I wrinkle my nose. “No.”
He toys with a button on his jacket. “There’s really not a rush. I’m a patient man. And like I said, I’ll wait until you’re begging me. And this time, we’ll both remember it when we’re finished.”
“Don’t count on it,” I say.
He smiles, then looks out the window as if he’s carrying a secret. My fingernails bite into my palms as I squeeze my hands into fists. The carriage already feels claustrophobic.
We’re silent long enough that I start to nod off, waking myself a few times whenever my chin dips to my chest. Giving in, I lean back against the seat and let myself rest.
The sudden lack of movement jolts me awake. I stand so quickly when I notice I’m alone that I knock my head on the roof. Cursing, I peer out the window and see nothing but trees.
I look out the other window—the one on the door—and see people walking around, Caiden standing near the carriage speaking with Brevan.
My stomach churns and I hesitate, reluctant to see him. When the enforcer walks away, I step out of the carriage.
I can still see the back of Brevan as he pauses to talk to some of the other soldiers who rode along with us. A lump rises in my throat, and I can’t take my gaze off him.
Caiden moves next to me. “We’ll have camp made soon and then you can sleep in a proper bed. With me, of course.”
“Why are there so many of them?” There’re more than the few soldiers who rode alongside and around our carriage when we left in the morning. There’re dozens of them milling around the trees now. Some are building tents, others sharpening blades or tending to fires. This isn’t a simple travel party; it’s more like a war party. “What is going on?”
“I told you, we have some stops to make along our way.” Caiden raises his arm, then shouts, “Sullivan, I need you to escort the empress to her tent. Then grab a few men to stand guard.” He wraps his arm around me, pulling me tight against him. My body recoils as he nuzzles his face into my neck. “I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to my darling wife.”
When he releases me, his expression is instantly hard and impassive again. Back to that cold impersonal appearance both him and Brevan seem to have mastered. They deserve each other. Maybe the two of them can bunk together.
As if my thoughts summoned him, Brevan approaches. He inclines his head respectfully, “Empress, Your Majesty. I have the reconnaissance team ready for your command.”
“I’ll address them now.” Caiden walks away, leaving me with Brevan.
The two of us stand silently for several very long heartbeats. Then he looks over at me. “How was your journey?”
“Fine.”
“Good.”
“The wedding was beautiful,” he says without looking at me.
I scoff. “Seriously?”
“What do you want me to say, Sabina?”
“Nothing. You should go. I think your emperor will be missing his favorite lap dog.”
“If I’m a lap dog, what does that make you?”
“I guess I’m his bitch.”
“Your Majesty.” A guard appears with three guards behind him. He bows, then the others follow his lead. “I’m to take you to your quarters.”
“Lead the way.” I follow without looking back at Brevan. If he wants to pretend like everything between us never happened, I can do that. Even if it breaks my heart in the process.
The tent is set up with a single large mattress covered in blankets and furs. Next to it is the trunk with all of my clothes. There’re no ladies to help me dress or undress, so I’m left trying to unlace the elaborate dress myself. Starting tomorrow, I will flat out refuse to wear anything I can’t get off alone.
With a frustrated sound, I stomp my foot and plop down into a pile of fabric. Tears of rage stream down my cheeks. How could he say that to me? After everything? I want to pretend like it doesn’t bother me, but it does.
I loved him.
I still love him.
