“Can I come with you?”
“Faramir and my father will be there. It’s best you avoid them.”
She frowns, tugging a loose thread on the blanket. “What am I supposed to do, then?”
“Read the books from the library? Help plan the Equinox Festival?”
Her frown heats into a glare.
“I know it’s not ideal,” I add quickly, placing my hand on her knee. “Just give me some time.”
“So that’s it? I just wait in a pretty room until the next dance or dress fitting?”
“No.” I squeeze her knee. “You live. And you stay safe.”
She huffs, fingers fisting the blanket. Is she picturing my throat in her grip? “Can I explore the palace?”
“Not without me.”
That was apparently the wrong answer because she bolts to her feet, ready to storm away. I grab her ankle before she can escape, and she tumbles down—right into my arms.
I cradle her close, and Skies, her indignant expression has me grinning. She writhes violently in my grasp, but I just hold her tighter until she tires herself out.
“Done?” I ask with a crooked smile.
She scowls, avoiding my gaze. I nestle her against my chest, arm supporting her head.
“You know I’m not actuallya baby, right?” she snaps, smacking my shoulder. “You don’t have to hold me like one.”
“How should I hold you, then?”
Her mouth is poised to rage at me some more, but she remains quiet, swallowing whatever sharp words were on her tongue.
I angle her chin toward me. My stubborn wife still won’t meet my gaze.
“Mayah,” I murmur. “I left you alone last night for a few minutes, and you were attacked. The war between our kingdoms has raged for decades—it will take time for the citizens to forget. To heal. There could be other people who want to hurt you. Just … don’t leave our chamber without me, okay? I’ll spend every free minute with you.”
“I could explore the palace with my guards,” she insists. “What good are they if I’m not safe with them?”
I skate my fingers along her jaw before tucking an errant curl behind her ear. The tension in her body eases slightly, and I love the effect I have on her, whether or not she’s ready to admit it.
“I could assign you fifty guards, but Faramir can order every single one away.” I cup her cheek, willing her to see the love in my eyes. “I want you to be happy here, Mayah. Happy withme. But I also need to keep you safe. Would you let me wander around the Tundrayni palace alone?” I tap a finger against my cheek, pretending to think. “Actually, don’t answer that.”
She can’t contain the amused huff that escapes her, and it coaxes a grin to my face.
Skies help me, this woman has me wrapped around her finger.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
LeavingMayahthenextmorning is torture. My legs refuse to obey me, determined to remain tangled with hers. With great effort, I gently separate our limbs. We fell asleep on opposite sides of the bed, at least two feet of longing left between us, but during the night, I don’t know if she sought me out or if I dragged her against me.
Either way, I’m painfully fucking hard—Mayah wrapped in my arms, but still woefully out of my reach.
With a heavy sigh, I trudge to the shower and stand beneath the ice-cold spray.
“How is that westillhave not learned the identity of the leader of this skiescursed Rebellion?” my father snaps. His eyes are shadowed, as though he hasn’t slept in days.
“Sire, we’ve only located some of their smaller camps so far We have some inclination as to where their leadership may be, but our men have been divided whilst fighting with Tundrayn. We are remobilizing and broadening our search.” He shifts on his feet. “And … I believe it was you who made the decision to leave their outposts near Tundrayn untouched.”
