“I am here to speak with Lord Orble,” he said loud enough that all could hear.
Soldiers shuffled as we waited for the drawbridge to lower, the rusted metal chains screaming in protest. Nismera was such a bitch. She had all this power and technology, yet she let those who followed her so loyally go without. But, then again, maybe she fortified them elsewhere.
Two rows of soldiers, spears pointing upward with a shield on one arm, walked out first. A clap echoed off the stone walls, and they all stopped and pivoted to face one another. A tall, muscled man strode between them, his white and blue attire screaming wealth and power. The heavily embroidered cobalt blue tunic was adorned with silver chains that crossed his chest, and tufts of white fur sprouted from his shoulders. Silvery patches in the shape of fish covered his elbows, the scales catching and reflecting the light. There was a lot of flash to him, but it was his hair that caught my eye. It was white with sea foam blue tips that curled up, and all of it was swept to one side. Was this Orble? How could he have been one of Unir’s old acquaintances? This man looked to only be in his late twenties.
“Samkiel,” the man said. “You’re even more appealing in person. The marble statues and depictions I’ve seen did not do you justice.”
If I could have rolled my eyes in my Ig’Morruthen form, I would have. Please, don’t stroke his ego.
“Settle down.”His voice whispered across my mind.
I sent back a soft chuckle.
“My apologies. I am looking for—”
The man held up his hand, cutting my husband off, and I took a step forward out of instinct, wishing to bite it off. The soldiers near him pointed their spears, the energy emanating from them buzzing, but I had little fear they could do anything to me in this form. I was almost as large as the damn castle.
“I heard, and unfortunately, you have been gone a very long time.” His eyes cut to mine, then back. “Lord Orble had a terrible accident years ago. I am his son Iver. I am Lord of Shorerock now.”
AFTER THE WARMwelcome, Iver ever so kindly invited us in. After a quick wash, we’d changed into matching black outfits Samkiel made for us. Now, we sat around a large wooden table as Iver’s council and guests continued to stream into the room through the thick double doors. The table was designed to elevate the end Lord Iver had claimed, putting him far above everyone else seated.
My eyes damn near stung with how bright the inside of the castle was. If I thought the outside of his castle was an eyesore, it was nothing compared to the interior. It was an array of the same bright whites and blues, varying in different patterns and shapes. Horribly garish decorations stood alongside fine art and stunning statues, none of it appealing.
Thick columns were embedded into the walls, supporting the domed ceiling soaring high overhead. On one side of the massive dining room hung a painting of a large oceanic battle, with ships clashing and an enormous serpent beast below. The large horned fish that hung on the wall behind Iver glared at us with dead eyes.
“This place will haunt my dreams,”I told him across our bond.“Do you think he has enough fish memorabilia? I get it. He rules a sea-born city.”
Samkiel’s humor fluttered across my mind, and I could feel his smile like the warmth of the early morning sun.“Trust me, I don’t wish to be here any more than you. I’d much prefer we were home in our bed with you sitting on my face and your thighs squeezing the sides of my head as my ton—”
I slammed my knee against his leg, stopping him from finishing that sentence and the illicit images filling his mind. Heat pooled low in my belly, fueled by his knowing, sexy chuckle that caressed our bond. Outwardly, he smirked at me with cocky arrogance, desire sparking in his eyes and turning them into molten silver. I knew that look. Perhaps he wasn’t in such a foul mood as I thought.
Iver paid us no mind as the servants entered and placed steaming plates of food before each of us, starting with him. Iver smiled greedily and lifted his hand, allowing the others of his court to indulge. He and Samkiel soon began exchanging pleasantries.
I was listening to their conversation, but I smiled softly at the woman who sat next to Iver. Her thick blonde hair was artfully twisted into two separate buns, and she wore a white and blue dress that gathered at her shoulders. She deftly took a fork from the small child on her lap. The little girl couldn’t be more than a year old. Undeterred, the baby squealed and reached for a spoon, her bright blue eyes filled with curiosity. The woman glanced at Iver and then offered me a small, quick smile in return, nervously tucking the little girl’s dark curls behind her ears. I got the feeling she was afraid of the consequences of being caught interacting with me.
The woman didn’t reek of salt and fish scales. Instead, I caught the scent of a comforting floral fragrance surrounding her as if she were a flower plucked and plopped in this oceanside city. She had positioned the baby on her knee furthest from Iver and had subtly shifted her body to shield the child. She was obviously apprehensive, and I soon learned why.
“If you cannot shut her up, then I request your presence to be elsewhere,” Iver snapped without looking up, fish scales clinging to his bottom lip.
The woman pressed the child closer to her, but it only caused the little girl to struggle and squeal louder. Iver raised his hand, and the guard standing to his right flinched. I saw it, and I felt Samkiel’s awareness sharpen. The guard’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly on the woman, not in anger but in defense. I wondered if, under his blue-tinged armor, his hair was as dark as the small girl’s curls Iver’s wife held so lovingly. The guard relaxed a fraction and quickly volunteered when Iver only waved an imperious hand, indicating he wanted his wife and child escorted out. No one else paid any mind to the interaction.
“Your face.”Samkiel’s voice flooded my mind.
I didn’t need a mirror to know that my expression was twisted into a snarl of disgust at how he spoke to her.
Iver seemed to have a gift for being oblivious because he let out a throaty chuckle and said, “I guess I am lucky to even have that brat. The last two she could not keep.” He stabbed the steaming vegetables on his plate, food spraying from his lips as he said, “I wished for a son, you know?” He shrugged. “I can always try again.”
He spoke of her as if she were just some broodmare. I already hated this man, if he could even be called a man.
I refused to look at Iver, instead watching his wife’s retreating form. Tears welled in her eyes, but the child seemed to ease at the nearness of the guard, even reaching for him. As they left the room, I wondered how long it would be before Iver lost his life to the man sworn to protect him.
“If I ever give you children and you speak to me or them that way, I’ll cut your cock off, fry it, and feed it to you.”
Samkiel coughed around his hand at my very vulgar threat.
“Is everything all right?” Lord Iver asked, turning fully to us as his wife and young child left.
“Yes,” Samkiel said, his leg brushing mine.
