Read Online The Agrista (Between the Lines Book 1) by Shannon Lamb - Free Book Online
Authors: Shannon Lamb
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fortunately in the opposite direction. As Johanna knelt down to clean up the mess, she gently placed a hand on Alex’s front paw and whispered two obscure words, prompting him to move a step forward.
“Johanna, you imbecile!” hissed Queen Cailene.
Alex began moving forward again. Marie fought back her squeals of delight, casting an appreciative glance at the young serving girl. If they made it out of this alive, she would find a way to repay her. She had no idea what Johanna had said to Alex, but whatever it was, it had snapped him back into reality.
“Gustav! Fetch us more drinks!” Cailene bellowed. “Johanna seems to be incapable today.”
A small creature emerged from the shadows of the throne and placed himself before the Queen and her son with a customary bow. Gustav, apparently. Had he been here the whole time? Marie watched him in fascination as he left the room, trying to figure out exactly what he was. He looked like a little troll, making her wonder if their existence was more than just a myth. After today, anything seemed possible.
Gustav was short and stout, no more than three feet tall. His skin was dry, scaly and green, much like a turtle’s. His head was perfectly round and almost entirely bald, if not for a few random flyaway gray hairs. He had a flattened, elongated snout with protruding black whiskers, and round, black, beady eyes that reminded Marie of a little field mouse.
She’d gotten so caught up in watching Gustav, she hadn’t even realized that Alex had only gotten a few steps further before coming to a complete stop again. She looked around to see what had stopped him this time, quickly realizing that the prince now stood a mere few inches from them.
“Let me help you, Johanna.” The prince knelt a little too close to the serving girl. By the look on her face, his presence obviously made her extremely uncomfortable.
“That’s very kind of you, Prince Marcel, but a man of your status shouldn’t be doing servants’ work. It’s beneath you.” She forced a smile as she inched away from him, only to have him move even closer.
“What’s this?” Marcel grabbed her hand, holding it up to his face. “You’ve cut yourself on the glass,” he squeezed the fresh cut on her finger, forcing blood to trickle out. “When you’re done cleaning this up, come to my chambers. I’ll bandage you up.” Marcel threaded his fingers through her curly ponytail, causing her to quiver as a look of terror washed over her face.
Without preamble or permission, Marcel placed his hand on Johanna’s knee, slowly inching it up her thigh as he delicately slid her dress higher. She sat unmoving, unable to react. A serving girl had no place denying a prince anything he wanted, even if what he wanted was her.
It was killing Marie that she couldn’t intervene. She was more than willing to give away their position to help the poor girl, but what good would come of it? The three of them would probably end up as faces in the creepy skin tapestry so boldly displayed in the last room.
Marie watched helplessly as Marcel continued to put his disgusting hands all over Johanna. He probably thought no one could see him, and continued to do as he pleased. Marie wasn’t sure he’d stop even if he did know he had an audience. It might only sate his prurience.
Marie hated people like Marcel. She was a pushover when it came to a lot of things, but one thing she could not and would not stand for was bullying . Marcel was no different than any other bully, and he needed to be put in his place. It took every bit of restraint she could muster up to stop herself from kicking him in the face, which just so happened to be right by her foot.
Minutes later, Gustav returned with fresh drinks. His attention was immediately drawn to Johanna’s distress. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, but Marcel seemed unconcerned by another pair of eyes. He hastily set the tray
“Johanna, you imbecile!” hissed Queen Cailene.
Alex began moving forward again. Marie fought back her squeals of delight, casting an appreciative glance at the young serving girl. If they made it out of this alive, she would find a way to repay her. She had no idea what Johanna had said to Alex, but whatever it was, it had snapped him back into reality.
“Gustav! Fetch us more drinks!” Cailene bellowed. “Johanna seems to be incapable today.”
A small creature emerged from the shadows of the throne and placed himself before the Queen and her son with a customary bow. Gustav, apparently. Had he been here the whole time? Marie watched him in fascination as he left the room, trying to figure out exactly what he was. He looked like a little troll, making her wonder if their existence was more than just a myth. After today, anything seemed possible.
Gustav was short and stout, no more than three feet tall. His skin was dry, scaly and green, much like a turtle’s. His head was perfectly round and almost entirely bald, if not for a few random flyaway gray hairs. He had a flattened, elongated snout with protruding black whiskers, and round, black, beady eyes that reminded Marie of a little field mouse.
She’d gotten so caught up in watching Gustav, she hadn’t even realized that Alex had only gotten a few steps further before coming to a complete stop again. She looked around to see what had stopped him this time, quickly realizing that the prince now stood a mere few inches from them.
“Let me help you, Johanna.” The prince knelt a little too close to the serving girl. By the look on her face, his presence obviously made her extremely uncomfortable.
“That’s very kind of you, Prince Marcel, but a man of your status shouldn’t be doing servants’ work. It’s beneath you.” She forced a smile as she inched away from him, only to have him move even closer.
“What’s this?” Marcel grabbed her hand, holding it up to his face. “You’ve cut yourself on the glass,” he squeezed the fresh cut on her finger, forcing blood to trickle out. “When you’re done cleaning this up, come to my chambers. I’ll bandage you up.” Marcel threaded his fingers through her curly ponytail, causing her to quiver as a look of terror washed over her face.
Without preamble or permission, Marcel placed his hand on Johanna’s knee, slowly inching it up her thigh as he delicately slid her dress higher. She sat unmoving, unable to react. A serving girl had no place denying a prince anything he wanted, even if what he wanted was her.
It was killing Marie that she couldn’t intervene. She was more than willing to give away their position to help the poor girl, but what good would come of it? The three of them would probably end up as faces in the creepy skin tapestry so boldly displayed in the last room.
Marie watched helplessly as Marcel continued to put his disgusting hands all over Johanna. He probably thought no one could see him, and continued to do as he pleased. Marie wasn’t sure he’d stop even if he did know he had an audience. It might only sate his prurience.
Marie hated people like Marcel. She was a pushover when it came to a lot of things, but one thing she could not and would not stand for was bullying . Marcel was no different than any other bully, and he needed to be put in his place. It took every bit of restraint she could muster up to stop herself from kicking him in the face, which just so happened to be right by her foot.
Minutes later, Gustav returned with fresh drinks. His attention was immediately drawn to Johanna’s distress. He cleared his throat to announce his presence, but Marcel seemed unconcerned by another pair of eyes. He hastily set the tray
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