Chapter 17Queen Vita Omnia stood in her vast bathing chamber and opened her ivory silk robe, exposing her bare flesh to the late-afternoon sunlight flooding in through the wall of open windows. From the city of Wynorian, the bells of the many Royal Temples still chorused the day in celebration. A nimble breeze, laden with the wedded aromas of mowed lawn and fresh blooms from the palace gardens, teased Vita’s nostrils and laved her face, sore from the smile she couldn’t seem to shed since the half-day of ceremonies began.
She peered over her shoulder toward the tub of black marble, flirtatiously batted her eyelashes, and allowed the robe to slide ever so slowly down her shoulders and back.
“For the Queendom’s sake, woman,” growled Bron, brushing dripping dark locks from his forehead, “don
