Page 37 of Bride of Ash & Dust

Her shoulders relax. I meet her eyes.

She’s not throwing a fit. I exhale slowly, realizing with amusement that I’m not entirely surprised. She didn’t cry during the wedding ceremony. She responded to my teasing at the castle gates by telling me she loves snakes.

She’s a fighter, this princess. I knew it.

I’ve been turning this decision over in my head the entire time we walked through the city, but now, as I watch my wife clutch a second mug of shitty ale in her hands like it’s some kind of lifeline while she glares at a scrap of parchment, I realize I’ve already made my choice. Honestly, I think I made up my mind before I even read the letter.

Just like trusting her, this is easy.

“Look,” I say, dropping the letter on the table. “We’re tied together now.”

Her cheeks darken, and I remember how soft her hands felt in mine as the priest tied red silk around our wrists. I clear my throat.

“I’m going to be clear with you,” I say. “Everything I know, I’ll share with you. Anything you ask, I’ll answer. As honestly as I can.”

Her eyes widen slightly. I try to ignore the dawning realization that I have never said anything like that to anyone. I promised to care for her with every breath in my body as our hands were tied together with red silk, and now, over bitter ale and a parchment full of lies, I’ve just made another promise. One that’s far more dangerous.

Shit. My throat feels tight. I cough to clear it.

“Whatever this is,” I continue, waving my fingers over the letter, “if we can figure out who wrote it, and why, we’ll have a better chance of⁠—”

I stop myself. I was about to say surviving, but perhaps that’s a bit dire for a pleasant afternoon conversation with my wife.

“Being ready for whatever they’re going to do next,” Lilias says, finishing my sentence for me.

I reach for the letter, then fold it in half so I’m no longer staring at the words the snake violates me every night.

“Finding this gives us an edge,” I say. “We weren’t supposed to know about it, and we do. If we figure out what it means, we’ll be even stronger.”

“But it doesn’t make any sense,” she says. “You have what you want, right? Now that we’re married, Vsenrog could claim part of the new gold mine, right?”

My jaw clenches, and I force myself to relax. I have what I want? That’s a joke. When was the last time anyone gave a flying fuck what I want?

I clear my throat. Again.

“I thought our marriage was about the mine too,” I say. “But why the rush to marry if you’re not pregnant and the mine isn’t even open yet? And why this bullshit?” I tap the letter. “What does anyone have to gain from forging something like this?”

Lilias twines her fingers together and leans over the table, giving me a spectacular view of her perfect breasts. My cock stirs under the table, and I stare at the folded parchment instead of the straining fabric of my wife’s bodice.

“It’s signed with my name, but my handwriting doesn’t look anything like that,” she finally says. “So, Blayne couldn’t send it to anyone I know. Anyone who knows me would know it’s a forgery.”

“And who’s it supposed to be addressed to? Dearest L-? Is that Prince Lucian?” I offer, throwing out the name of King Malrik’s youngest son.

Lilias frowns. “I haven’t even met Prince Lucian.”

“You’re right,” I say. “That doesn’t make sense. You don’t know him, so why in the hells would you call him dearest?” Another L name comes to me. “Weren’t you betrothed to Prince Laurance?”

Lilias makes a face like she’s just tasted something sour. “Yes, but I’ve only met him once. I’d hardly call him my dearest.” She frowns. “And I’ve never sent him a letter. Actually, I’m not sure he can read.”

“Shit,” I mutter.

I drain my second mug. The room is starting to buzz pleasantly, and for a moment, I let myself imagine how sweet it would be to spend the entire day here, drinking shitty ale while the rest of the world tears itself apart without me.

I narrow my eyes at the parchment. It’s a code without a cipher, a puzzle that doesn’t make any godsdamn sense. Why fake a love letter from my wife to someone whose name starts with L? Was it to hurt me?

Doubtful. Everyone knows the snake of Vsenrog doesn’t have a heart. Besides, I know better than anyone that I haven’t violated anyone lately, let alone my wife.

Was it meant to cast doubt on her fidelity? But she’s already fucking her tutor. Why create an elaborate plot when all it took was me opening the door to my own room to discover the truth?