Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

Siraay’s red mane. Then the servant had used the brush to add volume to the section of hair at the back of Siraay’s head. It was a look that spoke of both a seductress and a warrior.

Trelar stood back a little, twisting the brush nervously in her hands. ‘Is this the type of style you were after, my lady?’

Siraay looked away from her reflection and stood, allowing a small smile to play about her lips. ‘It is. I’m pleased.’

Trelar’s lips pressed together carefully, trying to hide the hopeful smile that was always just beneath the surface on the rare occasions when Siraay praised her.

But the next bit was always the most fun—for Siraay.

‘Now bring me my boots, and don’t sweat all over them with your fidgety fingers,’ she ordered, fighting the temptation to laugh as Trelar’s face fell once more.

The female never learned.

Siraay watched as the servant hurried across the room to a chest, reaching in and sorting through the various footwear inside for the items she was after.

While Siraay waited, amused, she walked across to the table where the refreshments had been placed, the long dark-green skirt of her dress rasping over the floor behind her, while the front of the dress had one long slit so that her legs could move freely.

Trelar had tightly laced up the strapless corset that formed the top part of the dress, so that Siraay felt she could move securely in it, without the front of the dress slipping to expose more skin than planned.

Picking out outfits for particular purposes was one of her favourite things these days, Siraay mused as she eyed the platter on the table. Selecting a particularly delicious-looking grape, Siraay hoped that this dress would be the one that Chezran would take off her—much later that night, if all went to plan. She knew the dress complemented her skin and eyes nicely, and her eye makeup had been done in deep shades of green, making her blue eyes stand out. Thankfully, she had been able to cover up the cut and bruise she had received to her cheek that morning with some careful application of powder, although she wished she’d had time to heal properly in her sevonix form.

And, unfortunately, she didn’t seem able to call on her new healing talent at will either.

Frowning slightly at that small nuisance, Siraay regarded her reflection in the mirror across the room, popping the grape into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully.

Only to spit it out abruptly a moment later, causing Trelar to look around in alarm.

‘My lady?’

‘You clod of dirt!’ Siraay spat the last of the grape out of her mouth. ‘The fruit is rotten!’ She reached for the glass of nectar that sat on the tray beside the platter, wanting to rid the taste from her mouth. She took a large gulp, then swallowed quickly.

‘I’m so sorry, lady!’ Trelar’s face was a tight knot of worry as she hurried to the table.

Siraay’s wrath flared, and she slammed the glass back down to the table, almost breaking it in her anger, and then took a swift step towards her servant. ‘How dare you present me with rotten food!’ She whipped her arm out, catching Trelar across the ear and cheek with her hand, making the female squeal in pain.

‘Please, lady, I did not know!’ The servant cowered in submission, her hands raised to her face. ‘The kitchen prepares the trays, I do not oversee the process.’

Glaring down at her servant, Siraay raised her hand again, of the mind to teach the female a sound lesson, but then the bitter taste of the grape came back to her. Ugh—she needed another drink to wash that ill flavour from her mouth.

Dropping her hand, Siraay grabbed up her glass and the nearby jug to re-fill it. ‘Take away the food, and don’t you dare come back with anything that displeases me, or by the Mother, I’ll make an example of you!’

Trelar nodded, her eyes streaming with liquid fear as she bowed low and cringed her way out of the room.

Siraay took another drink from her glass as she watched the female depart, glaring as she swished the nectar around in her mouth a little before swallowing.

That was better—the taste was fading.

One of the doors to her room opened again, and Genlie stuck her head in, scanning quickly. ‘Is everything alright, my lady?’ It was the afternoon shift which meant that Genlie and Melora were on duty.

‘Yes,’ Siraay confirmed. ‘But make sure that wretched creature has tasted the food herself before it gets brought in to me again.’

Genlie nodded and, stepping back into the hallway, closed the door behind her.

‘Rotten food,’ Siraay muttered angrily as she set down her half-empty glass and turned away from the table.

Or tried to.

As she pivoted, she overbalanced and stumbled slightly. Blinking, she put out a hand to steady herself against the table, but she misjudged the edge and missed, collapsing to the floor.

What was wrong with her?

Siraay tried to sit up and call out to her guards but found that she had no control over her body, that all her strength had left her.

Her heart began racing inside her chest, and for the first time since she had been awakened, Siraay felt real fear spark within her.

Still, she had not come this far to be overtaken by any kind of weakness, so with an effort that only the Mother could have appreciated, Siraay reached up in a final attempt to grab at the edge of the table.

Again, she missed, but one hand did manage to connect with the glass she had put there, sending it sliding off the table to smash against the stone floor and break into a thousand pieces, the remaining nectar inside spilling and scattering the jagged fragments still further.

Siraay collapsed back down again, now unable to move her head from its position on the ground as she watched the liquid from the broken glass spread across the floor towards the door.

The door to Siraay’s room had