Freshly bathed and sitting by the fire with food, Raik unwinds a bit. She'd slipped earlier and insulted his queen. Understandable, since Raik and Orix grew up together and had been lovers for many years before his marriageβand Raik's banishment.
What's wrong this time?
Orix stood and went to the fire, hands held out to the flames.
"There's enough for four people." I broke off a hunk of crusty black bread. "Come share."
He returned, nibbling while I gulped, but said little. At last, hunger satisfied and body clean, I leaned back in the chair and lifted a goblet, watching the fire through the deep red wine.
"I'm sorry, Orix. You know. About Dahr. I didn't mean to hurt. You mean more to me than anyone alive."
He folded his arms and stared into the fire. "I need her Raik. As much as I needed you."
Needed? I choked back words that anguish hurried to mind. I was as much his chattel as any of his horses. No person could own another, but I was still his, given to him at birth. Why should it hurt if he treated me as such?
"She's in danger of losing the baby."
"Again?" There had been a miscarriage four months after their marriage. "What's wrong this time?" I poured more wine.
"Some woman thing. Her doctors fuss around her bed all day. It's been weeks and she still has to stay on her back. I can't even see her. All her doctors are from Kellindahr. I don't think she trusts ours."
"This child is crucial, Orix. You need an heir to both lands. If it helps for her to have her own people around her, so much the better."
"Aye." He rambled on about a rallying point and the Kellindahrii people's love for their queen, while I mused over how much time would be lost begetting another heir. It struck me that if Dahr was abed she hadn't met Orix's needs. My throat tightened when I thought of him sleeping alone. I dared not look at the over-sized bed we'd so often shared. Nor did I look straight at him, afraid my rampant feelings would show. There was a war to finish. I'd been foolish to bring the dispatch. Being this close to him...
I flung myself out of the chair and stalked, stiff-legged and sore, over to the fireplace and leaned my head against the mantle.
Let him go! He's the king. You're a soldier. He'll never be yours. Don't lose your heart over him. Don't do it. Not again.
Colonies of Man
Series: https://kayelleallen.com/scifi-space-opera-fantasy/
#SciFi #Fantasy #Romance
Sign up for my newsletter and claim your immortality
Welcome to Book Hooks!
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by.
Links below lead to other sites also taking part. You can "hop" from mine to theirs with one click.
Feel free to say hello or leave a note in the comments.
Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.
~ Copyright Β©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!
To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.