Fix Me Up (Unknown Succubus Series book 2)

Moody Meals

The same three maids woke me up once again when morning came. My dress for the day was vastly different than the ones before. It had a low neckline and tight bodice. The fabric was a rich emerald silk with a black lace overlay. Long slits ran up the sides and stopped just above my hipbones. The dress fell to the floor and hid my black slippers. The sleeves reached to my forearms and were snug against my skin. There was a faint bruise on my skin from Killian's bite last night but my skin was otherwise unblemished.
"Oh this is a lot for this early." I mumbled in surprise. The women took their time styling my hair into an intricate braid once again. Large emerald hairpins were placed into my hair and they matched the emerald earrings and necklace already on my body. Dramatic makeup was carefully applied to my face. My eyes were smoked out with a dark green and black eyeshadow and winged eyeliner intensified the look. A mauve lipstick was applied to my lips and a matching blush was swept onto my cheeks. It had been a hot minute since I'd last worn a full face of makeup and damn was it heavy and time consuming.
"It's a special occasion." Marie, the oldest of the three informed me softly. With so much of my legs on display I felt uncomfortable. I was a self conscious Succubus, what a joke. There was a knock on the door and Delilah left the other two women to open it. Marie checked over my hair as Jeanette, the youngest of them finished my makeup.
   "I apologize sir, but it would be inappropriate for you to enter a lady's chamber. I understand you station. No. Lady Aspen is under his majesty's care so only he is to escort her from her room." Delilah's voice sounded strained as she argued with the person on the other side of the door.  There was an angry reply before whoever was on the other side tried to push the door open. "Sir Killian! I am going to have to request that you leave at once. Please discuss your intentions with my lady with the king as she is his charge." The older woman managed to convince him to leave and the tension settled.
   "What was that about?" I asked when Delilah returned to my side. She placed a warm hand on my shoulder and sighed.
   "Oh nothing for you to worry about, my lady." She smiled tiredly down at me. My brows creased with concern. The arguing seemed to be about me so I had a right to know.
  "Please tell me. I'd rather not be blindsided later on." I pleaded sincerely and gazed up at the older woman. She sighed again before looking at the other woman and back down at me.
   "Sir Killian seems to be quite taken with you as of late. He requested we allow him to escort you to breakfast. After that he demanded I let him inside so that he could ask your family name in order to court you. I believe he fancies you so greatly that he wishes to ask for your hand." Delilah answered with an air of wisdom about her tone. I cursed internally. Of course he was interested now. I'd fed from him and now he would be obsessed until the effects wore off.
   There was no time to fall into a hole of self loathing about my own stupidity as someone else knocked on my door. This time it opened before Delilah could leave to answer it. Jasper walked into my bedroom wearing royal garments. His trousers were fitted and a dark black that matched his boots. He wore a cream shirt beneath his dark green jacket. What was the most interesting was the fact that he was wearing his crown. It was the first time I'd seen it and it was definitely something fit for a dragon king. It was gold and encrusted with all kinds of rare gems that sparkles in the light. The crown was definitely a valuable treasure.
  "Aspen, would you accompany me to breakfast this morning?" He asked formally and I was caught in stunned silence. It took me a moment to realize that the three maids had bowed their heads down in respect while I was blatantly ogling their king. I probably resembled a deer in headlights as my eyes were widened in surprise and my mouth had parted open slightly.
   "Um, sure?" I choked out in response. An amused smile turned up Jasper's lips as he stepped forward and grabbed hold of my hand. Jasper easily pulled me to my feet and I almost stumbled into him. Instead of offering me his elbow to take like I'd expected him to he slid his arm around my waist and led me out of my room.
   "You look lovely today, my lady." Jasper complimented me as we walked down the hallway. Multiple guards trailed behind us and a few were stationed throughout the halls. It was the first time I'd seen so many in the castle.
   "You look nice too. Now, what's so special about today?" I asked pointedly. Chilly air caressed my legs with each step forward as the fabric of my dress parted to expose them. Jasper glanced at me from the corner of his eye but remained quiet. I sent an elbow into his ribs subtly and he barely felt it.
   "It is a fertility holiday so please do not cause any trouble today, Aspen." He sighed out and suddenly we were entering the dining room. All noise stopped the instant he stepped into the room. I kept my head raised as eyes swiveled to watch us. It made sense that people would be intrigued to see their king holding someone so familiarly. Jasper even pulled out my chair for me which was an odd thing to do in general. I was the only one seated as he stood at the head of the table and looked around the room.
   "Before we break our fast this morning, I have a surprise I would like to unveil." Jasper announced with a pleased smile. I glanced up at him in confusion. On the table in between us was a black box. He reached down and opened it. Inside of the box was a gold tiara with emeralds delicately places throughout the metal.  My stomach clenched with shock. This was a very suspicious situation. "Do you accept, lady Aspen?" He asked me in a meaningful tone.
   What should I say? What was he asking me to accept?
  "Oh no." I mumbled entirely inaudible to others. I didn't know this culture at all but I couldn't risk upsetting Jasper or his people. And yet I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I took a deep breath and rose my gaze to meet Jasper's. Eh, fuck it all. "Yes? I accept." I answered with a quivering voice.
   "Let us break our fast." Jasper nodded reassuringly and placed the tiara on my head. It was heavier than it had appeared. My mood instantly soured as I stewed internally about my decision. Why had he put me on the spot like that? What had I agreed to? Where the hell was my food?
  "Thank you." I said as a plate was placed in front of me on the table. The servant nodded in acknowledgment and walked away. I ate my breakfast mechanically. Jasper leaned over and used a hand to raise my face. I blinked in surprise as he pressed a blackberry to my lips. I was starting to believe that he really didn't like berries as he was always trying to feed me the berries from his plate.
  "Take it." He ordered when I didn't move. Instead of eating the fruit I went to turn my face. I didn't get the chance to twist my face away because a familiar tail slid up my thigh and surprised me. My mouth opened in shock and he took the opportunity to pop the tart blackberry inside. A grumble left my lips as my hands tried to push his tail away from me.
   "I think I would like to retire to my room before your family pounces on me." I mumbled as a bad mood began to stake its claim over me. My appetite had been smothered with the uncomfortable knots of anxiousness stewing inside of my stomach. All I wanted to do was escape to my room and avoid all dragons for as long as possible. I didn't want to deal with Killian or Jasper or any of the royal family.
   "You've barely eaten anything, Aspen." Jasper chastised me like a disappointed parent would and shot me a stern look. My mood instantly darkened. If he was going to treat me like a rebellious teenager, then I was going to channel all the angst and moodiness I'd repressed. There were a few ways this could go. One was being entirely too melodramatic and ripping off the damn tiara before yelling something incomprehensible and storming back to my room. Two was shoving my plate away from me on the table and starting a public argument before stomping away. Three was sulking in my seat and refusing to eat while pursing my lips and glowering at everyone. Four was not saying a word before just getting up and leaving, then I'd lock myself in my room for a few days and refuse to see or speak to anyone and never explain why. Maybe I'd just take a few ideas from the list and improvise.
   "Having no idea what is going on tends to ruin my appetite. I don't like losing control of my own choices." I fumed as my gaze locked onto Jasper with a sharp stare. His expression turned sour and he looked away from my face. My eyes narrowed at him suspiciously.
  "There is no need to be so dramatic. I will tell you everything later." Jasper sighed in response. I made a frustrated noise before standing up and leaving the table. The room became hushed as people turned to watch me walk away. What I wasn't expecting was for Jasper to have followed after me. His hand wrapped around my arm and tugged me backward. When I turned to face him he'd used his other hand to hold onto the back of my neck. Jasper used his grip to pull my face forward and kiss me. Before I could react he'd pulled away. My face had become a mask of confusion. "You're the most infuriating woman I've ever dealt with." He groaned before releasing me from his grasp.
"Oh, that's rich coming from you. If I'm so infuriating to deal with than don't. I'll deal with Luke myself." I huffed before turning on my heel and walking away. If he tried to stop me I didn't hear it. Breakfast had been an ordeal that I wasn't prepared for but the added security in the castle left me even more confused. Knights were standing in every hall and guarding every door that led outside. Even more were outside of my bedroom. I ignored them and went inside with my head held high. Something was going on and I needed answers now.