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My eyes lifted.
Damnit, Galantia!
They connected with Malyr’s.
A chill spread across my skin, rising the fine hairs at my nape. They broke against that stupid collar of feathers when he lifted his hand to his neck. He ran his thumb along the healing cuts I’d left on the side of his throat. Then, in one unhurried, languid motion, he lapped the digit.
Lick the knife, Galantia.
My eyes snapped to that wicked grin he gave me. Teasing me, taunting me. Bastard!
Do not provoke him!
Right. No provoking.
Lowering my gaze took effort as I set aside that obstinance Mother often scolded me for. It would gain me nothing in this place, whereas keeping my mouth shut might just get me back to my chamber. How long did I need to stay here? Could I leave now?
“Lady Galantia of House Brisden!” Malyr’s sudden shout silenced everything. Everything but my heart, which stumbled into a quicker pace. “Will you not sit beside me, where you belong?”
ChapterTwelve
Galantia
Present day, Deepmarsh Castle, great hall
My throat tied up as I focused on a breadcrumb before me on the table, sensing a hundred cold stares slithering my way. May the pox take him, why had the field stone on that day not been pointier?
Cici gave my hand a quick squeeze before she mumbled, “You best not make him wait.”
Legs trembling, I rose and walked toward the high table. It took effort, placing one foot compliantly in front of the other, but I wouldn’t be so foolish and make a scene. No, I would be easy, and compliant, and agreeable. How difficult could that be?
Under the scrutiny of hostile eyes, I rounded it while black feathers bobbed on my shoulders to the mocking rhythm of my hesitant steps. I passed Sebian, who didn’t bother giving me a glance as he poured himself more wine, and approached the chair that stood between him and Malyr.
The moment I reached for the backrest, Malyr kicked the leg, sending the chair screeching across the stone before it tumbled to the ground with a heart-rendingthud.
“Mmm, such is her arrogance; she truly expected a chair at the high table.” Malyr rose to the laughs and bellows from the audience, the assembly of Ravens ever so entertained by my humiliation as their prince wove his fingers into my pinned hair. “I said where you belong, little white dove. On your knees. By my feet. So you may kiss my boots and pledge allegiance to your future king.”
Every proud fiber of my being strung tight, and my eyes snapped to his. “You will never be a king of mine.”
I hadn’t fully spoken the words when my stomach turned. I shouldn’t have said that.Why had I said that?
“What did I suggest about that mouth of yours?” Sebian asked. “I daresay you’re downrightprovocativetonight, sweetheart.”
A warning.
I best heeded it.
Malyr leaned into me, close enough that the scent seeping off his hair and skin wafted around me. He smelled like the cold air on a white winter morning and something else… Something sweeter that didn’t seem to fit at all.
“On my lap then, for I am afraid we are finding ourselves short a chair.” His dark whisper against the shell of my ear wasn’t the only threat, finger sliding down my spine before it drew one warning circle after the other around my buttocks. “Mmm, how I would enjoy having you squirm on my length tonight. Is that what you want? To rub your ass on my cock until I spill?”
My lips quivered. “No.”
“Then which will it be, Lady Galantia?” A stub of his nose against my temple. “My seed soaking your behind, or your knees digging into the ground? Choose.”
Heat flared up behind my eyes with how there was no true choice to be had. “The ground.”
“Good girl.”
