A gentleman would let her go.
There’s no need. I won’t be king soon, and we can leave this place.
Looking at Jace, I nod at my wife. He leans down and whispers something in her ear. Ever so slowly, she picks up her spoon. Her eyes rise to mine, then she smiles at me.
“I will be the joy you need me to be.”I can almost hear her words as she starts up another conversation with Fahy. She laughs. She blushes. She seemingly has no weight on her shoulders. But I shift uncomfortably, wondering if I will be what kills her in the end.
Asking her to smile while she breaks inside.
Leaving her feeling all alone.
Suffocating her with my expectations.
All I want is for her to be happy, but I don’t know how to help her achieve that in this fucked-up world.
Needing to be closer to her, I finish my dessert quickly, then stand. Everyone else follows suit. Whether or not they have finished yet, the meal is over, and they move to leave. The servants open the various doors, leading to different parts of the castle. Arienna looks over at me as I approach. Then she looks behind me, making sure her friend is okay.
“Fabia?” she asks as she stands.
“I’m fine.” Short and clipped – a lie. She really needs to get better at that. She might not be as bad as Arienna, but she needs to be good enough to fool our enemies.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Making a note to tell Jace to give Fabia some lessons, I turn to Warress Fahy, who’s still standing by my fucking wife. “You are needed in Evrytre. The Alzans are pushing hard, and we need reinforcements there if we are to ambush them without losing a great deal of our own. You will leave tonight with Commandress Bolaire.”
Her brown eyes shine. “I thought Bolaire was leaving tomorrow?”
“The situation has turned more dire,” I lie, straight-faced.
She nods, but there is humour in her eyes. “Of course, Your Majesty.” She bows at Arienna. “Your Majesty, it was a pleasureeatingwith you today.”
Her smile fills her pretty pink eyes. “Aw, I enjoyed it too. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”
Fahy glances at me with a knowing smirk. “Yes. Perhaps all three of us could share a meal. I hear you’ve acquired a taste for sharing, Your Majesty.”
With that, she slips through the crowd, well outside of stabbing distance. My eyes narrow on Jace as my queen giggles.
“Don’t look at me,” he says, holding up his hands. “Your wife has no filter.”
Cupping her face, I rub my thumb across her bottom lip. Her eyes heat as dark as mine. Staring into them, I murmur, “Then I guess it’s time I fill this pretty little mouth.”
Nineteen
A good brownie always takes care of others.
But a good little slut takes care of herself too.
- Arienna
The anticipation of Richard’s promise fills me with so many nerves that I don’t even need to be fingered while he flies me up to the Royal Floor. All of his guards are left in the hall, including Jace, but when the door shuts, I’m happy he isn’t joining us tonight. The look in my king’s eyes tells me I’m going to struggle with all he has planned for me. There’s no way I’ll be able to handle them both.
“Ah,” I squeak, backpedaling towards the bedroom. “I didn’t mean to tease you.”
“Yes, you did.” He stalks towards me, undoing the belt at his waist.
“Only at dinner! Not in the Council Room – and you didn’t let go of my hands! So, really, I shouldn’t be punished for that.” I stumble through the archway of the bedroom.
