Page 156 of Ashborne Forged

Just saying her name was cooling water on a burn.

‘The guards. I know,’ she sent in a quiet sigh. ‘They follow me everywhere. Even to meet the queen this morning. I can’t escape them without putting my parents in danger. And he’d know. The moment one of them disappeared or there was any disruption—I have no doubt they’ve been ordered to watch for you. Please, don’t do anything risky.’

It took long moments to give her the words I knew she needed to hear. The very words I’d need from her, if our roles were reversed. ‘I won’t do anything stupid.’ I felt the relief wash through her, along with a new surge of love and gratitude. I had to be careful only to send her my returning love, not the simmer of anger and frustration that now burned behind my ribs.

I needed to see her. To touch her. To speak. To kiss. To have her.

But that fucker was still inside with her and…

‘Grace what is he doing in there?!’ I paced silently inside the wall like a caged lion. ‘It’s scandalous that he even entered your bedchamber. What’s he doing?’

That quaver appeared in her heart again—the crackle of fear. Of me. My disapproval.

‘His rooms adjoin mine. He takes great pleasure each night in entering his chamber through mine, to make people talk. He hasn’t touched me, Voski. Not like that. You have my word. I wouldn’t let him.’

‘I know you wouldn’t—I worried he’d force you. If he tried… Grace, I’ll take out the guards and have him at the tip of my blade in a breath. You know that, right?’

‘Yes. But please, don’t do anything. It’s all for show. There are rumors. Gossip about me. He’s attempting to make himself look like the conqueror. That’s all. He’s still waiting for me to bleed. He refuses to raise a bastard. So that has kept him at bay.’

I clawed hands into my hair, snarling silently, wishing my fingers closed on his throat rather than my own scalp.

He was so deeply prideful, he used the bedroom as a battlefield and had to show himself as the victor, the conqueror, as she’d termed it, without any regard for her reputation.

The thought made me tremble.

I wanted him dead. And dead at my hand.

‘Voski… please.’

‘I won’t. I gave you my word. I won’t. But I wish to.’

I was stunned when an image flickered to life in my mind—from her. An image of us together, in the clearing where I’d taken her when we had those days alone. Her fingers curled into my hair at the nape of my neck, she smiled—beamed—at me. Her body arched against mine and her eyes alight.

She stared at me with wonder, and devilment, and joy and…

God. I could barely breathe.

I had to swallow a groan, flattening a hand to the first wall that lay between us and leaning into it as I took the memory she sent and finished it with my own—my fingers in her hair, tipping her head up, taking her mouth, body hot and needy, that kiss deep and longing.

I felt the trill in her, the yearning, the ache—and sent it all back tenfold.

‘Grace… God. I’ve missed you. You have no idea.’

‘But, I do,’ she whimpered in return.

The cold, unfeeling wall in front of me was no replacement for her soft warmth. And the fire of rage, no substitute for her need.

But she was here. And so far, she was safe. I had to remind myself of that.

‘Has that fucker left your chamber, yet?’

‘Yes. My maid always appears soon after we return—she must watch from a hiding place—’ that made me frown, because if she was hiding in this hallway there were very limited options, unless she knew of this passage as well. ‘—and he leaves her to help me. He doesn’t touch me, Voski. He’s just piggish.’

Her unwillingness to swear never failed to amuse me. And here, amidst these people and this danger, it seemed so out of place, it was comical. And yet, beautiful, as well.

‘What? What made you smile?’ she asked breathlessly.

‘You,’ I replied without hesitation. ‘You make me smile, Grace. Every damn time. I’m just so relieved that you’re here and safe. Even with that pig nearby.’