. Who is she going to tell? Leala is tied up, and Hadriel isn’t out. Nyfain probably already knows, and he’s not here anyway. Unless you think she’ll tell a demon?

I doubted she’d tell a demon.

I took a deep breath and went for it. Worst case, she’d go find Hadriel, and he’d come out and try to talk me into going back to my room. Which wasn’t going to happen.

I walked forward as if I owned the place, my head held high and my steps purposeful. The man’s grunting and moaning didn’t stop, a good sign.

Outside the door, the night air cleared my mind. The slow throb of crickets rose and fell all around me. Closer to the everlass field, the trees shook gently within the light breeze. Moss covered stumps and a light floral aroma filled my senses. No unusual scents wove through the natural tapestry.

“Okay, friends,” I murmured to myself, feeling the tension drain from my shoulders. “Let’s get to work, shall we?”

Can you just talk to me rather than your imaginary friends? my animal thought. I mean, fuck, woman, did you have no friends growing up?

Very few, actually. They all thought I was too weird and played too rough. Even the boys. Then we got older and I was definitely too weird and played too rough, so they buggered off.

Have I ever told you what a sad sack you are?

No, but you’ve sure hinted at it plenty of times.

She grunted as I grabbed the trays and set them out next to the field. When everything was set up, I let my mind drift as I harvested, pausing near the crowded plants to run my fingers over their leaves.

“I think you might be my favorite type of everlass,” I told them, taking a note from Nyfain and his mom and talking to them directly. I felt ridiculous. I was sure my animal thought I sounded foolish, too. “When the situation is dire, you save the day. Mess with you, though, or use you without caution, and you kill a bitch. If I had a mascot, it would definitely be you.”

I moved on, picking the healthiest leaves and pulling and dropping those that were losing their luster.

“Don’t get me wrong, I like the rest of you, too. How dare the faeries call you weeds, am I right? Nyfain’s ex planned to mate for the privilege of having you at her disposal! And they call you weeds? Fuckers. They’re just jealous. If I had my way, I’d rub your awesomeness in their faces and withhold you until they gave you the respect you deserve.” I paused in thought. “I wonder if they even get you anymore now that the demon king has hidden us with the curse. Nyfain is the one who looks after everything. He wouldn’t willingly help the demons, and even if he was forced to help unwillingly, he doesn’t seem to put anything to the side for the demons to take. Though I suppose…” I filled two trays and started working on the third. “The demon king wouldn’t want to give the faeries access to a healing plant. He’d prefer to thin the herd, so to speak. Though I’m sure they figured something else out. Besides, there are dragons in the wolf kingdom—one of the wolf kingdoms, anyway. I can’t remember if Nyfain said which one. I wonder why they are there and not here? Seems strange. I have to go digging through the library to see if there are any recent histories or anything. The queen would probably want a book about her homeland. Or maybe the king wouldn’t let her…”

Third tray done, I picked one of them up and headed off to the shed. I didn’t have the strength Nyfain did. I couldn’t carry two at a time.

“Crazy about a dragon’s dick size, am I right?”

Are you talking to me? my animal asked.

I shrugged. I had always talked to myself when working gardens and plants and things. It was nice to break the silence. Having someone who actually heard the thoughts was a new thing.

“Sure,” I said.

Great goddess, you’re weird, she replied.

New, but not necessarily great…

“Nyfain is huge. I don’t think I could handle any bigger. Fitting him in my mouth is a trial. And he’s just a little above average for a dragon? Can you imagine the monstrosity of a big-dicked dragon?”

My animal stretched in delight, clearly picking and choosing the parts of my speech she cared about. Namely, fitting Nyfain in my mouth.