Seduced by Power: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (The Queen's Consorts Book 3) by Elena Lawson

Author:Elena Lawson [Lawson, Elena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Tiernan

Entering the feast hall was like walking into a den of wolves. They all stopped in their chatting and drinking to ogle us. Well, to ogle Liana. The queen had sent up a gown for her to wear—crusted in a thousand sparkling blue gems, cut low in the front and tight around her waist. It had been near impossible not to want to tear it from her body the moment I’d seen her in it. The queen had even had servants come to our chamber and do Liana’s hair, piling it atop her head in a beautiful crown of silver locks.

I knew Suriel, and she was a wise and fair ruler. But it seemed odd how she was acting. Was she trying to impress Liana? Or trying to befriend her? Or was something more sinister in fact going on as Alaric thought.

Even though she never voiced it in front of me, I always thought she would be open to having a relation with the Night Court. It wasn’t like her to uphold the antiquated views of others. No, there was nothing sinister about it. Suriel was hoping to win Liana’s trust—to build a lasting impression of her people. The prospect of open trade between nations could have an incredible impact for her people, who were rich in wine and rice, but poor in grain and cattle.

The large oval table was occupied by Queen Suriel, wearing a russet orange gown—her crown perched atop her hair like a yellow canary, and Edris, who sat to her right, and several esteemed nobles.

I stiffened when my gaze fell upon him—a sneering expression twisting his face and darkening his pale features. My uncle sat on the other side of Edris, languidly chewing a piece of roast pork while he stared at me.

“What is it,” Liana whispered, leaning in to my side and brushing her fingers lightly across the back of my hand.

I shivered. “It’s nothing,” I said, pulling her arm through mine.

“Come!” said the queen, rising from her seat, her cheeks stained red from too much drink, “Please, sit down—sit down!”

I gave Liana’s hand a reassuring squeeze and led her to the table. Alaric and Finn moved to sit where the servants indicated a couple seats down from where the queen sat—leaving Liana to sit to the left of the Queen of Day and across from her father, and I to sit next to her, and across from my uncle.

My stomach turned violently at the nearness. I had left his estate years ago but seeing him there put me right back in that younger self’s skin. Cowering from the whip of his belt as it bit into flesh that was already raw. Begging to be heard over the deafening silence within his walls.

Liana’s fingers dug into my thigh under the table, her fingers tipped with searing heat. I turned and found her eyes aglow in a mix of gold and red—her gaze fixed on my uncle. Of course…

Idiot.

She could feel my emotions—and thanks to the bond, gods knew what she saw in my mind.

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