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 marriage—and 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.
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative blog hop hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
I’ve really got to get a copy of this.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Lisabet!
Your books would make great movies, Kayelle. :)
Music to my ears, Tina. ^_^
Great scene.
Thank you, Janet. Glad to see you back. :)