“Do you think she is owed it?”
“I’d rather she not. I did as my king commanded. I fought. It didn’t matter if it was a prince in my way or a random soldier. They raised a sword against you.”
“If only all my men were like you,” he sighs.
If all your men were like me, you’d be dead.
“I can leave tonight,” I offer. “Return to the border and keep watch. I don’t want to cause unrest for the queen.”
Maybe I can find another fae to help me.
“Leave?” He sits up straighter. “You’re not leaving, Titus. If I bow down to her tantrums, I’ll never be able to control her.”
A man should not seek to control his wife. No wonder their marriage is so fucked up.
I avoid his face.Thiswas what I fought for! Seeing it up close sickens me.
A more startling fact is that Galen isn’t the worst king out there. He makes sure his people are fed, housed, and clothed. He gives humans a house and a job, making them feel dignified, so they want to donate their blood in return.
“Selene would take pleasure in a spanking. I must resort to other forms of punishment.”
Now I’m picturing her over my knee, my hand coming down on her, with only that red silk dress as a barrier.
“You’re staying.” Galen’s words wash away the fantasy. “You will be her personal guard.”
Ishift forward, almost falling off the chair. I grab the chair’s arms tightly, too tightly! The wood starts to smoke under my fingers. “Pardon?” I bark. I force my magic to withdraw.
Galen raises a shocked brow. He spots his ruined chair.
“I mean, It’s an honor I surely do not deserve,” I hurry to say.
Everett, did you foresee this?
“You look ill.” Galen’s laugh slaps the shock off my face.
I am.
I’m just beginning to see how far ahead Everett has plotted.
You should look skittish, too, Galen.
“I do apologize, but this is the best course of action. Once I see that Selene has learned her lesson, you may have Everly Castle.”
“Everly Castle?”I don’t want a castle.
Galen nods. “I’ll give you four hundred men to live on the land and guard the border, of course.”
In other words, I’ll oversee Everly Castle’s conversion into a guard station.
I dip my chin. “What if she tries to kill me?”
He snickers, “Oh, she will, but I will kill the fae nobles tonight; that should make her think twice. Still, I’d watch your back. If she tries anything, let me know. Selene needs to learn that if she kicks and screams, she will not get her way.”
How do I defend myself? Do I raise a hand to my queen?
His gift is a death sentence.
This is how a king thanks the hero who holds the public’s praise. Kings are only kings when the attention is solely on them. If too many eyes look away, he’s just a man with a pretty crown that means absolutely nothing.
