“You . . .” Her swallow worked its way down her delicate throat. “Thank you.”
I stomped on the kindness, the tenderness that had started to coil up inside me and thrust out my arm to her.
“The captain is waiting.” It was all I could do to cage the turbulent emotions trying to claw their way out. “We’ve wasted enough time already.”
6
REYLA
This dress mesmerized me. And Lore, broody Lore, had crafted it for me. I was stunned that my feelings about my appearance had mattered enough for him to bother.
Leave it to him to ruin my happiness by snarling about me wasting his time immediately after, however.
But I wasn’t marrying Lore. I was about to wed King Merrick.
Because touching Lore earlier had ignited something inside me I preferred to deny, I strode around him and over to the captain waiting to perform the ceremony.
It was an anticlimactic experience at best.
I spoke my vows in as strong a voice as I could muster, while Lore spoke the king’s vows with a voice tinged with the arrogance I’d come to expect from this infuriating man.
It was all I could do not to squirm, though surprisingly, it wasn’t because I wanted to avoid this. I was hyperaware of thetall man beside me, his deep voice, and the way electricity thrummed through my body with each word he spoke. Lore would never be my husband. I’d meet the king tomorrow, and this unsettling episode would be over. I’d soon find myself in the king’s bed, where I could put all thoughts of his compelling bodyguard behind me.
“By the power vested in me by the realms of sea and sky,” the captain finally said with a flourish. “I hereby pronounce you, Reyla Jarrn Weldsbane wedded to His Majesty, King Merrick Aelion Eldric Damaris Evergorne. May your bond be forged with unyielding strength and majestic grace. Step forward with him as one, onto a path where hope and love may thrive.”
Yeah, sure. I had no interest in love. Hope, I’d take. Peace between us would be even better, both with the kingandLore.
“If you’ll come this way,” the captain said, waving to a small table that had been placed near one of the masts. “As the king’s proxy, Lord Lorant will sign the official documents, and you, my dear, will sign as yourself, of course.” He smiled benignly at us both as if this was a true wedding between me and this wicked fae lord.
Why hadn’t the king come early enough to do this himself? I planned to ask him, and he’d better have a good answer.
I signed with a flick of my hand and stood nearby, trying not to scrutinize Lore’s signature too closely, though I did.Lorant Thorne Shadowhart, proxy for King Evergorne. He was shadowy alright. And like a thorn under a fingernail already. With luck, I could avoid him for the rest of the journey.
I gave both him and the captain a wan smile and turned, nearly bumping into Lord Briscalar hovering behind me.
“I’d like to rest now,” I said grandly. Queenly, actually. An attempt at it, that is.
Wear glamour until true magic takes its place,a friend had said once, and it fit.
“Yes, we’ll travel all night.” Lord Briscalar released a stuttered smile. His gaze slanted briefly to the sailor still locked in ice before returning to me. “I’m sure you’re exhausted from your endeavors, my lady, though I do hope you’re excited for the repast I set out in your suite during the wedding.”
“Repast?” How had he had time to do more than bring wood chips and food for the nyxin?
“Yes, a wedding feast.” He nodded toward Lore. “Will you be joining us, my lord?”
“I will not,” Lore wrangled out as if he chewed on the words rather than spoke them.
I held in my sigh. I doubted he was capable of displaying even a hint of kindness.
Except . . . I wore a gorgeous dress he’d crafted with moonlight. I couldn’t wait to see my hair in the mirror. And the jewels felt soft and precious entwined around my throat and secured in my ears. He’d gifted these to me.
Oh, wait.
“Do you plan to take back the gown and jewelry from me, my lord?” I drawled, watching his face, not his eyes. Meeting his eyes made everything inside me quiver.
He stared at me with a bemused expression before hiscutting arrogance retook control. “Do you wish to walk naked across the deck of the ship,my lady?”
“I do not.” I, too, could let anger rip through my words.
