Seth didn’t just want Rykr gone, he wanted him humiliated first. He wanted us humiliated. Every move he made felt like a calculated insult, daring us to strike back.
The muscles in Rykr’s arms went taut. “He’s parading around with it? What an?—”
“Watch your tongue,” Mother clucked softly, nodding toward people near us, setting up their stalls. “We have enough trouble without you stirring up more.”
I could practically see the retort forming on the tip of Rykr’s tongue. Then he caught my eye and something in his expression softened. “What can I do to help you here?”
Tara nodded toward a crate of jarred honey. “Set those out on that table.” She gestured to where she’d started to set out pelts. “The market opens soon.”
As Rykr moved over there, irons clinking, my sister’s eyes lingered on him.
“I’ll help you,” Mother said, her voice flat. She probably didn’t trust him to do it right.
When Rykr was out of earshot, Tara leaned in. “He doesn’t look like a flogged and wounded man ... or a satiated one,” she hissed.
“For gods’ sake, Tara.”
She raised a brow. “People will talk. Besides, I thought you wanted to convince everyone he’s your lover?”
“He has healing powers. And he’s leaving as soon as we can break the bond, so that’s not happening. We don’t have a genuine marriage.” Seeing her skepticism, I faltered. Tara hated Liriens. Why was she pushing this? “He’s a fucking Lirien, Tara.”
“I don’t care if he’s a shapeshifter. If you don’t consummate that marriage, it’s not valid—even with your oath. You’re giving Seth another chance to attack you both. Just get it over with for your own protection. Who knows, you might enjoy it.”
“I’m not that desperate, thanks.” Not to mention that Mother warned me that sex would only deepen the bond.
Tara’s tone was light, but her eyes weren’t. I knew that look. Beneath her bravado, she was worried. Scared. She hated Liriens, but she hated the thought of losing someone else she loved more.
She has a right to be afraid. Tara rarely talked about her feelings, but Madoc being gone had to be weighing on her. And she was furious about Esme.
“This marriage is keeping him alive. And Mother said if he dies, you’ll die too, Seren—and that there will be visible signs you’ve consummated the thing. That blood oath was reckless. Binding souls is a lot more serious than taking vows. Trust me, if it was only his life on the line, I wouldn’t care. But I can’t lose another sibling. Not over something as trivial as meaningless sex. And yes, he’s a Lirien, but he’s also protected you. Twice. A hot and clearly virile man who can’t hurt you without hurting himself—and who seems honorable—what’s the big deal?”
Visible signs? I didn’t show my worry and gave her a hard look. “Even if I agreed to it, I’m not the only one involved.”
Tara rolled her eyes. “He’s a man … I’m sure he won’t object. Give him some wine if it helps. For that matter, drink some yourself. You look like you could use a good roll in the hay.”
“It’s not that simple,” I said. And it wasn’t. Not for me.
I hadn’t had sex since Seth—a fact I wasn’t going to admit to Tara. Even though the opportunity had been there, something had always stopped me. The idea of it made me feel sick to my stomach, a lingering shame that made me shudder when I remembered that last night with Seth. Of being in his arms, whispering my love to him.
What a stupid fool I was.
The distant sound of bells stopped our conversation short. The market was beginning.
I stepped out from the stall, shading my eyes from the glare. We only used this open field for the market, and I was used to the shade of the forest. Once, I’d found the openness refreshing. But after the last month, I felt exposed.
This was one of the prettier encampments our tribe had settled. Beyond the field, the snow-capped mountains hazed in the distance. Streams flourished here, and we never lacked fresh water. We’d even found a hot spring where I occasionally went for a private bath, even in the winter.
A part of me wondered if we hadn’t left this place because people were tired of moving. Maybe they wanted to stay settled somewhere beautiful, like this.
The bells from the main square continued to chime. Then came a strange hubbub—people running, cheering, beating drums, and chanting.
Tara and I exchanged a look.
What in Nyxva?
People near our stall had noticed, too. Everyone peered toward the tree line, where a group approached from the forest, hauling a cart. The celebrating throng surrounded them.
A group of Vangar warriors.
