Total pages in book: 208
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209645 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1048(@200wpm)___ 839(@250wpm)___ 699(@300wpm)
He did not think that was the case at all.
He knew it was.
“I do not think your mother is cunning enough to understand she could adhere to her husband’s demands and thwart them at the same time by taking a different tack.”
“I know you won’t believe this, but I think my mother loves both Father and I, is torn between doing what is right for the both of us, and I think she selected you to discover the measure of the man who married her daughter, for you two do not know one another well. And as you are correct, she is not cunning, she felt she could still carry out Father’s wishes either way.”
“I did not read the same, my queen,” he said carefully.
“Perhaps I’m wrong,” she mumbled.
“But you hope you’re right,” he deduced.
She scrunched her nose and gave a small shrug.
At her scrunching her nose, Mars’s good mood was restored.
Therefore, he grinned and bent to kiss that nose.
Her expression was even gentler when he lifted away.
“Whatever comes of this, continue to be wary of them, my love,” he warned. “Both of them. No?”
She nodded.
“Go back to reading,” he ordered. “I’ll deal with the maids and speak with Tril.”
“I can speak with Tril.”
“You shared this book is one you’re enjoying.”
She did not reply.
He gave her a squeeze. “Enjoy it. I’ll manage this issue, finish my work and join you after a while.”
She nodded.
Mars bent to touch his mouth to hers, which was the only thing he allowed himself to do. If he tasted her, he’d have her on her back on the carpets and there would be no reading of books.
He had no idea how the Dellish felt about such a thing.
He also didn’t care.
But Silence was enjoying her book.
That, he cared about.
Once he touched their lips, he put his to her hair before he began to let her go.
Clearly needing a change of scenery, Piccola leapt to him as he did.
“I’ll take her,” Silence said, lifting a hand.
“She can accompany me on my errands,” he murmured, lifting a hand to stroke the tiny, furry back of the monkey now grasping his shirt as he moved away.
“Only you,” he heard her whisper.
This made him turn before opening the door.
“Only me?” he inquired.
He saw she had not moved, and her eyes were on their pet before they lifted to his face.
“Only you would go to possibly sack, possibly employ three maids who were involved in a ludicrous conspiracy to destabilize a marriage then go about royal duties, all with a wee monkey in tow.”
“When we have them, if our babes aren’t toddling around the rugs underfoot in my study at the palace while I work, I will find this very upsetting.”
Something moved over her face when he spoke those words.
Something of such power, it blasted across the room, struck him in the chest, and robbed him of the ability to breathe.
Something of such importance, Mars knew he’d never forget the vision of Silence standing in that room wearing that grape-colored Dellish gown he did not like, but he liked it on her.
No.
He would not forget that vision of his wife for the rest of his life.
“You scared me,” she said in a voice so low, he could almost not make out her words.
“Scared you?” he asked in much the same tone.
“At the Necropolis. In Fire City. When you were torturing those men. And during the attack. Your ferocity. The violence you displayed that seemed second nature.”
Fucking hell.
“Silence,” he whispered.
“It was terrifying.”
He began to make a move toward her when she spoke again.
“My hands struck fire.”
“Sorry?”
“During the attack on the palace. Elena did not save me from the man who was strangling me. She hadn’t made it to me yet. I had my fingers around his wrists to pull them away, and he let go right before his hands burst into flame. I did that. I…I…it was I who did that. Elena arrived after and dispatched him, but I made his hands catch fire.”
She grew silent.
Mars stared at her across the room, his hand now cupping the monkey at his chest, and he said nothing, waiting for her to go on, freely sharing her mysteries.
“I can disappear,” she whispered this admission. “That night, in your bedchamber, when you discovered me, when you saw me, I was surprised, for when I do not wish to be seen, I can pull my shadow over me and no one will see me. This is how I could eavesdrop on King Wilmer, Queen Mercy and Carrington. This is how I went unseen at our wedding reception. You see through it, but no one else does, which I think is part of our destiny. It is my magic. It has always been my magic. And it is my secret. No one knows. Not True. Not even Tril. Not anyone, but you. But the…the…fire thing has never been my magic. Until I had you.”