“Anyone for Olivier to be jealous of?” Zara waggled her brows, and all three of us giggled in unison. “Was he from Egypt too?”
“She,” Safiya replied with a grin, making Zara’s mouth gape open.
“Are you for real?” she asked. “You dated a woman?”
“Yes,” Safiya shrugged. “I went to an all girls’ school. It was my little form of rebellion.”
“You just got about ten times cooler in Zara’s eyes,” I told her, making both of them laugh.
“I can’t believe it,” Zara gushed. “Why did you break up?”
“She lived on the other side of the world,” Safiya shrugged. “And our families didn’t approve, obviously. But enough about that. And don’t mention it to the others. You guys can keep a secret, right?”
Zara was quick to nod, but Safiya was looking right at me when she asked the question. Why was she so quick to judge me? I wouldn’t disappoint her, her secret was safe with me, but I didn’t like that she was quicker to think I’d tattle over Zara. I offered her a cool smile, nodding to signify I wouldn’t tell a soul.
“Do you still love her?” Zara blurted, and I chastised her with a long that she studiously ignored. “I just want to know. You wouldn’t be here if you did, right?”
Safiya’s mouth set in a thin line and she refused to meet our eyes.
“Either way, it doesn’t matter,” she responded. “And it’s none of your business. I’m moving on, one way or another.”
Zara looked away, flushing, and discomfort settled between us like a poisonous snake coiling itself around our friendship.
“Do you know anything else about Luxuria?” I was quick to ask Safiya, to try and dissuade the tension. “Any local myths and legends about the royals?”
“There is something.” The sparkle was back in Safiya’s eyes as she turned back to face us. “There are quite a few castles in Luxuria, given how small it is. One of them is very close to here… See those woods?”
She pointed at the dense forest looming in the distance, and Zara and I nodded in response.
“There’s an urban legend that there’s a castle within them,” Safiya told us. “So well-hidden and protected no one has seen it in centuries. It’s private land, with guards watching for trespassers, so it could be plausible.”
“Another castle?” Zara asked. “Do people still use it, or is it a museum?”
“Legend says,” Safiya went on. “A monster lives there with his captive. But when I was reading up on it, I found out monster and his victim might have become one in more ways than one…”
“That sounds…” I started.
“Exciting!” Zara cut in, clapping her hands together. “Oh my gosh, I love these fairytales. Did you find any more information, Safiya?”
The other girl shook her head, but there was no mistaking the flash of interest in her eyes.
“It’s part of the reason I came here,” she finally confessed. “I’ve always been interested in urban legends, this one being just one of them. I will try to research it a bit more, and let you know what you find out.”
“Yes, please,” Zara said, and I found myself nodding along. I was genuinely curious. Could there be any truth to the story of the mysterious castle? I was eager to find out.
“Hello, ladies.”
The three of us turned in the direction of the deep, booming voice, and flushed in unison.
“Your Highness.”
Safiya was the first to curtsy, with Zara and me following her greeting. Olivier stood a little way off, and my heart started thumping against my chest once again. He’s come to find me! I thought to myself. Oh, if only Freya were here to see this.
I wore a triumphant smile on my lips when Olivier said, “I’m so sorry to break up your pleasant morning, but I was hoping to borrow one of you. Would that be okay?”
The girls looked at me, both with pride and jealousy, and I felt my chest swelling with emotion, unable to get rid of the smile on my face.
“Not at all,” they said.
“Perfect,” Olivier grinned, his gaze drinking me in. I could just tell his mind was on the night in my bedroom, on his fingers bringing me pleasure like I’d never felt before. “Zara, will you come with me?”
Excuse me?
I gritted my teeth as my friend exchanged surprised glances with us before curtsying again, taking Olivier’s arm and following him out of the maze. She threw me an apologetic look over her shoulder while I stood there stewing in my own jealousy.
He is supposed to pick me every time.
Jealousy cut through me like a knife, and Safiya knew better than to say a word as we made our way back to the castle, where the other girls were waiting.
Chapter Nine
Olivier
After being forced to run some royal business, my schedule had finally cleared up enough, so I could be available for a dinner with the women in the competition.
I knew Amber was angry with me, but instead of making me worried, it brought a smirk to my face. I fucking loved making her jealous. She seemed so headstrong at times, I couldn’t help but want to shake her confidence a little. Those moments when she doubted herself, when she hated me with all her might… in those moments, she was the most vulnerable she’d ever been for me, and I fucking loved it. I knew eventually I’d bring more of her submissiveness out to play, but for now, I’d have to be happy with the moments I stole from her by toying with her body, mind and soul.
Dinner was to be a traditional Luxurian affair – with all of us in our best clothing, and with live music. I was enthusiastic. After my father’s death five years ago, we’d never quite gotten back to the energetic, sparkling essence of the castle.
I picked out a Berluti midnight blue velvet tuxedo, pairing it with cognac-colored moccasin penny loafers. My hair was slicked back, the unruly curls tamed into submission, the faint hint of stubble on my jaw. I finished off the look with a splash of tobacco cologne on my wrists and neck.
I knew I looked good, and as I entered the candlelit dining hall, the gasps, giggles and whispers of my girls only served to confirm it.
I grinned to myself as I walked over to my mother, sitting at the head of the table. She smiled affectionately as I pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. We hadn’t had the easiest relationship lately, but I was pleased to see her adapting to me. I wasn’t going to let her rule over my life. She might be the Queen, but she wasn’t the boss of me.
My eyes scanned the gathered crowd and settled on a head of flame-red hair. I grinned to myself, walking over to the girl with my hand brushing the sleeve of her dark grey dress. But when she turned around to face me, I didn’t recognize her face.
Of course. Eva, the other girl with red hair, who looked frighteningly like Amber.
I offered her an apologetic smile, then realized I’d better say something.
“Looking beautiful tonight,” I managed before retreating with a disarming smile. I saw the girl’s composure slip for a mere second as she let me see a more vulnerable side to her. It was beautiful, and my smile was genuine.
Finally, I located Amber standing at the edge of the room with her friend, Zara. I’d had a good chat with Zara the previous day. I’d wanted to get to know her better since Amber seemed to be so close with her, but I couldn’t lie to myself – it pleased me immensely to see how jealous Amber had gotten when I’d led her friend away instead of her. A little bit of jealousy put fire in her, and I fucking loved how riled up she got.