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)
Cassius suddenly reclined against the cushions at our backs which were up against a boulder.
And he took me with him with his arm snaking about me so that I ended up mostly reclining against him.
Silvanus smiled a knowing smile.
I turned my head again and shot my betrothed an annoyed glare.
He endured that but half a second before he turned, set his goblet to the ground and then came back to me.
I held my breath as he used the very tips of his fingers to trail my cheekbone before they sifted into my hair at the side and his face came very close.
“In mourning, the Firenz shroud everything in black,” he murmured. “Windows, mirrors, murals, fountains, doorways, horses, heads, covering anything they see that could bring joy and depicts beauty, for they cannot bear to gaze upon it in their despair.” He shifted just his eyes in the direction of Silvanus before he said in a louder voice. “Apropos an Airenzian bride should wed in that color, don’t you think?”
“Indeed,” I heard Silvanus agree softly.
Cassius’s attention returned to me, he was again murmuring, and I was again holding my breath at the expression on his face.
“The Dellish bride wears white, pale pink, pale green. The Firenz bride wears whatever color she wishes.”
My lungs started burning so I dragged in a breath but held it again when his hand in my hair shifted to cup the back of my head and his beard scraped my cheek as he put his lips to my ear.
I could feel them brushing my skin as he said, “You, my lamb, will wear pale lilac. You will herald a new beginning for all Airenzian women by wearing a color of light and hope. By showing them through your reign as their princess, and then their queen that they face a future where they will know choice.”
His arm about me curled tighter, drawing me nearer.
I gasped softly when his teeth nipped my earlobe before he growled, “And if you flirt one more time with that Zee, before the night is over, you will know the stroke of my cock so you will have no doubt who you belong to.”
It was then I realized I was panting and pressing my until-then forgotten goblet tight to the leather at his chest.
“Am I understood, my princess?” he asked.
“I’m not flirting,” I whispered.
He drew his head back and the firelight danced on his face.
But I saw nothing but the night sky in his eyes.
Oh my.
Prince Cassius was furious.
Those night eyes moved over my face and then he murmured, “You do not know the allure of your smiles, and thus you did not understand their potency or your actions.” His gaze captured mine. “Now you do. So I will ask again. Am I understood?”
I felt it wise in that moment to answer, “Yes, Cassius.”
“Good,” he whispered, the stars blinked out of his eyes and he drew farther away, but still held me close as he reached for his chalice.
I dragged in deep breaths, lifting my goblet to my lips to hide doing so.
“And I shall repeat, you are very lucky, dark prince,” Silvanus said low.
“We shall see,” Cassius replied before taking in some wine.
“Ah yes!” Silvanus suddenly shouted. “Now we dance.”
And as if he willed it, music filled the air from guitars and fiddles playing across the glade.
Three women approached me.
Cass’s arm disappeared as one woman took the chalice from my hand and set it aside then the other two took my hands and pulled me to my feet.
“Music! Wine! Dance! Beautiful women!” Silvanus cried while the women dragged me away from the cushions. “Life is for the living! Thus, we must live!”
One woman lifted her arms in arcs over her head, keeping eye contact with me as much as she could as she whirled, her skirt swirling out in a wide circle around her, then she stopped, stepping forward side to side, before lifting her arms and twirling again.
“You! You!” the other women called, clapping and pointing at me while stepping and swirling.
I did not look back at Cassius and Silvanus.
I was confused.
He told me he did not wish to be with me and then moved to protect me, behaved with jealousy and shared in no uncertain terms I belonged to him.
I did not understand him, and I had a strong feeling it had little to do with the fact I had not lived amongst men and I had little contact with them throughout my life.
He was naught like True.
He was also naught like what I had noted of Mars, or any of Cassius’s men (or True’s).
But as I swayed to the music, caught up in the bright skirts, firelight, clapping and laughing, I emulated the movements of the women around me, heartened by their encouraging smiles, and lost myself to the dance, deciding not to think on this.