DarykRogue by Denise A. Agnew

fifteen.”
    Yoanda’s eyes glittered with tears, and she held the dress
out to Xandra and placed the remaining clothes on the bed.
    Overwhelmed, Xandra took the dress. “It’s beautiful. Thank
you so much. Are you sure you want to give such a treasure to me? You don’t
know me.”
    “My husband wants you to have it. So it must be so.”
    Xandra marveled at the intricate embroidery on the garment.
Flowers scrolled in beautiful blossoms across the bodice. If her breasts fit in
the tight bodice, the blossoms and vines would cup her with intimate detail and
leave her nipples bare.
    Xandra’s mouth popped open as she stared at the bodice with
complete disbelief. “The… Are these holes supposed to be there?”
    “Many Dragonia wives wear such a dress,” the younger woman
said, her voice a sultry mix of mystery and undertones of dark and hidden
depths. “It is an honor to show your flesh to your Dragonian husband. It gives
him a glimpse at what he is marrying.”
    Flabbergasted, Xandra glanced at Rayder. A twinkle danced in
his eyes. He thought this entire exchange amusing?
    “Do you like the dress?” he asked.
    Do you? She wanted to ask him that question.
    Mind still reeling from the idea she’d have to wear a dress
that revealed her nipples, she took in the rest of the ankle-length,
long-sleeved dress. Overall it was plain, except for the bodice. It fell
straight from the pointed, fitted waist and pooled on the floor. It was light
green, the color of spring blooming in her imagination.
    “It’s beautiful except for the…” She looked at the nipple
holes again and grimaced. “I cannot wear a dress with holes like these. I’m not
Dragonian. When a woman is married in Magonia, it is in a modest full-length
gown that covers the neck and arms and all the way to the ankles.”
    The younger woman scoffed. “The admiral commands it.
Besides, this dress covers your arms and legs and everything but your nipples.
I don’t see what the problem is.”
    Perturbed by the woman’s presumptuous attitude, Xandra
placed the dress on the bed and tucked her towel closer around her. “We have
not been introduced.”
    Rayder nodded. “Forgive me. This is Phili Cranno. She is the
admiral’s companion.”
    “Companion?” Xandra took a moment to understand. She glanced
quickly at Yoanda and caught the woman’s downtrodden expression. “But you—”
    “You’ll wear the dress,” Phili said, voice sharp and
commanding.
    Yoanda’s eyes stayed lowered, her sweet, round face a mask
of subservience. While women were usually subservient to their husbands on
Magonia, Xandra wondered why the admiral’s wife would allow this concubine to
command her. Still, she didn’t want anyone suffering because of her. If Yoanda
wished to provide her with a dress, she’d accept.
    Xandra nodded. “Thank you, Yoanda. May I call you by your
first name or is that too familiar?”
    Yoanda lifted her gaze to Xandra’s. “It would please me if
you called me Yoanda.”
    Xandra smiled until she caught a quick look at Phili’s hard
eyes so expressionless. Too expressionless. Xandra tried to recall if she’d
seen anyone with eyes quite like them, as if the soul had left long ago or
perhaps had never resided in her body. Xandra had witnessed uncaring people
before—oh yes, she had. But never with the iciness Phili possessed.
    “Try the dress on.” Rayder’s eyes challenged her. “In case
there are adjustments.”
    “Adjustments? Why would you care what it looks like?”
    Rayder rolled his gaze to the ceiling for a moment then
turned his attention to Yoanda. He took her hand and brought it to his lips,
and then did so with Phili. Phili smiled in a simpering, fawning way that made
Xandra want to slap the younger woman.
    Rayder made a short bow from the waist. “My ladies, I thank
you for your kindness.”
    Yoanda’s eyes lit up with happiness, her cheeks aglow. She
didn’t speak but left the cabin quickly.
    Phili smiled, but genuine kindness