“Lady Amalthea Oryyan,” Imperator Hart said. “Please, join your new Ka, and stand with your groom.”
Lady Amalthea had long dark curls with a reddish tint beneath the flames, and she was looking Rhyan up and down with greedy, knowing eyes that had me itching to break another nose. Her dress, Glemarian green of course, looked like it was two sizes too small for her breasts. Her chest puffed out, and there was a look in her eyes that reminded me of Naria.
My gut twisted with a vile feeling, and a sense of distrust, the complete opposite of how I’d felt when I met Kenna. But Amalthea? I wanted to come between her and Rhyan, to push her away.
Control what they see, and you control what they think.
I had to stay calm. Remember she meant nothing in this game. Just some noble his father had picked.
But then Rhyan’s fingers curled, and he scratched the palm of his hand.
My heart stopped.
There were very few times he did that—only in his moments of complete distress. The habit had started when he was a boy and the Senator from Hartavia had arranged to get him alone, took his hand, and tried to—
Lady Amalthea placed a silver ring on Rhyan’s finger—a ring I assumed had the sigil of Ka Oryyan emblazoned on it.
And then Rhyan slid her ring on, a golden band decorated with silver gryphon wings and the sun.
My chest tightened. And all I could think wasmine. Mine! Mylove.Myring.My…Rakame.
“Tovayah maischa!” shouted a noble, his fist in the air. There was a deafening round of applause, followed by more shouts. They were shouting for them to kiss.
By the Godsdamned fucking Gods! No. No. Fucking no.
Rhyan took Amalthea’s hand.
I couldn’t breathe. My skin was crawling. I could barely imagine Rhyan kissing someone else. If I had to see it happen now—if I had to be in the same room when it happened …
“Kiss her!” The shouts grew louder now, more demanding.
“Kiss your bride!”
Rhyan’s hand tightened around Amalthea’s, and he looked at her with adoring eyes. He leaned in. There were spots in my vision. I was going to be sick. I was actually going to be sick. I could feel it, feel the bile rising up the back of my throat.
Then Rhyan turned his head. His green eyes blazing as they found mine, searing into me. Holding me. He kissed Amalthea on the cheek, never removing his gaze, never breaking our connection.
I swallowed, wincing, and Kenna squeezed my hand. “Stay calm,” she whispered. “Just breathe. You’re next.”
“You tease,” Imperator Hart yelled jovially. “A kiss on the cheek? We know you’re capable of far more than that.”
“He certainly is!” someone yelled from the back. They laughed bawdily, the nobles nearby joining in.
The demands for a proper kiss grew louder, and Imperator Hart’s eyes fell on me. He lifted his eyebrows, his lips puckered, clearly asking me if they should kiss. I stared back, my expression blank.
Then his entire face changed—full of the cruelty I knew lived and breathed inside him.
I couldn’t look any longer. I turned away.
“All right, you’ve had your fun,” Imperator Hart yelled. “Save your excitement. You’ll see the kiss, and maybe more,” he waggled his eyebrows, “on their wedding night. We do have the bedding ceremony to look forward to after all.” The room exploded with laughter and cheers, until the Imperator yelled, “Right now, I have even more happy news to sharewith you.” His eyes narrowed, offering me a crooked smile. “You must be wondering why Lady Lyriana has been given the honor of standing with us. I shall tell you. She approached me in private, expressing her desire to continue her studies. She has no power, she is weak—but she greatly admires the strength of the Glemarian soturi.” He paused, allowing for more applause.
“Of course, Lady Lyriana’s request was not for me to fulfill. I am only the Imperator,” he chuckled. “I asked Arkturion Kane to meet her.” A grin slowly spread across his face, his teeth white against his dark beard. “And by the end of the meeting, our Arkturion’s impeccable training was not the only thing making an impression on Lady Lyriana.” He waggled his eyebrows again, and even shook his hips.
“For years, our great warlord Arkturion Kane has lived as a bachelor!” Imperator Hart laughed, and the rest of the room joined in, as if Kane’s singleness had been some bawdy joke told regularly over drinks. “But today, it is my pleasure to announce their engagement as well!”
I squeezed my eyes, blinking back tears.
Kane appeared, and all at once I was struck again by his appearance. The fact that he was all sharp angles and muscle. Every movement was cruel and harsh as he approached.
