Chapter 208

Chapter 208
CASSANDRA
Much to my surprise,
Kaleb didn’t come searching for me until the next day, and even then, he didn’t meet with me in person. Instead, he sent Ms. Benn, who arrived at the door of nly room with a garment bag in tow. The heal servant’s icy eyes were blank as they met mine, and she handed me the bag without a word.
“What’s going on?” I wondered as I accepted it hesitantly. “What is this?”
“The king sent me to invite you to a party tonight, she explained in her low, heavily accented yoice. “To celebrate the return of the diplomatic corps. You will come alone while your maid and your son remain in the room.”
I wanted to shove the garment bag back at her and tell her to leave me alone, bt I knew that I didn’t have the right to turn down an invitation from the king. Though we had our own chamber, we were still prisoners of a sort, so I needed to do as instructed. So. I nodded.
“The king wants you to wear this tonight.” Ms. Benn continued, and after her strange eyes trailed over me, she gave one last instruction. “And he wishes for you to wear your hair up.
The head servant turned on her heels and left, and once she was gone, I closed the door and then brought the garment bag over to Erika. The maid laid it down on the bed and carefully unzipped it, revealing a silk dress. The color was so dark it was nearly black, but when she held it up. I could see it was actually sapphire.
“Oh my,” Erika noted as she spun the dress around, and when she did. my l*ps parted in surprise. The dress was gorgeous and much like the one I’d worn during the banquet back in Merliscire Palace, but it was much more revealing. It was sleeveless, with a high n*eck, and the skirt was long, but it had an incredibly high slit, and the entire back was exposed. It was much more daring than anything I’d ever worn before, though I wasn’t all that surprised.
Along with the dress came a pair of high heels, and I winced at the sight of them. I was quite petite, so I wasn’t a stranger to heels like that, but I rarely wore things like that nowadays.
“This is a deliberate humiliation,” Erika said through pursed l*ps as she studied the garment. I wanted to agree. I didn’t know what Kaleb intended to do. Though I was a prisoner with no hope of escape, I knew I needed to protect myself.
So, two hours later, after Erika helped me twist my long copper hair into an elaborate updo and applied some makeup to my tired features, I put on the dress and hid two syringes of anesthetic and a long needle I could use as a weapon into my handbag.
Better safe than sorry.
Though the dress was revealing, it was quite beautiful. It hugged me tightly, but the color was a perfect contrast against my fair skin and fiery hair
Ms. Benn came to collect me once the sun went down and she escorted me down the stairs and out of the side building of the castle: I walked very slowly, as it was difficult to keep my balance on a stone-paved lane, especially with it being so dark. The night was so cold that I shivered and held my arms. This dress provided no warmth at all, and I felt chilled to my bones.
The lights were sparse outside, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was also a deliberate arrangement to avoid being found by their war opponents. Things here were so strange and guarded that it seemed to make sense
Ma. He led me into the main building, and I was surprised to see that Kalebs was waiting for me outside of what 1 paruumed to be the banquet hall. He straightened up at once when he saw me
11 wore a finely tailored suit, pa back, and lus shiny goldenrown lau had been tied back with a black velvet ribbon. His avy eyes were bright, and when they trailed over a shiver traveled down my spine. The tall foreign king was incredibly mention but I felt like comerof prey in his gaze
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11:45 Fri, Feb 23.
Chapter 208
Ms. Benn bowed her head and retreated as Kaleb walked over and gestured for me to take his arm. I didn’t speak a word but complied and followed him into the room
The banquet hall was very large, maybe as large as the one of Merliscire, but the decoration of it was much simpler. The walls and floors were white, but the stone glittered in the candlelight. It was like we were in a castle of ice, though the room. was heated.
There were many people in the hall. Women were
sel just as sparsely as I was, their dresses exposing their lovely
frames. Heat spread to my checks at the sight. I wasn’t a prudde, just wasn’t used to things like this.
Some of the people in the room were tangled with their partners, their bodies and l*ps k*ssing and touching. It was almost more like a mating party than a welcoming one. Was it mating season now?
Raven was right.
Things were more civil in the North.
I avoided eye contact with those lust-filled wolves and instead paid attention to the more polite ones. Kaleb was greeted by a few people when we entered the hall and introduced me at once as an “excellent healer.
Though they all made weird faces, just as Raven had when they heard the word “healer,” they all showed their respect for me. It was probably just for Kaleb’s sake, but I didn’t mind it anyway.
Suddenly. I heard a cheerful voice call to me, and I turned to see it was Raven. Her hair was shiny and fell in perfect waves to her shoulders, while her tall, elegant frame was highlighted by a tight, burgundy silk dress. It was low cut, but her chest was modest enough not to show too much. Her full l*ps had been painted dark red, and at once, I thought of Adalyn, though Raven somehow looked much more lovely.
“Hi Cas sandra,” Raven gushed as she reached me, and she gave me a big hug. “I knew he would bring you here.”
Her smile was bright and she gave me a mischievous wink. It was clear she believed he had a crush on me, but this was a huge misunderstanding. But what else could I say? I couldn’t tell Raven that I was a pawn or a hostage. It would sound too pathetic, and besides. I didn’t know if she could be trusted, even though she’d saved Finnick. Sure, she was hospitable and kind, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
Before I could say something, an icy voice called out to Raven, and when a figure appeared behind her, I thought I’d lost my mind. The woman had the same face, eyes, and hair as Raven’s, though there was a more serious expression on her features. She was also slightly taller, and her muscles were more defined. I knew from her powerful, confident gair that she had to be a trained warrior.
Raven’s twin bowed her head at Kaleh before turning to face me. Her stare was sharp, and I fought the urge to shiver as her blue-
e-green eyes trailed over me. She was like a jungle cat, poised and ready to pounce
“Cas sandra, this is Roxy Carter, the king of Yurene introduced us, and then he glanced at Raven. “And I see you’ve met her twin Raven though I’m not sure how that’s possible.”
Just as I was about to explam, Raven spoke up first.
“Her son had been poisoned by the mist, she explamed “I brought her a cure and then showed her sorceries. She seemed quite shocked
file continued to rande on until Roxy cut her off
That’s enough her tat sand harshly “We don’t need every detal
Sony Bases sald quietly and then she offered an apologetis jassion was just
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Chapter 208
“Welcome back, Kaleb
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