Hence, the reason this vow was ideal.
A princess with her own title who cared little for me would not be searching for my heart to make her a queen. In fact, I was quite certain she was disgusted by the sight of me. She kept lifting her eyes, then promptly looking away, a grimace on her face.
After the vows, I doubted we’d have need to speak much to each other at all. She would keep her isle safe from the light clan, and my life would be mostly unchanged save for the new assurance elven armies would not come against those I loved most.
I leaned back, creating a bit more distance between us.
My father slyly handed the scroll to my mother without glancing at it. I feigned disinterest as she began to read out loud.
“For a dowry, each turn we’re afforded trade supplies and ten thousand”—Maj squinted, stumbling over a new term—“juvel?”
“Our coin. Made from black gems of Natthaven. Rather valuable, I imagine, in foreign lands.”
More than one of the recovering thieves behind us shifted.
Raum, the most restless cutpurse of them all, flashed his silver eyes with a greedy thrill until Niklas stopped tossing his leather pouch of—no doubt—something poisonous, and smacked his shoulder.
“No.” Niklas jabbed a finger between them, voice barely over a whisper. “No moves until the deal is done.”
Nik had always been like an uncle to me and Sander, studious as my brother and sly as my father. He told Raum to stop, but I had few doubts he was already thinking of a dozen ways he could make this dowry the most profitable trade in our kingdom.
The truth was everyone who’d sailed with us was here out of mere intrigue and a chance to scout the Ever Kingdom.
I was half convinced my father planned to rob Bloodsinger’s treasury before the return home.
My mother read on. Dull terms about implied treaties and councilsto be had with the bride’s kingdom once a turn as part of the alliance. Focus waned, and I studied a chip in the table’s edge for a long pause until she made a strangled sound between a grunt and a gasp.
“What is this term of dissolution if the bride is unfaithful?”
One of Eldirard’s brows lifted. “Which part is unclear?”
“Well, you see, my confusion comes from the term below that states any heirs born to my son’smistresseswould not be considered for the throne, only legitimate heirs.” My mother’s face was flushed. A look I knew well from the many times I’d pushed her to the limits of her patience as a boy. “Forgive me, I’m simply curious, why is it implied my son will have mistresses?”
Eldirard chuckled, like my mother was losing her mind, even made the mistake of looking to my father for support. His smile faded at once when Daj returned it with a deep-set scowl.
The princess lowered her chin until I was certain it was melded to her chest.
Eldirard cleared his throat. “Is a future king not a powerful figure? Mistresses are expected, are they not?”
“They are not.” My father’s fist curled over the table. He pinned me in his glare, mutely repeating his statement.
The elven king looked befuddled. “I have never known a king who does not have a mistress.”
Livia snorted in disgust on the dais, whispering something to Bloodsinger. By the feral gleam in the Ever King’s gaze, she likely threatened to cut off his cock should he dare do such a thing. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck in response.
My father leaned forward, voice rough. “You do now.”
With a huff, my mother went on. “We will ignore that clause and continue.”
The princess watched, brow furrowed, as though she didn’t quite know if she believed my mother’s stance. A jab of guilt dug under my ribs. Did she anticipate women flaunted in front of her face, with no regard for her feelings or station?
My knee bounced under the table. Hadn’t I anticipated doingexactly that? Take vows, then return to life as I’d always known it, new lovers while my wife slept in the chamber beside mine.
Gods. I might very well be a piece of shit.
This was not a love match, so if she preferred to take lovers, why would I stop her?
I settled back in my chair. After the vows, I would tell her she was not expected to be lonely in some tower.
