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Agakor has been kind. It's clear he's had a rougher past that he's moving beyond and is working to become a good lord of this land. While the keep is a little dirty, everyone seems happy and well-fed. And there are books, and…
And I think about how I touched his cock. I want to touch it again, to brush my hand over that velvet hardness and watch his reaction. It sends a thrilling prickle through my body and makes me breathless. I think about the marriage customs he mentioned. The Revealing of the Bride, as the Cyclopae call it. It seems both demeaning and exciting, a showing off of my body to my future husband so he's pleased with me. Normally I'd be revolted at the thought of letting a man see me naked, with my thick thighs and long legs and my heavy breasts. But Agakor says he likes all those things.
Unless…unless he's lying? The thought steals my breath away.
There's a flurry of footsteps outside of the doors, and the murmur of low voices. I could swear I hear Agakor, so I get to my feet, clutching my long, worn nightgown to my chest so it doesn't drag upon the floors. I creep forward and listen. It's thicker than I'd like, muffling their words, but I can still make them out when I press my ear to the door.
"…get some sleep, Agakor."
"I'll stay." His voice is so rich and smooth it makes my belly flutter. "She's my bride. Her safety is my responsibility."
"Can't believe her father abandoned her like that."
Agakor huffs. "Can't you? He doesn't give a shit about her welfare. All he wanted was my gold. That's fine. Let him leave her behind—it means he can't stop the wedding."
There's a pause, and then another voice asks, "This is your first time to get a look at her, innit? All the locals went on about Lord Purnav’s massive daughter. What do you think of her, now that she's here?"
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard that I taste blood. I don't want to know. I don't want to know. What if he thinks I'm disgusting? How can I go through with the wedding if he does? How can I not, now that I've been abandoned by my father? Gods, I don't want to know.
Another pause, and my ears strain to hear Agakor's answer. "She's…breathtaking. I am well pleased."
Breathtaking?
I want to melt onto the floor into a puddle.
I'm…breathtaking to someone. For the first time in my life, I feel pretty and wanted. With a smile, I back away from the door and return to my pallet on the floor, tucking the blankets around me. I listen to the cacophony of Turnip's loud snoring and think about velvety green cocks and my upcoming marriage…and that I'm breathtaking.
I can't stop smiling.
CHAPTER 7
AGAKOR
I don't see much of my bride the next day until the feast. There are a dozen things that must be done. Sentries are posted to the borders of my lands, and spies sent out to see what Lord Purnav is spending my coin on. There are weapon practices and hunters returning from the woods and a tax assessor from Adassia's capital on my doorstep. I'm so busy that I scarcely have time to breathe until Tindal, my second, grabs me by the collar and yanks me into the stables to change into my feast finery, and then we head back into the keep.
The moment we step inside, it's like I'm entering a different place.
The interior of the keep smells sweet. Pleasant. I see bundles of fresh greens placed at the end of each of the tables in the main hall, and there are fresh, new candles in all the sconces. The wax drippings have been scraped away, and the floor is clean. A new, impressive tapestry hangs just above the massive fireplace at the front of the hall, and the mountain of ashes is gone, replaced by a cheery fire. Near the hearth, the lord's table is set with two impressive-looking chairs and an equally impressive banquet spread before it.
I eye Tindal. He's full orc, from my father's clan, but good and trustworthy and somewhat civilized. He's a good arms-man and has an air of authority that keeps men in line…but I didn't think he was big on feasts. "This your doing?"
He shakes his head. "Your little bride-to-be marched into the kitchens at dawn and put everyone to work. If you don't like it, say the word and—"
"I like it," I interrupt before he can get the wrong idea. "I like it very much. I'm just surprised."
"Expected a fine lady to sit on her arse while we roll about in the muck, did you?" Tindal snorts at me, dusting a bit of lint off my tunic. "All them fine ladies run a good house."
