Their movements were entrancing, almost arousing. I had seen sexual acts in Port’s Tavern but never found any interest in what ladies of pleasure did with their customers. Never felt an urge to join them or to try what I saw myself. Not until I met a certain dark-haired man whose touch sent scorching fire through my veins, an overwhelming need I didn’t think could ever be sated.
I watched the couple, imagining what it would feel like. If I were atop Shade’s lap, his large hands gripping my hips as he controlled each rolling movement the way he liked. He would stare into my eyes, those molten silver orbs dark with desire.
“You seem quite relaxed for this kind of atmosphere.” Terym’s words doused my fantasy like a bucket of cold water. Taking with it the flaming heat and slight dampness gathering between my thighs.
I dragged my eyes from the blonde woman and the man sucking on her nipples. The king frowned down at me, and I took a small amount of satisfaction in the fact I hadn’t reacted likehe expected. If he wanted to scare me with sexual depravity, he would have to try harder.
“I lived next to a brothel for eight years.” A small amount of defiance leaked into my tone, my usual fire returning with Eleanor’s absence.
“If it weren’t for the fact you opened that cave, I wouldn’t believe you a virgin.”
Of course not.
Too late, I realized I rolled my eyes at his words—my default response when someone questioned the status of my virtue. Ice-blue eyes flashed—a look entirely too familiar—and Terym gripped my cheeks. Tears sprung to my eyes at the pressure on my still healing bruises. A malicious grin slowly spread across his features when he realized my pain.
“Now you’re feeling better, you will join me for dinner each night.” The only way out was to submit, be the compliant bride, so I murmured my agreement.
“I have eyes and ears everywhere. If youorlittle Eleanor happen to disappear, I will hunt you both down.” Maybe I hadn’t been as convincing as I thought in my bargaining.
His expression turned downright evil, his smile disappearing. “I will find you, my dear Adelia, and when I do, what I did to you last week will pale in comparison to the punishment you willbothreceive.”
My heart stuttered against my ribs and spots danced before my eyes, the beginnings of the familiar constricting squeeze at my chest. Terym held me immobile—with his words and his grip, which tightened before he snarled, “Am I clear?”
“Yes, my king,” I gasped out. Tears gathered as walls closed around me, flashbacks rising the longer I was held in his grip. He released me, shoving me back into the chair.
“You can go,” he said, giving his attention to the revelry surrounding us, which had been undisturbed by our altercation.
It took everything in me not to run from the room, to instead rise slowly from my chair and curtsy to the king as etiquette demanded. Moving through the crowded room, I dodged dancing women and their voyeurs. Wista fell into step behind me, and when we were through the doors, I gripped the lamp in my pocket, drawing strength from Shade’s presence within it.
If the king thought he could continue to threaten me into obedience, he was sorely mistaken.
I wouldn’t marry him.
I wouldn’t bed him.
And I certainly wouldn’t provide him with an heir.
I would take Eleanor and run. Far away from him and his quest for power.
Chapter 23
The next morning, I waited for my sister by the large glass doors overlooking the immaculate castle gardens. I had released Shade when I returned to my suite after dinner, and he silently stood at my side. There had been a variety of responses from the people we passed on our way down. Shock. Awe. Suspicion. But no one said a word, not to the future Queen Consort.
“Lia!”
I turned to find my sister bounding toward us with bright eyes. Pierce stalked several feet behind her, furrowed brow in place. “You’re actually out of bed, I half suspected you wouldn’t show.”
“Of course I would, I missed you. No Harkin today?”
“Spying on me again.” She tsked, that smile not leaving her face. “No, I thought we could spend some time together, just the two of us.” She turned to Shade then. “It’s good to see you out and about, but I was hoping for some time alone with my sister.”
“You know we can’t be parted, Eleanor,” I said, but Shade inclined his head to her.
“I’ll stay far enough back to give you privacy, you won’t even know I’m there,” he said, and Eleanor smiled, then tucked her arm through mine and led me into the beautiful gardens.
They spread far around the castle, overlooking the city in the valley below. We walked down a wide stone path winding through short citrus trees and shrubs trimmed into circular hedges. Spotted throughout were a variety of flowers, but they weren’t blooming. It was a sea of browns and reds, the epitome of fall perfection.
“How are your studies?” I asked, while we meandered down the cobblestone.
