“I still want to serve as your lady,” Elise says the next day as she works on my hair, plaiting a basket weave down my back. “For as long as I’m able until the baby is born.”
“You’ll be a wife soon,” I point out, meeting her blue gaze in the vanity mirror. “To a member of the Brotherhood, no less, and from the sounds of it, you’ll be busy as his wife.”
The three of us shared lunch on the main balcony earlier, taking advantage of the warm temperature. I’d like to think the change of weather is a sign the cold and dreary month under Mr. Bordeaux’s rule is behind me, that anxiety won’t plague me at the sight of him during dinner.
“I’m clueless of what it means to be the wife of an ambassador.” A nervous lilt steals Elise’s voice.
She’s been high-strung since Landon told us of the role he serves in the Brotherhood. As the Ambassador of Communications, he’s a busy man, and no doubt his wife will be expected to plan elaborate dinners and galas for visiting dignitaries. She won’t have the time, nor the proper station to serve me in the same capacity we’re both used to. As she works her magic on my long locks, reminding me of how I haven’t been pampered in a month, the thought of her moving on to the next chapter in her life saddens me.
With Faye gone, I’ll miss my friend even more. My reflection hides nothing in the mirror, my expression bleeding distress at the thought of losing Elise.
“I’ll make time for you, Novalee. You need a friend you can trust, especially now that Faye has returned home.” She steps back, finished with my hair, and I turn on the stool and take her hand.
“I accept your friendship, so long as it doesn’t put a strain on your family.” I search her face for signs of trauma or guilt, but since she told me about the rape, she’s been shut down. “Marrying Landon…is that what you really want? Because I’ll talk to your parents and make arrangements for you to return home. You don’t have to go through with this.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course. Come sit with me.” I gesture to the ottoman at the end of the king-sized bed, and we settle onto the cushion, side-by-side.
“I’ve had feelings for Landon from the moment I saw him at that first dinner, but I ignored them because of his title.”
I hear all she doesn’t say.
“And because of your obligation to me.” A hint of hurt darts through me. “I wish you’d told me…or Faye.”
Maybe if she’d gone to Faye, things would have unfolded differently. It’s possible she wouldn’t have given Jerome the time of day if she’d believed Landon was an obtainable prospect.
Because Faye might have said something to me earlier about my relation to the Astors. But would my sense of betrayal be any less if I’d heard it from Faye instead of Landon? That’s a question I might never have an answer to.
“As your lady, it wasn’t my place to tell you.”
“I’m more than just your queen, Elise. I consider you family.”
Her eyes well, and before the first tear spills, I wrap my arms around her.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbles against my shoulder. “I’m going to ruin your dress.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s just a dress. You’re more important.”
“It’s these hormones. I cry over everything now.”
“It’s more than just hormones,” I whisper into her hair. “You’ve been through so much.” What she can’t acknowledge is how she has a reason to shed her pain.
It’s then I realize we both do.
Iron willpower is my only defense against a breakdown. I blink the tears away and pull myself together. “You’ll need to touch up your makeup before dinner,” I say, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks.
She nods, rising in a fluid motion, her tears already drying on her skin. Elise is a pillar of strength in that moment, and if I’m half as strong as she is, I’ll make it through another dinner with the Brotherhood just fine.
An hour later, I arm myself with that thought as I follow Landon into the dining room on the first floor. With Elise an inspiration at my side and Landon as my shield, I smite down any trace of lingering fear.
Until the sight of Mr. Bordeaux elicits an unexpected knee-jerk reaction. The breath stalls in my lungs as I come to an abrupt stop, my knees trembling with the urge to kneel. Noticing my frozen state just inside the open doors, Landon nods in encouragement.
“You’re not in the House of Taurus anymore, my queen. He has no authority over you.” He speaks with reassuring confidence as he glances at the man in question, who’s already seated at the giant round table of zodiac signs.
Heath Bordeaux doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. My presence is inconsequential to him, not even a blip on his radar. If he can forget my existence, I should be able to do the same. I shove the memory of his cold, unbending cruelty to a place deep in my mind and put a lock on it. As my heart rate evens out, I continue to my chair at Landon’s side, while Elise slides in next to me.
Another month, another beginning at the altar of this unconventional table. Among the first to arrive, we spend the next several minutes watching the members of the Brotherhood enter.
Liam makes my heart tumble in happiness.
Vance and his reserved demeanor make me nervous, since I’ll be his subject next month.
Then Sebastian saunters in and all the activity in the room fades into the background. The sight of him sends a flood of heat to my core. With feigned nonchalance, I cross my legs, pressing my thighs together, and pray my cheeks aren’t as hot as my pussy.
This is ridiculous.
I need him to touch me…to do more than just touch me. It’s the only way I’ll get him out of my system.
Sebastian settles in place three seats down, and I swear he’s smirking in my direction. I don’t have to sneak a peek at him to know it’s true.
I feel it.
His smugness wafting in the air. The weight of that aqua gaze casting shivers down my back. The full shape of his mouth. He’s so beautiful it hurts.
If I meet Sebastian’s eyes, he’ll see too much.
If I glance at Liam, he’ll see it too.
Instead, I survey the rest of the men gathering around the table. Except for Pax, whose mere existence pulses terror through me, the members of the Brotherhood are strangers—just familiar faces whose names I can’t remember.
Virgo.
Libra.
Scorpio.
Sagittarius.
Capricorn.
Aquarius.
Pieces.
That’s all I know about the remaining seven men of the Zodiac Brotherhood, save for the monster in the House of Libra.
Servers interrupt my musings by setting the first course in front of me. I’ve just started on the appetizer, a delectable shrimp cocktail, when Landon rises to his feet.
“I have an announcement to make,” he says as his commanding gaze includes every man at the table. “During the last few weeks, the queen’s lady and I have spent a lot of time together. I’ve grown fond of Elise and have asked for her hand in marriage.”
A collective series of shocked questions erupts, prompting Liam to stand. He raises a hand and calls for silence.
“Order, please.” After the group settles down, the chancellor turns his attention on Landon. “You mean to withdraw from the auction?”
“I do. Elise and I want to marry as soon as possible.”
Liam casts a glance my way, and there’s no mistaking the curiosity in his expression. “The queen doesn’t object?”
“No,” Landon answers. “She’s given us her blessing.”
Liam settles back into his seat, but as he rests his chin on his hand, I recognize his suspicion by the downward curve of his kissable mouth. “Is there a reason you’re in such a rush to marry the queen’s lady?”
Landon exchanges a glance with Elise. “Aside from being crazy about her?” He pulls his shoulders back and sends a slow glance around the table, taking in each member with an air of bold determination. “She’s pregnant with my child.”
The reactions are varied, from congratulatory platitudes to ridiculing accusations of impropriety.
Liam raises his hand again, causing the room to go quiet once more. “I see. That is a good reason for haste. Does your father know?”
“I explained the situation. He’s given his approval and will inform the legacy members.”
“I guess there’s only one concern left to discuss,” Liam says. “Do you intend to have physical contact with the queen this month?”
“No. Though I’m certain the queen and I will get to know each other, it will be on a platonic level.”
Liam seems relieved, and I wish I could warn him about the bomb Landon’s about to drop on him.
“If no one has any objections,” Liam begins, “then I don’t see an issue with Landon bowing out of the auction.”
With the exception of two that appear unpleased by Landon’s news, most of the members nod in agreement while a couple wear masks too impenetrable to read, including Sebastian.
Landon clears his throat. “Elise and I plan to visit her home. She would like for me to meet her parents.” Pausing a beat, he takes my lady’s hand in his. “We’ll return in time for the annual Astor Charity Ball.”
“I’m assuming the queen will stay here at the estate?” Liam asks.
“Yes. And that brings me to her gift.” Landon withdraws a key from his pocket and turns to me. “This opens a room I had renovated just for you. You should have plenty to do while we’re gone.” He hands me the gold key, and as my fingers grasp the ornate bow, I’m fascinated by the design—a delicate “A” sitting in the middle of the Gemini symbol.
“It’s beautiful. What does it open?”
“I’ll show you tomorrow. It’s a surprise.”
“When do you leave the island?” Liam speaks up.
“We leave in two days.” Landon takes a sip of his wine, his focus on the chancellor. “I have one final announcement. I’ve chosen someone as a proxy for the House of Gemini. He has my full, unrestricted permission to spend time with the queen, regardless of my presence in the tower.”
Liam’s mouth takes on a displeased line. “Who?”
Now it’s Sebastian’s turn to speak. “That would be me.”
“This is absurd,” the chancellor says through clenched teeth.
“This is what I want.” Landon arches a challenging brow. “No one besides Sebastian has my permission to touch the queen. On this, you will not sway me.”
Liam stands, his hands balled at his sides as he passes a glowering gaze between Landon and his rival. Sebastian is the epitome of passion, but Liam Castle doesn’t have that thick, coppery hair for nothing.
“You can’t just hand her off to someone else for the whole month. That isn’t fair to any of us.”
“I’m not handing her off. She’ll remain in the House of Gemini, but Sebastian will have free access to her at his discretion.”
“Essentially giving him double the time with the queen.” Outrage drips from Liam’s words.
“Don’t pretend you wouldn’t jump at the same opportunity, Chancellor.” Landon also rises, and the two of them face off across the table. “Or did you already forget about the deal you made with Heath last month?”
I don’t understand why, but Landon’s reminder makes Liam back down a degree.
“I didn’t forget.” He flicks an irritated glance at Sebastian. “But he’s been unnecessarily rude and obnoxious to Novalee.”
Landon laughs. “Most of us are guilty of that. Sebastian is my choice, and I won’t discuss this any further. It’s my month, so my word is law.”
“I’ve lost my appetite.” Liam storms out of the dining room, leaving a table full of stunned expressions in his wake.
Because the chancellor isn’t one to lose his cool, but Sebastian getting his hands on me just sent him over the edge.