Today was the Trial of lust. Just thinking about it made my cheeks burn and my stomach twist. I had no idea what Kaelen expected from me, but the thought of being watched… pleasure… myself made my pulse race faster than I wanted.
Talia had helped me bathe in warm lavender water. The scent wrapped around me like a soft shield, calming some of my nerves but doing nothing to stop the flutter in my chest. Then she handed me the dress… a delicate, flowing thing, almost transparent in places, that clung to my curves and left me feeling more exposed than I'd ever been.
I looked at myself in the mirror, my robe long gone, my body wrapped in the silken fabric. My stomach twisted at how vulnerable I felt, and yet… there was a strange, dangerous thrill I couldn't shake.
A knock at the door
