The male gasped, clearly affronted. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing.”
“The Runic Lands have never been found,” Razik replied.
“Sages and Witches of old know where they are,” the male countered, lifting his chin even higher, and Kailia was mildly impressed by his gall.
“And you are neither of those things,” Razik retorted. Flicking the bowl with his fingers, he added, “I don’t care who you swindle if they are obtuse enough to fall for your tales, but don’t continue to argue with me when I call you out on your deceit.”
The male paled as he stumbled back a few steps, and Kailia didn’t understand why until Razik turned and she could see his face.
See his glowing sapphire eyes where his pupils had shifted to vertical slits.
“Come, your Highness,” he said with a small smirk when she glared at him.
Following, she glanced back over her shoulder to find the male scowling after them.
“You could tell they were fake by looking at them?” Kailia asked.
“They were gold, but nothing more. They were not pieces of history, and they certainly weren’t from the Runic Lands,” Razik answered, guiding her through the crowds. For the most part, he kept a path parted for her, but every once in a while he let someone get close enough to brush against her. Small doses of physical contact.
While he led her around the city center, he told her of important buildings and businesses. He spoke of the history of Aimonway, and how it had not always been the capital city of Avonleya. He gave her a brief overview of the territories along with the lords and ladies who oversaw them. She’d never remember all of this, but he did it all while she practiced being seen because people certainly looked at the male in the king’s guard uniform escorting the female around. They all knew who he was, which drew curiosity and whispered conversations about her.
“People are going to thinkyou’rethe one courting me,” she murmured as Razik passed her a stick with roasted meat on it before handing the vendor some coin.
He shrugged, clearly not caring. “People can think what they want.”
“And Cethin?”
“Already established, he can fuck off.”
She took a bite of the pork, savoring the flavors that danced across her tongue. The situation wasn’t ideal, but she hadn’t known hunger since agreeing to this bargain with Cethin.
“So you and Wren are not married?” she asked, taking a seat beside Razik on the bench he’d commandeered.
He sighed, obviously annoyed at having this conversation again “Wren and I fuck at times, but that is all.”
“Cethin said there is a difference between lovers and fucking,” she mused.
“For once, he’s right about something,” Razik grumbled.
“So that’s true?”
He paused, his stick of meat halfway to his mouth. Slowly lowering it, he studied her for a long moment. “I need to ask you something, and I need you to know your answer is between you and me, Kailia.”
“All right,” she agreed.
“Cethin said he hasn’t forced anything on you—hasn’t forcedhimselfon you—but?—”
She reared back, losing the grip on her food and the meat falling to the ground. “He does that?”
“I didn’t think so, but the way you act, I question it.”
Her entire body was heated with nerves and fury. “While demanding of my time, he is respectable with my body. I find it hard to believe he would be any other way with anyone else.”
Granted, she didn’t know him well, but she was well-versed in reading people. She’d spent decades studying interactions from her smoke. She’d seen more than enough despicable things committed by males and females alike. She knew he could be incredibly cruel. Her life experiences spoke to that truth, so maybe hewascapable of such atrocities. But he’d never even indicated hewantedthat side of this union until he spoke of lovers today, and even then, that didn’t mean he wanted that from her.
She cleared her throat, unsure why she was saying anything at all. “Like anyone else, my past has shaped me and my mannerisms, not the few days I’ve spent with your king.”
“That’s fair,” Razik replied, extending his food to her.
