“Why would you be harder for me to woo now, after I've already married you?” he tried to sound petulant, but I could see the gleam in his eye. His prey was giving him a good fight.
I stopped and faced him. “Because I don't like this you. You're arrogant and a bit of an idiot.”
Arach bared his teeth.
“And you don't know how to treat a woman.” I waved at him as if he'd proven my point. “Go away, Arach. I'll handle this myself. You can come back tomorrow after you've had a long think about what you did wrong today.”
“What I did wrong?” Arach roared. “I am the King of Fire. I have wooed and bedded hundreds of women. I have done nothing wrong.”
Our argument was attracting attention but instead of people crowding to watch, they ran in the opposite direction. I caught a glimpse of King Rory ushering people away.
“Do you really think that reminding me of your past lovers is the way to seduce me?” I put my hands on my hips and faced him. “I am the woman you will one day marry. The mother of your children and your Queen! I am not one of the hundreds. I amtheone! The only one. When that sinks through your thick skull, you will know what you have done wrong. Now get away from me before I knock you on your ass again!”
Arach's chest rose and fell rapidly. His eyes burned. His hands were tipped in claws and shook. And there was a big bulge in his pants. He took a step toward me.
“Touch me, and I will make you regret it,” I growled.
His eyes widened, tracking the scales I could feel emerging at my temples. “You are glorious,” he whispered, his tone full of wonder.
That mollified me a little. I let out a long exhale. My scales submerged back into my skin. “All right. You can stay. But if you mention your past lovers again, I'm going to kick you in the balls.”
Arach's eyes went even wider.
I turned around and marched off toward Rory.
“Glorious,” Arach whispered again.
Chapter Eighteen
“Ah, you found her,” King Rory said as Arach and I walked up to him and Rivella.
I smirked at his ploy to appear as if he hadn't been listening to us argue the entire time.
“Yes, I did,” Arach said. “And my Queen has convinced me to help your investigation.”
King Rory blinked.
Rivella made a choking sound.
“That is most generous of you, King Arach,” Rory said. “I will not forget this.”
“Well, I wanted to be the first monarch to welcome you to our number,” Arach said blithely. “It must be terribly frustrating to win the crown and immediately have to deal with such issues. I'm happy to help.”
Rivella's choking became a squeaking.
I took Arach's hand and smiled at him. Always praise when they do good. “That's really friendly of you.”
Arach's chest puffed out.
“Well, there's not much more to be done,” Rory said. “That is, unless you found something, Queen Vervain?”
I grimaced. “No, I haven't. But there must be a reason an entire village sank.”
The ground trembled. It was just a little, but it was enough to startle the horses hitched to the royal carriage. And enough for all of us to feel.
“That can't be good,” I said.
“Would you hold my jacket for me, Vervain?” Arach asked as he slipped out of it.
