“Your sister?” Dahlia breathes. “Oh…”
“He took her from me while we slept. One night she was there, and the next her bedchamber was empty except for a note telling us we’d find her in Elheart’s palace. He built that salt barrier so quickly, I had no chance to get her back.”
She thinks for a moment, chewing her lip.
“It doesn’t matter now anyway.” I flex my palms. “Another letter from Elheart arrived just before the ceremony.”
Dahlia blinks at me. “What did it say?”
I pull my knees to my chest. I didn’t want to talk about this tonight. But we’re married now, and that marriage becomes official the second I take her virtue – which I will be taking as soon as I get Dahlia warm and lay out the bedrolls.
“He has accepted that we are to be married and is disappointed that we could not come to an agreement.” Reaching for nearby kindling, I gather it into my arms. “Maeve will not be coming home. Your father and sisters will be informed of your new living situation.” He didn’t actually write that last part, but I assume he’ll have to let Sol know eventually. I’ve heard stories of Sol’s heartlessness, but surely the man cares about his daughters.
Then again, he did ship her off to marry a prince she’d never met.
Dahlia’s quiet for a moment before her eyes light up. “So he doesn’t want me anymore? That means I can go home!”
“You are home.” I continue gathering enough wood to build a fire. “Or at least you will be when we return to my castle. You’re my wife now, Dahlia.”
Her smile falls. “But if he won’t give you your sister back, why even keep me here? Just send me home to my family. If I’m married and Father believes you have taken my virtue, then he won’t be able to marry me off to anyone else. No other prince or lord will want me.”
“I want you,” I say as her lips part. “By the laws of my court, once a female is married they are the responsibility of their husband. Therefore, as yourhusband, I will be taking you back to my castle and you will be staying there permanently.”
Her face pales. “You haven’t taken my virtue yet. We’re not officially married until then.”
“I am aware.” I stand up, hating the shiver that rocks over her. “You don’t need to fear me, Dahlia. I will be gentle.” But she doesn’t stop shivering. Even as I carry her into the now-empty cave, lay out the bedrolls and light a fire, her two poison-black eyes watching me through the embers.
22
DAHLIA
Maeve is hissister. I wish he’d told me earlier. If I’d known this back in the throne room, I wouldn’t have hated him so much. I could’ve helped!
Moral or not, I’d kill for my sisters. If Eden or Fern were taken like Maeve was, I’d doanythingto get them back.
But that doesn’t explain why Tauren is still so desperate to keep me here, or the fluttering I felt in my chest as he lowered me onto the bedroll before lighting the campfire.
Worse still, the forbidden area between my hips has been pulsing since he mentioned taking my virtue. I can’t stop thinking about the way he had me bent over that chair in the wedding gown shop, the sharp sting of his palm on my rear. Would it be so awful to let him do it again? It certainly didn’t feel awful when his manhood nudged my?—
“Can I trust you not to run from this cave while I alert my soldiers that you have been found, or must I compel you to stay seated?” His warning tone makes my breath hitch.
“You can trust me,” I say with a grin. “Besides, I know you’ll just catch me again. What’s the point in running?”His hands pushing me against the forest floor. Kisses on my throat. His knees forcing apart my?—
“You will not leave this cave until I return.” His magic washes away my dark thoughts.
“Fine. Don’t trust me then.” I fold my arms, but the scowl he returns me is enough to reduce me to a puddle of need. Damn you, demon.
I watch the flames for a while before Pumpkin wanders inside and settles onto my lap. My corset and bloomers are no longer soaked. I’m not hungry anymore, either. Tauren was smart enough to pack some food in his saddlebags, which I happily feasted on as he stoked the fire.
Narrowing my eyes, I stroke the ball of fluff in my lap. “You can’t really understand me, can you?”
Pumpkin looks up curiously.
“This is so ridiculous,” I laugh. The wolves were probably frightened of Tauren. That’s why they left when they did. Nothing to do with me at all.
But something still feels off, and for some reason, I’m reminded of all the times Angel gave me funny looks, like she understood me. Velvet, too.
“I’m just good with animals, aren’t I, girl?” I tell Pumpkin while she naps. “It’s always been like this.” Except that doesn’t feel right, either.
