by Jeanne Hardt
“You know nothing of my pain!” Shireen shrieked and leered at him. “I suffer every month!”
Angeline’s plan for the pair was not to be. Oddly, she felt relief, knowing Darius had not attempted to seduce the girl. Their entire ordeal had been simple foolishness.
With as much composure as she could, she folded her hands atop her lap. “Shireen, all the while you have been in my service, you have proficiently hidden your discomfort. I was unaware of your womanly difficulties, and I have no doubt the jostling of the carriage added to your pains.” She faced her cousin. “Darius, you must apologize for your rude behavior.”
He grunted. “I suppose it was wrong of me to add to her troubles. The road was long, and I grew bored. Yet, that does not excuse my pranks.”
“Pranks?” Shireen again rolled her eyes. “A man of your age should have manners. You behaved as a boy of ten. Perhaps younger.”
Angeline let out a frustrated breath. “I rely on both of you to aid me, so I cannot have you bickering. Shireen, I will ask Denali to give you something for your discomfort when your time comes again. Darius, I am in agreement with Shireen and expect more from you. In the future, should you have to relieve yourself of foul stench, take yourself from the presence of ladies to do so.”
“We were in an enclosed carriage,” Darius grumbled. “I could not help myself.”
“I understand digestive issues, however, the boyish way in which you dealt with your condition is another matter.” She stood. “I expect both of you to treat one another with respect.” She gestured to the door. “You may go.”
Shireen rose from her chair and curtsied. “Your Majesty, I appreciate your understanding.” She dipped her head and left.
Darius also stood, but made no indication he intended to leave.
Angeline pursed her lips. “I said, you may go.”
His eyes narrowed, then he stalked across the floor to the door. Instead of exiting through it, he shut it and faced her. “What is the real reason for your beckoning of me, Angeline?”
“I stated my purpose. I do not care to have my most trusted confidants at odds with one another.”
He walked toward her and stopped within inches of her. “I know you. You had something else in mind.” With a much less threatening expression, he slid his hand up and down her waist. “Tell me.”
“If you must know, I intended to give her to you. Yet when I realized the depth of her disgust in your regard, I changed my mind.”
The movement of his hand stopped and he stepped back. “Give her to me? You would have me bed her?”
“I believed you wanted her and had made unwanted advances. The truth in your journey was utterly unexpected.” Angeline returned to her chair at the window.
“Has your grief made you mad?” Darius stormed across the floor and hovered above her. “You made me vow to keep myself to you and Lydia alone. Having you encourage me to frolic in Issa was surprising enough, but this—”
“I was wrong to stifle your desires.” She peered up at him and slowly blinked. “Why should I deprive other women of your fine abilities?”
He sat and stared at her, studying her as if searching for a demon. “You threatened to remove my member if I so much as looked at another woman with longing.”
She laughed and waved a hand. “I was young and foolish. My views of such things have changed.”
“Your threats came less than a year ago!” Scowling, he leaned back and crossed his arms. “You have taken another lover. That is why you wish to push me away.”
“Darius…dear…” She caressed his leg. “Have you so quickly dismissed last night? Aside from my late husband, no man but you has been within me.”
“If that is true, then I can only assume you desire someone else. Otherwise, you would not so readily wish to throw me into the bed of another.”
She frowned. “You wound me. After all the years which have passed between us, can you not appreciate what I intended to do for you? I assumed you wanted Shireen, and I was willing to set aside jealousy in order to please you.”
She let her shoulders drop and sighed. “I had accepted your coupling in my mind, believing you could actually help the sweet girl. She will remain a maid unless I allow her to relinquish her maidenhead. Because I care for her, I do not want to deprive her of the exquisiteness of coupling. You would be gentle with her, as you were with me.”
“And if my seed produced a child, what then?”
“Denali would see to it, just as he did for me.” She shook her head and waved both hands in front of herself. “Think nothing more of it. It was wrong of me to contemplate the idea.”
He stroked his scruffy beard and sat tall. “Do you truly believe I could help her? Perhaps alleviate some of her monthly pain?”
Angeline grasped his hands. “Surely, at least a portion of her agony is derived from lack of use. You could do wonders for the girl.”
“No.” He rocked back and forth. “She despises me. It is ridiculous to think she would allow me in her bed.”
“We shall see. Time changes many things.”
“And…you would not be jealous?”
“As I said, I would cast jealousy aside for the benefit of all. Marriage to Frederick has indeed changed me.” She yanked on his hands to still him. “Stop fidgeting!”
“Forgive me, but you have put thoughts in my mind I cannot dismiss.”
“Then, do not try. Leave them there to grow.” Even this little piece of her plan proved to be properly playing out. She leaned close and kissed him. “I adore you, Darius, and I merely desire your happiness. All I ask is that you trust me, and I will make certain you attain it.”
He jerked his head toward her bed. “I can accomplish it there.”
“Not tonight. I am weary and need rest. Soon, the castle will overflow with royalty from every realm, save one. Honestly, I do not know why I continue to contemplate Padrida. They are cut off eternally from the rest of the world, so I should dismiss them from my thoughts altogether.”
“You expect no trouble from them?”
“They are finished. Kendor assured me the ravine separating them from the forest is insurmountable. It is too treacherous to attempt any sort of crossing, save by a bridge. Which, as you know, is no more. Sebastian will die a prince, never to be a king.” She slyly smiled. “He paid a formidable price for rejecting me.”
She pushed herself up from the chair. “Have I ever thanked you for all you did in Thanwine? Had you not assisted me that night, Marni would have never drunk the poisoned cider, and Frederick would not have been free to marry me. You carried out your task so beautifully.”
Darius stood and drew her into his arms. “I will never deny your requests. Ask anything of me, and I will obey. As for your gratitude…” He kissed her neck similarly to the way Kendor had. “You render thanks every time you open your legs to me.”
She playfully smacked his chest. “Shame, Darius. You speak so crudely.”
“And you relish it.” He whacked her hard on the rump.
If this play continued, it would be difficult to make him leave, and it would not be sensible to be fully satiated prior to seeing Kendor. “You should go. We have said all that is necessary for tonight, and as I told you, I am quite weary.”
“Are you certain?” He licked his lips, cupped her breast, and squeezed.
“Yes. It is best you go. I assume you will be returning to Thanwine after the funeral?”
“Unless you insist I stay. Lydia would understand if you require my service here in Basilia.”
“Not if she knew the manner in which you service me.” Smirking, she pushed his hand away. “I must keep my mind clear. There is much to do to retain my title. Eventually, you and I must resume our swordplay, for soon, more kings will die and my reign as high queen will be inevitable.”
“How will you accomplish it?”
“For now, you need not know.” She tickled under his thick beard. “When all plays out, it will bring me g
reat pleasure seeing your surprise.”
“Do you not need my assistance once more to attain it?”
“I will tell you when your unique skills are required. In the meantime, contemplate Shireen further.”
He shook a finger at her. “You are a devilish mystery to me, my queen.” He bowed, turned, and headed for the door.
Before leaving, he cast a glance over his shoulder. He did not appear happy, but she was uncertain whether it was brought on by her rejection of him or her final suggestion.
Whichever it might be, both meant the same thing. His devotion to her was unquestionable. He would do her bidding, regardless of what she asked.
Chapter 8
Tesher secured a thick blanket around himself and Carmela and tightened his hold on her. Perrin sat curled up on the carriage seat across from them, seemingly sound asleep.
They had stopped for the night, and by late tomorrow, they would arrive in Thanwine, but the cold of the mountains had already descended upon them. Had they remained on horseback, they might have frozen themselves.
Carmela cuddled closer. “You radiate warmth,” she whispered.
The darkness of night prevented him from clearly seeing her features, but he had memorized them and had no need. Something wonderful had transpired between them, and she had fully captured his heart. She had looked beyond his deceit and despicable deeds and had seen him as the man he always strove to be. Good, fair, and kind. He intended to prove she was justified in believing in him.
“Are you warm enough?” He, too, kept his voice low, not wanting to disturb their driver.
“My blood is thick from the many years I have lived in the mountains of Thanwine. The cold does not trouble me.”
He rubbed up and down her back. “If that is so, shall I release you?”
“Bite your tongue.” A quick peck from her lips dampened his cheek. “For years I thought of nothing more than being in your arms. Now that I have attained my deepest desire, do not even consider taking it from me.”
Perrin mumbled and groaned, then flopped over. Within moments, a loud snore followed.
Carmela let out the softest laugh. “Poor Perrin. I doubt he enjoys the drudgery of his days.”
“He is a good man.” Without giving it thought, Tesher kissed the top of her head.
She happily sighed and burrowed into him.
Sleep would not come anytime soon. Not when he wanted to cherish every moment of his waking hours.
His heart danced in a different way than it had with Angeline. She had sparked his manly urges, but thinking back on their conversations, he could easily see how she had used those sparks to manipulate him.
He craved Carmela, yet his feelings for her went beyond desires of the flesh. He envisioned her as the mother of his children—the woman with whom he would grow old and make lasting memories. Dreadfully, Angeline could destroy everything.
Perrin’s snoring grew oddly fiercer. Tesher had never heard such an unusual sound.
Carmela giggled. “I doubt our conversation is disturbing him.” She glided her fingers across Tesher’s chest. “And I am grateful, for there is something important I must tell you.”
He shivered from her tender touch. “Can it be said in Perrin’s presence?”
“His presence?” She let out another soft laugh. “He is far from here—deep in dreams. Worry not about him.”
Their sensual whispering and her close proximity kept Tesher’s mind elsewhere. If only he could expedite his birthdays. “Then say what you will.”
“I have determined what to tell my brothers about Angeline.”
The fear of what she was about to say dampened the intimate mood. “Yes?”
“Do not sound so frightened. I gave it a lot of thought, and I believe I can accomplish warning them without implicating you.”
“Go on…”
“I will tell them—as I told you—how Angeline believes herself to be the prophesied queen. They know Masa’s prophecy well, and how it states all kings will die. What better warning could I render?”
Tesher shifted in the seat, working out a wrench in his lower back. “Will they trust your words? If Talman accepts them as truth, he would have to believe his own sister might end him.”
“Talman is hard-headed, and it may require excessive effort on my part to convince him, but he has never trusted Angeline. Eventually, I can make him see reason.”
“Could you ask him to take word to my father? Make him aware of Angeline’s beliefs?”
Perrin grumbled louder.
“Shh…” Carmela touched her finger to Tesher’s lips. “Your voice has substantially risen. Perhaps we should finish this discussion on the morrow, when Perrin is seated atop the carriage.”
“Very well.” He cradled her close.
As much as he wanted to continue their conversation, they took considerable risk allowing Perrin to hear too much. Therefore, he accepted things as they were and chose to relish his current position.
He placed another tender kiss on her brow. “Sleep, my dear Carmela. Dream of what may come and pray for good.”
“Good is in my grasp at this very moment.” She circled him with her arms and snuggled against his chest.
Tesher leaned his head back and closed his eyes, with no intention of sleeping. He longed to dream, but dreaded the possibility of nightmares. If he was not such a coward, he would travel back from where he had come and confront his father like the man he claimed to be. Yet he feared Angeline more than anything or anyone in the world. As much as he wanted to warn his father of her capabilities, he could not imagine himself taking a single step in that direction.
With every passing moment, Angeline’s heart beat faster.
She relinquished her dreary black dress and donned her sheerest nightgown. Though she had gotten little sleep as of late, she was not weary in the least. Her thoughts alone gave her boundless energy. If those in Issa felt this way every day of their lives, it was no wonder the realm produced such joy.
Thinking of Issa put her mind on Imran. The exact opposite of where she wanted it to be.
Perhaps she should not have become so angry with him, but all she had been able to visualize—once he told her of his relationship with her mother—was the dear woman lying dead.
Her death had to be fully avenged.
She stomped her foot. “Stop thinking about it!”
To clear her mind, she wandered to the window and breathed in the fresh night air. Utterly unlike Thanwine, Basilia was lovely and warm. Within moments, she felt a great deal better.
She lit several more candles, wanting to fully illuminate the area near the bed. Kendor would be gifted by being allowed to fully see what he was getting.
The minutes ticking by seemed to take longer than those in daylight hours, and she grew more and more impatient. Perhaps pacing would help…
A soft rap on her door startled her. She had told Kendor midnight, and more than thirty minutes remained until then.
“He is truly eager,” she mumbled on her way to the door.
With a deep breath, she slowly opened it and had to stifle a gasp. “Denali?”
He carried a lantern in one hand and lifted it high. “I am pleased to see you awake. This entire day, I expected you to seek me out. There are many whispers in the realm, and we must speak.”
“Now?” She covered her bosom with one hand. “I am quite weary and was about to extinguish my candles, so that I might sleep. Can our discussion not wait until morning?”
“No.” He pushed the door wider, stepped into her room, then turned and carefully shut the door. When he returned his attention to her, he scanned her body from head to toe.
She had never felt so exposed in his presence and defensively jutted her chin. “I did not invite you in.”
He tipped his head toward her bed. “Are you expecting someone? Darius perhaps?”
“Heavens, no. Even if I were, it would not be of your concern.” She hastened to her wardrobe, re
trieved a robe, and put it on.
“You are foolish, Angeline. Regardless of the hour, there are those with their eyes on you. Callum’s spies are seeking out ways to destroy your reputation with the Basilian people. He wants the high throne. Can you not behave yourself, if only until he and his people leave? Perhaps, entomb your husband before you frolic?”
“My dear, Denali. You so capably humor me.” Lightly laughing, she crossed the room, put her arms around him, and looked in his eyes. “Did we not frolic immediately following Frederick’s demise?”
“Yes, but that was substantially different.” He stood rigid. “The castle was not overrun with those from other kingdoms.”
She kissed along his neck, then nibbled lightly on his earlobe. “I am glad you came. I have delicious news.” She breathed every word into his ear.
He shivered. “You know how to torment me.” Still stiff as a plank, he gently pushed her aside. “If you have such news, why did you not come to me?”
“As I said…” She stuck out her lower lip. “I am weary. I intended to see you at sunrise.”
“Well…” He fanned his arms wide. “I am here now. Tell me.”
Surely, she could recant everything necessary in less than thirty minutes and send him on his way. “Come sit.” She took his hand and led him to the ever-useful chairs.
He started to sit, then glanced again at the bed and frowned.
Angeline dropped into her chair. “Please, Denali. Put your mind right. I am alone and intend to remain so. Your assumptions in regard to my plans were sorely incorrect.”
He tentatively sat, but said nothing.
She reached out and took his hand. “What I have to say will please you.”
He kept shifting his gaze around the room as if not wanting to look at her. And since she needed him to fulfill her plan, keeping him in her favor was essential. “Denali? Look at me.” She caressed his fingers. “Please?”
Finally, he put his eyes on her, and she took the opportunity to kiss him.
