Beautiful Torture *Book Two of the Beautiful series*

11) Family Meal

In the end, Hunter returned empty handed, much to the dismay of Lucy's growling stomach.

"The twins have requested we dine with them." His bitter words seemed to slice the air in the room, leaving a sizzle in its wake. Which was strange, Lucy thought, as he was usually only so hostile towards Alexander. The twins must be particularly grating. She dreaded the thought of facing the two after what she had almost done to them. It would not be unreasonable for them to despise her already, and that fact certainly did not make the idea of dining with them any more appealing.

Next to her, the king shifted, that unfamiliar flash of nerves coming over him. Lucy frowned. "Must we? Can not we leave or, at the very least, go back to that inn?" she half begged him.

Alexander's dark eyes softened, but she could already see the no before he spoke it. "The deal I have made with them requires that we help deal with their father. Lord Ossis is desperate to free Imera, he will do anything to have it thus. Kill those closest without hesitation. His children fear for their lives."

Lucy's hand drifted to her stomach, recalling the look on the servant's face–the vessel of Lord Ossis– when she had mentioned Alexander dealing with the twins. So, it had all been an act? His display of rage at the thought of them being harmed? She could have sworn there had been paternal love behind the anger, but maybe it was something else.

Something darker.

She shivered. The air in her lungs turned cold as frost, leaving her unable to reply. Hunter obliged her, piping up, "If that is so, perhaps it is all the more reason to leave. If a man is willing to hurt his own flesh and blood...imagine what he would do to us."

Alexander seemed to consider his words, his finger drifting towards his pocket. Lucy watched him carefully, still unspeaking. When he withdrew, the golden liquid bubbled inside the glass vial. He fingered it as gently as one might handle a baby bird, and then held it up to the afternoon sunlight. "I have a plan, but we must speak to the twins first. Come, Lucy, dress and ready yourself for our meal. Lilith has provided you with a handful of dresses to choose from." he gestured at the imposing wardrobe, carved from ash wood. She felt the ghost of his squeeze on her hand before shepherding Hunter out of the room so she could prepare in private.

Lucy grew aware of her knees wobbling beneath her thin nightgown. Her body needed sustenance. Craved it to no end. In another life, she might stubbornly refuse, opting to sit in the room and wait them out, but the unborn Prince was not having that. The mere thought sent sharp hunger pains echoing throughout her whole body, so she rose and went to find something proper. Lilith, it seemed, had rather dark taste. The gowns came in shades of indigo, claret, iron grays, and endless blacks. After a moment of quiet deliberation, she finally settled on a deep sapphire blue with a silver braided neck and waist line. The former dipped low so the bodice pushed up her full breasts, as was the style, and the sleeves were long, trailing almost to the ground. She would have to be mindful not to let them dip into her soup. She laughed at the fleeting thought, staring into the mirror.

Her hair was another matter entirely. The trip through Wicker Woods had done it no favors. It was the most time consuming part of preparing, to brush through the thick gleaming locks before arranging them into a flattering braid she let drape down over her shoulder. By the time she was done, she looked half presentable, at least, and smiled at the reflection in the wide mirror set over the vanity.

It is going to be okay, she told herself and sucked in a deep breath.

Once out in the hall, she realized she did not exactly know which way the dining room was, having been carried to bed by her king, half asleep. Her dark slippers graced the stone floor uneasily as she began on a whim until bumping into a helpful servant who offered direction.