Free Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 2 (Afterlife saga Book 7) by Stephanie Hudson Page A

knew I couldn’t argue as I would have done in my time. But this was his time and he was my King, one I had to obey if I knew what was good for me.
    “Yes, my Lord.” I told him in a quiet voice and it was obvious to him that even though I said the words he wanted to hear, I still didn’t like it. He grinned enjoying my neediness. Then he leaned down getting closer to my face and I could only hope that the night would at least end in a kiss. 
    “I can see that your hidden defiance will amuse me greatly and your reluctance to see me go is even more pleasing, but be warned my little beauty…” he paused, this time getting closer to my ear so that he could whisper his threat, 
    “…once I have you in my bed, I may not want to let you out of it again.”   I sucked in a breath showing him without words how much his own had affected me.
    “Goodnight… My Golden Fleece,” he whispered over my lips without touching them and I was tempted as never before to reach up and kiss him, knowing that once I did, I would capture him as he often did to me. But I couldn’t risk it, not yet, so instead of acting on my impulse I let him lift himself up off the cushions and watched as he left my room. I didn’t want him to go and after seeing this softer side of him that I knew before, my mind was at least put more at ease from when he had been holding a knife to my throat. Yes, I would definitely say this was a big step up from our first encounter.
    I listened for a moment and scooted closer to the entrance so that I could hear what was being said.
    “Ranka has concerns for her safety and believes I should have her moved out of the Harem.” I heard Draven say back in that stern voice he obviously used when speaking with his servants. I heard Parmida cluck her tongue against the roof of her mouth before saying,
    “What does a warrior know of such things? Your Harem is a peaceful place, my King.” I would have liked to have seen Draven’s face if I’d have acted on my impulse and stuck my head out through the curtain to say… ‘Uh, I beg to differ with that one’.
    “That is quite a different account from the one Ranka expressed to me a short while ago. I believe Stateira was involved?” ‘Yeah I’ll say’ I thought frowning at the way that bitch acted. I could tell by the way Draven asked this that he had his arms folded and no doubt was trying to catch Parmida out to see if she was lying or not.
    “Nothing but a bit of healthy competition for your affections, My King and after all, Stateira needs to state her position as head concubine. She is known as your favourite and has been for some time, so I believe this was all she was doing.” I held my breath and waited for Draven’s response, hoping that he would deny this claim and at least give me a small shred of hope that her position wouldn’t be what it was for much longer. I was almost cocky with it, grinning behind the fist that I held at my lips. Surely any minute now he would tell her his obvious feelings for me.
    “Whatever her reasons for this hostility are not my concern but her actions are. I want her kept away from my new concubine, is that understood?” I smiled hearing this, but it turned out to be too soon.     
    “My King forgive me but Stateira is still your favourite, is she not?” Parmida braved to ask and I unfortunately braved to listen to his crushing truth…
     
    “She is and will be for the foreseeable future.”      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 42
    Back Stabbing Heartache
     
     
     
     
    Once I’d heard this brutal statement from Draven I no longer wanted to listen. I threw myself down on the pillows, wrapped myself back up and revelled in the pain these actions caused my body, needing some physical agony to mask the emotional one. This way I could pretend the tears I cried that night weren’t down to the heartache I felt piercing my chest.
     
    I woke the