“Are you well?” I whispered to her. “Truly?”
Tara bent her head. “I am better.”
“Tara, if you don't want to be with him, tell me. I'll talk to the King. He can help you.”
She jerked her head upright. “With Turinoca?”
“Yes. Is he good to you? You don't look happy.”
“We've been married only a few months. He says he loves me, but I'm an alliance to him.”
“Then do you—”
“No, don't. I'm happy enough. He's a good man, and this marriage is important to my people. He is not the reason for my melancholy.”
“I see.” I squeezed her hand. “And I understand. All I can say is that it will get easier. If you can, let him help you heal. You need to remember that the act they forced on you is supposed to be beautiful.”
She nodded.
“Are you sure you want to be with him?”
“Yes. He's kind to me, and in time, I think I will come to love him.”
I grimaced. Lelurra didn't arrange marriages. We believed in love matches only. But I understood why some races still practiced them.
“Don't worry about me, Eliel.” Tara offered me a smile that I knew cost her.
“I wish you a happy life full of love, Tara.” As I spoke, I realized that I pitied her. I had endured more, and I knew shewould heal, but she'd never have what I would have with Raven. It saddened me. But at least Nahel didn't have her. She was safe.
Which reminded me. “Your Majesty?”
The Dragon King shifted his attention from Turinoca to me. “Yes?”
“Will you be questioning the Okon tonight?”
Turinoca tensed. “I would like to be of assistance, if I may.”
Tara flinched, and I realized what those men might say to her husband. I squeezed Raven's hand urgently. He looked from my widened eyes to Tara's terrified expression, and then to her husband.
“I'm sorry, Turinoca, but I can't allow that. I may have to use some . . . rigorous techniques, and although I'm sure I can rely on your discretion, I can't have any witnesses.”
Turinoca looked disappointed but also approving. “I understand, Your Majesty. And I'm glad you do not shy away from violence.”
“I am a Dragon,” he said simply.
Turinoca grinned. “Then I will rest assured that the men who took my wife will be brought to justice.”
“They will be dead before morning, Turinoca. But it will be a long night for them. I promise you.”
Turinoca stopped to bow deeply to the King. The Dragon King patted his shoulder. I looked at Tara and rolled my eyes. Yes, it was good that our men wanted to avenge us, but theydidn't understand that they also stole something from us when they did so. That justice should belong to Tara.
As we began walking again, Tara patted my arm and whispered, “I had my vengeance. Those men hurt more than I do. I don't begrudge the King his piece of them.”
I looked at her and saw the healing already setting in. Smiling, I nodded. “You're right and very wise. Your people should have allowed you a choice in your husband.”
Tara shrugged. “Who is to say that my choice would be better than Turinoca? By his side, I will rule the Lamatoka one day. I can make a difference for both of our tribes. My voice will be heard. I wouldn't have that without him.”
I blinked and thought of Raven's words, how he worried that I wanted him for what he could offer me, not for himself. But for Tara and Turinoca, it worked. They accepted that they were strangers bound by duty and still hoped for more. In fact, I believed they already had it.
