Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Mars looked to True.
True turned to Mars.
“The king is thinking on this,” I added, and both men looked to me. “Aunt Mercy was there, and she strongly advised against it. However, you should…I felt you both should…” I swallowed. “You should both know.”
There was a worrying moment when they were silent.
True spoke first.
“You did right, and you did well, Silence,” he said gently. “Now think not of it. We know but they will not know how we do.”
“They absolutely will not,” Mars growled.
“But we will handle it from here,” True went on. His gaze moved over me. “You seem to be prepared for something enjoyable. Go forth and do that, my cousin. And do it knowing the decision that had to be weighty was made correctly.”
I nodded to him.
True again looked to Mars.
“Return. I’ll be one moment, and I’ll join you,” Mars said to my cousin.
True nodded to Mars, looked to me, seemed to hesitate, and I knew he intended to touch me, probably to kiss my forehead, but he realized he could not with Mars there.
I’d have to discuss this with my intended. I missed the affection of my True.
I couldn’t say he was overtly demonstrative, but when he was, it was warm and genuine and some of the only type of that I received.
“Thank you, Silence,” he whispered with grave feeling.
My shoulders slumped in relief.
I had done the right thing.
“You are welcome, my cousin,” I whispered back.
He inclined his head, turned, and walked out of the room.
I lifted my gaze to my betrothed.
“He is correct. You did rightly, my little monkey,” he declared.
I smiled up at him. It was again trembling, this time with relief, but as I did it, it grew stronger.
“You were incredibly foolish as well, and I’ll have your vow right now never to do it again,” Mars commanded.
My smile died, and I blinked.
“I’m…sorry?”
“Eavesdropping on the conversation of a king?” he asked.
Begorrah.
“Mars—”
“I was wrong. This was not foolish. It was reckless. And perilous. And you’ll not do it again, Silence,” he somewhat repeated.
It was not perilous (precisely).
He didn’t know about my shadow.
No one did.
And it was true, very true, I was coming to care about him (a great deal).
But I was not near ready to share that (and all it could mean).
“No one saw me,” I assured.
“It matters not,” he returned.
“But Carrington called True a traitor,” I shared. “I know my cousin, Mars. He’s no traitor. And he was suggesting riding against what will be my country. Or, erm…my other one. What was I to do?”
“Not listen,” he retorted, got close, cupped my jaw in both hands and bent low to put his face in mine. “You must heed this, piccolina. It would take philosophers much wiser than me to determine whether it is the greedy man, or the desperate, who is more dangerous. This advisor, from what True has told me, what I’ve witnessed, there is something off about him. He has king nor country in his heart when he offers his counsel. He wishes something for himself or has promised something to someone who would be more dangerous than his own king if he were not to deliver.”
Mars’s face came even closer before he went on.
“And listen to this, my wee monkey,” he said softly. “If my lands and my peoples were attacked, I would defend them with my last breath. But if anyone did anything to my queen, I would blaze a fire of vengeance that would never be forgotten in all of history. The mighty forests and the fertile fields of all of Wodell would be ash. So I beg of you, please, do not give man nor woman reason to make me do this.”
He’d do that for his queen?
For me?
If he’d do that for me, already, I should tell him about my shadow.
He needed to know.
And he would be my husband, so he should know.
I looked into his eyes and decided I’d do that.
Later.
But for now…
“I promise, Mars.”
He nodded, moved even closer, touched his mouth to mine and then pulled away, his hands sliding to my neck as he lifted his head but kept gazing down at me.
“It would seem I’ll be having dinner with my bride and my guests tonight,” he announced.
That made me smile up at him fully.
“You’re off to bathe?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Mm,” he said, his gaze moving down my body.
“I wear Jasmine’s body stocking,” I told him, feeling my cheeks pink.
“Mm,” he hummed again, his eyes moving back up to mine, and when they arrived, there was a darkness to them that was marvelous and frightening.
“I should go. I believe Farah is waiting for me,” I told him. “And likely Queen Ha-Lah too.”
“Then yes, you should. But before, I’ll have your mouth.”
That was marvelous and frightening as well, and I stood frozen, staring up at him wondering which one would prevail as he bent and took my mouth in a hard kiss, touching his tongue to my lips.