Bride of the Emperor (The Prophecy of Sisters Book 4) by Hayley Faiman (the gingerbread man read aloud txt) 📗

I’m in his room.

I. Am. In. His. Room.

Holy. Shit.

I don’t know exactly what this means, but I’m a woman and he’s a hot dude, and I can only think of one thing that it could mean. He wants in my panties, or whatever these little tied on the side things are. They actually remind me of my bikini, except they cover a little more and aren’t as stretchy, but they do tie on the sides. They’re kind of cute for super-duper old-fashioned undies.

Closing the wardrobe, I turn away from the clothes and walk over to the window. There isn’t any glass and I wrinkle my nose, wondering how many bugs find their way in here on a nightly and daily basis.

Gross.

Then I forget everything. The hot dude, the bath, the panties, the weirdness of wherever I am. It’s all forgotten, because the landscape is just that breathtaking. The rolling hills, the purples, pinks, and oranges, the green of the sea and the blue of the sand.

It’s fantastical.

I thought that it was before, but now, from the distance and this height, it’s more than just fantastical. I don’t think that there is a word to describe what this is. Unworldly, fantastical, they both work and yet they don’t seem big enough.

I’m not sure what is happening here. I’m scared, but I’m also in too much awe to dwell on my predicament. I should be, but as my typical self, I’m pretty excited for whatever this adventure is and I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to find my sisters here.

Adventure.

I love it. I absolutely adore the idea of adventure and being in the throes of it. There is something cosmic about it. I’m not sure why, but I feel so wild and free when I’m in a new place, doing new things.

Instead of being completely scared shitless in this situation, I’m going to look at it as a new experience. I mean, it’s not like I can just jump up, call an Uber and get the hell outta dodge, I’m kind of stuck here, so I may as well make the best of it.

I don’t know what is going to happen or why, but I have to have hope and faith that this is going to take me one step closer to my sisters. I’m going to embrace everything and hopefully I will see them soon, then we can all go home.

At that thought, at that decision, there is a knock on the door, then I hear the lock click and it slowly opens. I gasp at the sight of the man standing in front of me. He tilts his head to the side and smiles. It’s a warm smile, his dark eyes even warmer and he holds out his hand in a greeting or an offering, I’m unsure which.

Taking a step toward him, I slip my hand in his, watching as his brows snap together in almost a frown. I don’t know who this man is, but he certainly is not the man who tracked and grabbed me in the forest.

His eyes are far too kind, his smile way too easy, and he’s not nearly as wide in the chest. I don’t know who this dude in the fancy-assed toga is, but he is not my horseback warrior—not in the slightest, and if they think they’re pulling one over on me, they’ve got another thing coming.

TIBERIUS

I have never looked forward to a meal more than I have this one, not that I’ll be joining anyone. I’ve chosen to dine separately from the rest of my family. However, I have the perfect view of my fated—my intended.

She’s prettier than I remembered from just a few hours ago. I watch as Marcellus leads her toward her pillowed seat. She looks around, a bit confused, then she sinks down to the seat, and even from my distance, I can see the way her violet eyes light up at the sight of the food laid out on the table.

There is fresh meat, fruit, cheese, and what looks like bread, placed in large platters lining the center of the table. Cassia leans forward, touching my fated’s arm, then motions to her to place the food on her plate, before she picks that food up and plops that food into her mouth.

Language.

It is a shame that not all of the lands speak Savonaian. I find the other languages utterly useless, however, remembering what the beast exclaimed. She is not even of the other lands in this world, she is from a different world altogether.

As the evening moves on, I am not surprised to hear the music begin and to watch the people, my family and trusted associates begin to dance. Then Marcellus holds out his hand, offering it to my fated.

I watch, green with envy, as they dance. She does not know how, though perhaps her dancing is different where she is from. Then it happens. My heart squeezes and I feel heat roll throughout my entire body.

Her laughter fills the air.

It’s melodic. It is beautiful. It is more exquisite than the music itself. I continue to watch her, losing myself in her as I take her in. Even though my body burns with envy that she is dancing with my frater, my body also burns just for her.

I have never felt this way before, never yearned for a woman the way that I do for her. It is an odd sensation that fills me just at the sight of her. She is stunning, but I have lain with stunning women before.

It is something else.

Something that I cannot quite comprehend.

“You like her,” Cassia announces from next to me.

I don’t jump, but I do turn my head, startled by her close proximity. “I do not know her,” I point out.

She smiles, her grin growing wider by the moment. “You do not need to know her for your body to want her, Tiberius. I do not believe that I must teach this to you, cousin,” she says,