She tsked. “I’m not a child. I didn’t sneak out anywhere. I’m told this is my home now.”
“It is,” Cethin said flatly, glancing up from the book.
“Then I presume I am free to move about myhomewithout an escort.”
“I was attacked in this castle shortly before the Esbat Festival, Kailia.”
“Where I understand you used my arrow to defend yourself.”
“I did.”
“You’re welcome.”
His brows shot up. “For the arrow? That you’ve been going on about for weeks?”
“For the protection I was providing even before we’d formally met,” she replied, and gods. She said it so simply, he wasn’t sure if she was being a smart ass or simply stating something she thought to be true.
He shook his head, hiding his smile as he returned to the book. It was entirely about Avonleya. The major cities. How territories were divided. Various landmarks. There was history and policy, laws and notable leaders both past and present.
“You’ve been reading this?” he asked.
“Mhmm,” she hummed, toying with a reed pen he’d been using to sign off on some requests from various cities.
“Why?”
She paused mid-twirl of the pen in her fingers. “Why have I been reading about the kingdom I suddenly find myself queen of?”
He nodded, setting the book aside and shifting closer in his chair. She moved back, but with nowhere to go, she ended up perching on the edge of the desk, crossing her ankles, her bare feet now off the floor.
“I suppose because if this is to be my life, I should know the kingdom and people I’m serving,” she answered, leaning back on her hands as she tilted her head, watching him. Resuming this game they’d been playing of observing each other to try to gain the upper hand.
“Can I ask you another question?” he asked, watching the robe slip down one of her shoulders and confirming his suspicion of what kind of nightclothes she was wearing.
“I cannot stop you,” she replied. “Doesn’t mean I’ll answer it.”
Fair enough.
Dragging his gaze from that thin strap at her shoulder back to her bright eyes, he asked, “Why don’t you like to be touched?”
She clearly hadn’t expected the question to bethat. Not with the way her eyes went wide, swirling a little faster. Not with the way her lips pursed and she swallowed thickly. Not with the way her other hand drifted to her thigh, where he was certain a dagger was hidden beneath the robe. Not as a full-body shiver shuddered through her form like even the mere thought of being touched was too much.
When she didn’t answer, he settled back in his chair, putting a little more space between them. Her shoulders relaxed some, inching down from her ears.
At least until he said, “If it wasn’t clear when I made you my wife, I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you. I’ll figure you out with or without your help.”
Because this was what he did. He dug deep and pushed limits, picking at details and unraveling threads. He was willing to do uncomfortable things to get what he wanted, and he’d drag others right along with him if required. Of course, he preferred to keep his sins hidden in the shadows, but that meant pulling others into the dark with him sometimes. He’d done it for his kingdom to give them the lives and freedoms they deserve—was still willing to make the sacrifices for them—and this was no different.Shewas no different.
Her features hardened at his words, and she pushed off her hands, leaning forward. Unfortunately for him, that made the other side of her robe slip down her shoulder, the garment now caught in the bend of her elbows, and it left a whole lot of cleavage on display.
“I truly didn’t think you cared about the touching, seeing as you don’t even sleep in the same bed,” she said sharply.
He propped his head on a fist. “You are upset I’m not sharing your bed?”
“That isnotwhat I said.”
“That’s what it sounded like to me.”
“Then your education was lacking if that’s what you think those words strung together indicated.”
