Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I do not have the power to give you this.”
Then what use was he to me? Peeking through my fingers, I saw only my enemy—the general who plagued my days for a decade.
My hateful glower did not upset him in the slightest. He knew to expect it, to be gentle with me when I was agitated and aggressive. Calm, he did not insult me with a purr, though he did speak delicately. “If you want sex education for females, you must convince the friends I would introduce you to this evening. Show them it would be in their best interest to bond with knowledgeable mates they won’t have to frighten or force the first time. But know this—men who have not heard the song will be less amenable to your ideas. As of now, most generals have no reason to give you something that will not benefit them. Rape or not, they bond a mate regardless.”
“That is so sad.”
Stroking my cheek, Cyderial said, “I will support you, but it will risk my position as Director of the academy.”
The bite of fruit in my stomach turned sour.
“They bond a mate regardless?” My eyes fell to my swollen belly, ashamed of myself for allowing all I had. “And I am the perfect example of how quickly addicted females will succumb. Look at me. How many days has it even been? And I’m eating breakfast with you as if—”
“Stop right there.” He flicked my chin up and made me meet his eyes. “You have a goal. Focus on progress. Don’t waste your time wallowing in whatever narrative is making you frown like that.”
But I was angry and possessed a comforting knack for rebellion. “I could just leak information on mating into the female dorm.”
“You can’t cheat on every test, sweetheart. Hints lead to rumor. Misinformation would spread to a detriment to all. Sometimes, you have to actually show the world what you’re made of. Take on the men. They don’t stand a chance against you.” He stole a kiss, his tongue tracing my lips for a quick taste of pink fruit. “And if you were wise, you would focus on General Thayer. He will give you whatever you want, if you support him in wooing Maeve.”
6
The sly smirk on Cyderial’s face each time I began to fidget was a clear sign he was quite proud of his work. Managing a belly while trying to just sit comfortably was unusual to the extreme. The ramrod spine and perfect posture required at the academy was impossible like this. I had to lounge, make myself vulnerable in order to sink into the plush chair Cyderial prepared for me. Such indolent behavior went against an entire life trained for vigilance. Made me anxious as the male fluffed pillows and placed them to support the unnatural arch in my back. It was all the stranger when a blanket so soft I could not begin to imagine what it was made of was laid over my lap.
In my hands, a fresh magazine full of forbidden female things Cyderial offered, if only I might sit in his company while he read.
Of course, I snatched it out of his fingers and clutched it to my chest like he might take it away.
Reading it? Every minute felt like sin.
“Enjoying your magazine?”
Yes! I read it cover-to-cover twice. Now, I was analyzing each photo, sucking up every modern style I might want to try later. But my answer was reserved. “I like it.”
“You seem agitated.” Yet he said it with a knowing smile.
I couldn’t help it. It was the luxury, the strangeness of nonsexual intimacy with someone I didn’t trust. But mostly, it was the plug. Hours passed since breakfast, and I was still very swollen, my stomach bulbous, and I was nervous that it was not fading as it seemed it should.
The plug had not budged—even if I bore down to the point my body reacted in a disturbing way.
He said he'd take me out when it was dark. Darkness was soon to arrive.
Despite the disaster of yesterday, I did want to see the hybrid corner of the city, see if any of my older sisters from the academy might be there. Get out of Cyderial’s house and away from his overly attentive gaze.
The rotten bastard used one of his secret techniques, no doubt, to keep my insides saturated. Going so far as to lovingly give my stomach a caress every time he was near enough to touch.
Though the protuberance deflated somewhat over the hours, it was still very much there. Which meant I was stuck inside until it released.
I had no way of knowing what the signs of such a thing might be. Wanting it to happen in privacy, fretting about the impending mess, aware Cyderial knew why I was flustered, I fought for patience.