“Don’t tell Cethin I started a brawl,” she said. Then added thoughtfully as she undid the clasps of the cloak she still wore, the book tucked under her arm, “I don’t think a queen is supposed to do that.”
He waited until she was handing him the garment before he said, “If Cethin knew another male had laid a finger on you, a knife through the hand would be a blessing compared to what he would do to them. Remember that, Kailia.”
Her features seemed to sharpen as the smoke in her eyes swirled a little faster. “I know exactly what the king is capable of.”
“Do you?” Razik asked. “Because as far as I’m aware, you two hardly know each other. You’ve been on your best behavior around each other, minus the whole stabbing him four times thing.”
Her eyes narrowed, but he moved around her. As he descended the stairs, he called over his shoulder, “You’re his wife, Kailia. He’ll do anything to protect you.”
“I don’t need his protection,” she retorted, following him down the stairs.
“Until you can think through your panic and don’t blindly react, you absolutely do.”
“You didn’t do anything to step in today,” she argued.
“Why would I deny you the right to defend yourself?” he asked, leading her through the space. “I didn’t interfere until I had to.”
“You didn’t have to,” she insisted.
“I did, because if it’s discovered the new queen is starting brawls by the docks, it’ll be both our asses,” he grumbled. “But more so mine, even though you started the whole debacle.”
“I think you started it by going there for a bowl,” she mused.
He said nothing more, done with the conversation. But he’d cracked some kind of code today. Taking her out. Doing random things. Letting her get into a godsdamn brawl. He needed her comfortable around him if he was going to figure out her motives, and if brawls in a tavern were what it was going to take, he needed to get her a different cloak that would hide her face better.
Chapter 24
Cethin
“Before we get started with what I’m sure is a very long list of topics to go over today,” Cethin said from the head of the table, “we need to discuss the upcoming Union Celebration.”
All eyes went to Kailia, who was seated to his right. He’d asked her to attend today’s advisory council meeting, at least for this part of it. He’d never wish these meetings on anyone, and he’d told Kailia she could leave after this initial matter was handled if she wanted to.
“As the Union itself will take place on the night of the full moon,” Lady Mariel was saying, “I think we all assumed the Union Celebration would take place a few days later. Give the two of you time to…celebrate on your own.”
Gods, he fucking wished.
As it stood, he couldn’t even touch Kailia without warning her first, or he risked being stabbed. Again.
He could feel Tybalt’s eyes on him to his left, and he internally sighed. Guess he’d get this over with. It wasn’t like anyone could do anything about it anyway. What was done was done.
Keeping his features impassive and casual, he said, “The Union Celebration can happen on the full moon. The Union itself has already been anointed.”
There was a collective gasp and jolts of surprise from around the table, more than one pair of eyes darting to his left hand where his fingers drummed on the table. A few looked at Kailia, but she had her hands in her lap. Probably fingering the dagger at her thigh with all this attention.
The thought had a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m going to say what we’re all thinking,” Lord Harlan said, not nearly enough trepidation in his tone after the last time Kailia had sat at this table. His brown eyes narrowed. “There is no Union Mark?”
Cethin made a show of looking out the window, where the sun was still well above the horizon.
“They won’t be visible for quite a few hours,” he answered, meeting the Lord’s gaze once more.
The entire room went still, and he waited to see who was going to be the one to question him. He hadn’t expected it to be his personal Hand.
“Are you saying you… It’s a Lunar Marriage?” Zayan asked.
Cethin turned to the male, finding his face pale and eyes wide.
