Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66405 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“Come on now—don’t you want to be included in the Choosing Ceremony?” Sparki coaxed. “I know the Council will let you in if you look right—they’re dying for fresh blood around here, you know.”
“They are? What do you mean?” Addie asked, as she reluctantly pulled down the top of the dress and began removing her bra.
“Oh, just that we’re all so inbred around here because the High Borns are such snobs. Nobody with even a touch of Sheelash White in their hair wants to marry beneath them.” She pointed to the stripe of platinum blonde that ran through her thick black hair. “See that? It shows I’m a descendant of Sheelash herself.”
“It doess?” Addie frowned. This was the second time someone had claimed to be descended from the mythical Spider Goddess they worshiped here on Crimson Moon. Did they really believe it?
Sparki certainly seemed to, because she nodded gravely.
"Uh-huh. And the black in my hair is because my great-grandmother fell in love with a common man—a Low Born who came from outside the ruling class. It takes ages to breed the common blood out again and have pure Sheelash White hair like Sambla does,” she added
“But…wouldn’t I be considered a commoner, er, a ‘Low Born’ too?” Addie asked uncertainly, pulling the dress back up again.
“Oh, no—you’re a klixa—an honored off-worlder. It’s not uncommon for a klixa to be invited to participate in the Choosing Ceremony, though it’s been years since one was actually chosen to be the Queen of Night,” Sparki told her. She tilted her head to examine Addie. “There—you look so much better with your assets on display! But you need to remove your pussy-covers too.”
“I’m sorry—my what?” Addie asked, almost laughing.
“Whatever you call those garments covering your sex.” Sparki pointed to her panties—which, to be fair, were also visible beneath the sheer black silk dress.
“Really?” Addie felt even more self-conscious. “I really don’t think—”
“You have to,” Sparki told her. “Look, I’m up for the Choosing Ceremony too this year, you know. It’s my one and only chance to be crowned the Queen of Night. But I want you to have a chance too—please, Lssa Addie?”
“Well…all right.” Addie didn’t like the idea of being completely bare beneath the dress, especially in mixed company. But she supposed it couldn’t be helped. If she wanted to observe the Queen of Night Ceremony—and also possibly get a chance to witness the Thirst Quenching ritual—she was going to have to bite the bullet and get naked under the black silk garment.
Reaching up under the long skirt of the dress, she snagged the side of her panties and pulled them down. She was glad that she’d done some personal grooming the day before coming here—her nest of soft curls, a shade darker than the hair on her head—was a neat triangle that barely covered her mound.
Once she’d folded her underwear neatly, she smoothed the dress back down.
“Okay, I’m ready—I guess.”
Sparki clapped her hands.
“Now you look perfect! Oh, I can’t wait to stand in the circle with you as the cup is passed around!”
“The cup?” Addie asked uncertainly.
“You know—the cup of Sheelash’s Bounty. It reveals which maiden is worthy to become the Queen of Night,” Sparki explained. “Come on—it’s almost time for the feast! I hope the tiresome threesome have gotten your bodyguard dressed,” she added.
Her mention of Drago made Addie suddenly remember that the nobles of the Vargan Court weren’t the only ones who would be seeing her half-naked—or at least, naked under her dress. The big Drake Kindred was going to see her too. And a quick glance in the mirror revealed that he would be seeing a lot.
Her large, puffy nipples were poking obscenely at the sheer black material, which seemed determined to mold itself to her every curve. The skirt of her dress clung to her too, so much so that even the slit of her pussy was on display.
Oh my God, this is a mistake! I need to put my bra and underwear back on!
But before she could reach for her undergarments, which she had folded neatly and laid on the corner of the marble sink, Sparki grabbed her arm and opened the bathroom door.
It was too late—Drago was going to see it all.
6
DRAGO
Drago was striding back and forth in the roomy bedchamber, trying to get used to his new “feasting clothes.” He had been allowed to keep his boots and flight leathers on—the tight black leather trousers were like a second skin to him and he was glad to keep them. But his uniform shirt had been taken and he’d been forced to put on a strange kind of leather harness instead. The black leather straps that criss-crossed his bare chest were studded with silver and took some getting used to.
He’d also had to endure the cold hands of the three skinny ladies-in-waiting putting the leather harness on him. It made him wonder if all Vargans were as cold—or as horny—as the three of them. They kept trying to slip their icy fingers into the waistband of his flight leathers to get hold of his shaft—and Drago had to keep pushing them away.