Beauty In Darkness

14

“No sightings in the last three days, as far as I know.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the ache in my forehead. “He will be back soon, no doubt. We must be ready.”

“Of course.” He gave me a once-over heavy with scrutiny. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

“I got a few hours.” I thought I did, anyway. I’d spent the night catching up on ledgers I’d missed while I was in Talador, then passed out on my chaise lounge once my eyes became too heavy. I remembered little else, other than the same frustration I felt every night as I tried and failed to find a solution to our problem, along with the new mix of desire and apprehension at the thought of my bride upstairs.

“I suspect you weren’t awake all night for the reason you should have been,” Oren said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what I speak of.” He held my gaze. “Your new wife is lovely, isn’t she?”

“I barely noticed,” I lied.

Oren let out a soft snort. He was the only one who could get away with such insolence, but I appreciated his honesty and that he talked to me like a friend and not a king. He’d been my mother’s advisor as well due to his shrewd thinking and unfailing loyalty. “I heard she waited up all night for you to join her in her room, but you never did.”

“Is that what your judgmental look has been about this morning?” I asked, moving out from behind my desk to stare through the window at the palace’s garden. “I have no intention of visiting her room anytime soon, not that it’s any of your business.”

“The royal line is my business, and you need an heir. I know you’re still mourning Princess Silena, but—”

I spun around to face him. “Do not speak her name to me!”

Oren released a long, disappointed sigh. “Apologies, my lord. Nevertheless, your marriage requires consummation, and your royal line must continue. If something should happen to you, especially with the way you’re risking your neck in such foolish ways these days, your kingdom will go to your cousin, Lord Malren.”

“Don’t remind me.” Malren was the worst type of man, one who cared little for others and only for himself. He was a disgrace to my family’s legacy and would lead this kingdom to ruin. I would never let that happen.

“Then find a way to make it work with your new queen, and quickly. Close your eyes and think of someone else if you must, but get it done—for your kingdom’s sake.”

Closing my eyes and thinking of someone else wasn’t an option, not with Rose. The problem was that I wanted her too much already, and that path led to things I couldn’t deal with right now. Or ever.

I turned toward Oren and used my most commanding tone, which never worked on him anyway. “I have other matters that are more pressing right now, but I will take your concerns under advisement and handle it as I see fit.”

“Very well,” he said, with a disapproving sniff. “Just remember what your mother always told you. The most important thing in life is family. Even for a king.”

Queen Casnia had been both a wise ruler and a great mother, and I’d believed those words for the longest time. Then my family was taken from me by the King of Talador, who was my new father-in-law in a cruel twist of fate. The thought of having a family again and putting the people I cared about at risk was unbearable, especially with the darkness spreading inside my kingdom. But Oren was right, and I’d have to find a way to make this situation with Rose agreeable or my kingdom would suffer for it. She was my wife and I couldn’t avoid her forever.

An idea came to mind. “Call the Queen to my study.”

A small, triumphant smile touched Oren’s lips as he bowed. “As you wish.”

I returned to my desk to finish my correspondence, until the lady herself walked into my study, alone. As my gaze rose to take her in, my breath left me in a rush. She wore a deep purple gown that was fairly plain, yet somehow only made her own beauty more striking. Her dark hair was piled atop her head in an intricate fashion, and I couldn’t help but stare at the graceful slope of her neck and wonder how it would feel to place my lips there.

“Good morning, Raith,” she said. There was a trace of annoyance in her voice and a challenge in her amber eyes, I assumed because I’d summoned her at such an early hour instead of letting her sleep in longer. Too bad. She’d have to get used to our schedule here—we didn’t waste even a second of daylight.

She waited for me to speak, but as I gazed at her I forgot my original reason for calling her here. Sun and Moon, she was beautiful. That soft, creamy skin, those perfect red lips, and those lush, firm breasts… I cleared my throat and forced myself to focus. “Is everything in the castle to your liking?”

“Yes, it’s quite lovely. I look forward to seeing more of it today.”

“And you slept well, I hope?”

Her eyes narrowed the slightest bit. “I did.”

“Good.” I rose to my feet. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll begin your training.”

“Training?” she asked. “What sort of training?”

“Your magical training, of course.”

Nine

Rose

M

y annoyance at Raith’s absence last night faded away in an instant. I hurried after him as he left his study and headed down the corridor. “You plan to teach me magic?”

“I do. You have some raw talent for it, but you’ve clearly never had any real magical education. It would be irresponsible to leave you untrained.” He stopped in front of a plain black door and removed a key from his coat pocket. “Have you had any sort of mentor before?”

“I’m self-taught,” I said, standing up straighter. Even though I hadn’t attended the fancy magic school in Korelan, I’d done the best I could with what I’d had.

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”