"You'd rather hurt yourself than let me touch you?Am I that unworthy in your eyes?"
"Yes."
He was unworthy; even having him close made her want to vomit.
The word hung between them.
His hand didn’t fall away; he grabbed her chin, leaning down, his free hand on her bed.
A loud sound interrupted him, resonating throughout the palace, reaching the isolated shrine.
Three strikes of a gong.The call to council—all men of high standing were to leave their homes and meet the Igwe immediately.It was a summon Somadina could not ignore.
He paused, his lips pursing, but he said nothing.Within moments, he was gone.
Azul waited until his footsteps faded.Then her body gave out.
She slid off the bed, hitting the floor hard.The cold wood against her skin was a relief—a temporary balm against the fire.
Foreign boots landed softly on the floor.A shadow crossed her vision, then resolved into a face she recognised.
Near-black eyes, furrowed brows.
So you stayed.
He knelt beside her, his expression unreadable.
"That man is your betrothed?Your prince?"
She laughed.
Absolutely not.
"Please do not curse me; my life is rather fickle as is."
Something shifted in his expression.Almost a smile.
He bent down to lift her once more; to keep her back up against her bed frame, he sat down beside her, willing to talk.
"I've seen men try to break women before, on the Steppes.They use different methods—whips, hunger, fear.Sometimes poison."His eyes met hers."I suppose in this place it is no different."
She gave him a sound of agreement.In all of Oblivia, there was nowhere women did not suffer under the hands of men.
"But here, the women are a little more terrifying.I have seen many schemes; needles hidden in fine fur is new."
Azul hummed, her throat dry."She's a little scary—aphrodisiacs don’t usually leave evidence.The needles would’ve been hard to spot unless one was looking for them."
"And the man I killed."
"There are three ways to remove a pesky princess; one is to ruin her reputation.My reputation, from what I hear, is already quite bad; I suppose this was meant to be an efficient finishing blow."
Ragnar's expression hardened.
"What's her name?"
Azul almost smiled."Are you planning to kill the First Wife for me, stranger?"
"I'm collecting debts."He met her eyes."You saved my life.I killed one man for you.I can kill another."
