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)
This was not the Dellish way. In a caravan, we all rode together. And when the party stopped, the gentry sat atop blankets and had a wine or some cool tea to refresh while the servants saw to diner and accommodations, which were not nearly this elaborate.
It was the Firenz way, where sumptuousness and extravagance and indulgence were priority and servants existed to see to that priority without fail.
“Ah,” Mars spoke. “This heartens me. You remember who I am.”
“Of course I do,” I said softly.
“Mm,” was his only reply as he stood, unmoving, his arms crossed over the sand-colored leathers on his wide chest, his black gaze locked on me irritably.
Even if he did look every bit what he was known as, a barbarian king, I gathered my courage.
For I knew he was also Mars.
I just had to settle into how he was both and neither belonged to me.
“Did Basil not tell you?” I asked. “I was with Mother and Father, enjoying a drink.”
“Basil shared your whereabouts,” he confirmed.
“Well, I, erm…”
I knew not what else to say.
I also knew I couldn’t get to bed because, first, he was barring my path, and second, he was in the tent so Tril couldn’t attend me to help me change clothes in order to sleep.
That gave me something to say.
“Has Tril been ’round?”
“Indeed,” Mars answered. “I sent her to her pallet.”
I blinked at my husband. “But I need her assistance with preparing for bed.”
“If you need your laces loosened, Silence, my fingers work.”
Oh balls.
“We…you and I usually—” I stammered.
“I have given you that, yes,” he interrupted me to say. “I felt you needed time to get used to your husband and the closeness we will share throughout our lives together. Thus, I have absented myself while your maid helps you prepare for bed. However, as I’ll be seeing you out of your clothes, as well as in them, and doing this with great frequency during our years of marriage, there’s no reason when you’re late to bed that your maid must remain awake when I can help you out of them.”
I swallowed.
“Are you ready for bed, Silence?” Mars asked with faux courtesy.
“I feel like I need more time, Mars,” I told him carefully.
He took but a second to think on this before he jerked up his bearded chin in assent.
I was about to sigh with relief, though even considering that, I wasn’t sure I felt relief for it seemed with that gesture my husband was quite all right to continue this distance from me.
However, he didn’t wait even a second to speak again.
“Before I leave to allow you to send for Tril, I’ll share that Basil will replace Kyril as your personal guard. You’ll be in Kyril’s presence only when you’re with me.”
I felt my lips part in surprise and not because I now understood that Kyril had been assigned to me, something my husband had not openly shared with me.
No, because he’d given me Kyril.
And now he was taking him away.
Mars continued talking.
“You will also limit any time you spend with your father to time when I can attend him with you.”
What?
“But…why?” My question came as a shocked whisper.
“Your father uses you for some purpose I have yet to understand. Until I understand it, I will be at your side when you’re with him.”
“We were talking about books,” I told him.
“Of course you were,” he murmured.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
He didn’t explain what it meant.
He stated, “It will be done, my queen.”
I closed my mouth.
He started toward the tent flaps, and as I was directly in his path and he clearly did not wish to adjust his course in order not to run into me, I scooted out of his way.
He stopped and turned again to me before exiting the tent.
“You were conscious during the piercing ceremony, no?” he asked oddly.
“Y-yes,” I answered.
“And it was spoken in your language,” he noted.
I nodded.
“You told me you were moved by it.”
“I was,” I whispered.
“I’m curious. What, my new wife, moved you?”
“I, well…”
I stared at him.
He didn’t look curious.
He looked annoyed.
He was a king.
He was also my husband.
And I had to remember, I was his wife.
But I also was a queen.
His queen.
I lifted my chin and finished, “All of it.”
“There are two piercings in the ear for a reason, Silence,” he retorted.
I felt my body give an involuntary twitch as his meaning dawned on me.
He carried on, “You do not sleep well. You avoid my presence. My intended was lush and hot and wet in my arms and in my bed when my mouth and hands were on her. My wife is remote and prefers the company of her guard and her father. The latter of whom treated her with callous neglect the entirety of her life but is now her chosen companion.”
“Mars—”
“Forcing my body on yours does not appeal,” he continued, and I clamped my mouth shut for I’d never entertained the idea he would do as such and was shocked that he had. “I also cannot force you to speak. I have made it more than clear I will listen to whatever it is that has taken you from me. You’ve denied me that privilege. I will not beg.”