Page 76 of Seduce

Lana steps out from behind a bookcase, and I remember this room is the end of a secret passageway. She’s been listening the entire time.

“Hello, Drizella,” she smiles. Lana Kort has always mirrored my sister when she interacts with me in her presence. I don’t think she wants to draw Cinder’s ire.

“Lana,” I murmur carefully. “I still don’t understand why I’m here, outside of maybe a referral to get divorced?”

“And oust Charming from the throne,” Cinder adds.

“Why now? I just don’t understand,” I tell her, careful not to cross the line into disrespect.

“I have moments of not being lucid,” Cinder says candidly. “I lose track of time, and it’s becoming more noticeable. I don’t always remember what I’ve done the night before.”

My sister is actually insane. Fuck me. This is even more terrifying to me, because she has so much power.

“Oh,” I whisper instead.

“Charming won’t leave the castle, and it’s affecting my fun,” Cinder whines. “Lana can’t be anywhere near me because our relationship is very obvious, and it’s made me realize how annoying he is.”

“I miss you,” Lana pouts, batting her dark eyelashes at my step-sister.

“I miss you too.” She sighs, opening her arms for the petite girl to step into. “I want to run my kingdom without so much supervision, and next week, everyone will be gone. I have the guards running training exercises, and the soldiers are patrolling the city to keep them from getting bored.”

Personally, I don’t know why she has so many men of war here. While protection is always important, they don’t really do much of that. We don’t have many kingdoms who wish to overrun us, mostly because of trade agreements or peace treaties in place. Those who do wish to assassinate the king and queen outside of the kingdom are typically squashed quickly by our hackers.

Hell, I was one of those hackers with Isaac.

“So I was here for the meeting,” I clarify. “Am I needed for anything else?”

"I want to fuck Lana,” Cinder says, beginning to pull her lover’s clothes off. “I informed Charming that we would be in a meeting for the next hour. Lock the door.”

I hate these two. My skin starts to crawl as I walk to the door, ensuring no one will be able to get in.

“Take off your dress, Drizella,” Cinder demands. Lana is naked, her high, perky breasts pointed at me.

“May I ask why, Your Majesty?” I rasp. As much as I despise these clothes, they’re my armor. Dammit, the walls… Why are they getting closer to me?

Taking a breath, I curl my nails into my palms, attempting to get a handle on my anxiety.

“I want to watch something while I’m riding Lana’s face. Kneel on the table naked,” Cinder demands.

I’m on autopilot, my hand on the zipper before I remember something that’s vitally important. “I have my period,” I tell her.

“Since when do you have one of those?” Cinder scoffs. I would be surprised that she’s been paying attention to me so closely, but there are certain things that she watches like a hawk.

“Three days ago,” I confirm. “Sidney ran out to get my feminine hygiene products. If you’ve been watching the apartment at all, you’d know that.”

I may be a bit snarkier than usual, but I’m also panicking. I don’t want to undress in front of them, and I want to leave the damn room immediately. It looks as if I’m only going to get one of my fervent wishes today.

“You will be our pretty little voyeur then,” Cinder says, pushing the sleeves of her dress off her shoulders. She’s completely naked underneath it, making my lips part in surprise. I thought she’d have ideas about proper clothing, and therefore never go commando. My step-sister has a lot of silly rules, so it’s hard to remember them all. Stepping out of her shoes, I’m reminded of how tall they are. Cinder is probably about six inches shorter without them.

Walking to Lana, Cinder’s hand closes around her neck. Moaning, Lana raises her mouth up to hers.

“Sit, Drizella. I know you and Andrya are involved, so you must have learned some tricks during oral. The girl screamed so prettily for the guards, and they still talk about her,” Cinder says cooly as she lifts Lana onto the conference table.

I entertain myself with visions of killing her as I watch them. I’ve never been particularly bloodthirsty, but maybe poison isn’t the right method of death for Cinder. Perhaps I need to make it hurt.

Lana lays back on the table, her legs spread wide for Cinder. I don’t understand why they insist on my being here, outside of as an alibi. Charming must be watching her even closer now.

Cinder climbs onto the table, kissing up Lana’s pale skin. Small whimpers and sighs are all that can be heard when a knock sounds on the door.