Page 17 of War King's Treasure

“Same with my father,” Serena put in. “And our former king isn’t one to take no for an answer when it comes to what he wants. That’s how I ended up married to Geoffrey. My father disappeared. Our lands were being attacked. I sent a group of soldiers into the Dread Lands to seek help, and Geoffrey came for me.”

“I’ve heard the most dreadful stories about the pagan kings of the Dread Lands. How they kill and rape and maim. It’s hard to reconcile that with Gavin and the other men I’ve met.” Nori had overheard more than one conversation about the brutes and the uncivilized lands they attempted to rule.

“None of them are what this country’s evil tales say they are. Jamie’s people are loyal. They stay with him because he protects them, sees that they have food and shelter. He fights along side his men, leading them, not staying behind until the battle is done. His men respect him. Phillip holds his crown with soft hands and a conniving brain, always searching for how to manipulate a person or situation to get what he wants.” Rory fisted her hands at her sides. “He sold my mother, ignored my existence, and wiped his hands of you once you were born—until you became a woman he could use.”

“But I was already living with the Buckinghams. I admit that Robert’s older brother, Justin, was kind to me, but there was no love there.” Would her grandfather have issued a contract between her and Justin? Nori knew it was common and realized how naïve she’d been to think she might have been spared it because of who her grandfather was.

“If he put you with them, there had to be some advantageous reason for it. It would have only been strengthened by marriage,” Rory said.

“We could ask Marcus,” Genevieve said. “He has eyes everywhere.”

“She only needs to ask Gavin,” Jo argued. “From what Theo’s shared, Gavin has men who find out information for him, just as Marcus does.”

“I ask Gavin to consummate the marriage.” The confession was out of Nori’s mouth before she could swallow down the words.

“Well, that’s a change from earlier.” Jo shrugged when Nori glanced her way. “You couldn’t wait to get out of here. If given the opportunity, you would have tried to run.”

“You knew that?”

“We both did,” Rory admitted. “But you needed the air. Sometimes, it’s hard to breathe when they’re all together. They tend to dominate any room they’re in.”

Serena laughed. “They certainly do, though I only have eyes for my Geoffrey. He’s all I see when he’s near me.”

“You love your husband.” Nori didn’t word it as a question. She didn’t need to ask. It was written on the women’s faces, reflected in the way they spoke of their husbands.

“I’m betting when you asked Gavin to consummate, he told you he’d given his word and he’d honor it,” Jo said softly then nodded when Nori gasped in surprise. “He’s a man who values honor. He’ll protect you, Nori. He’ll respect you. And when he falls for you, he’ll love you beyond anything you’ve ever known.”

“I’m a means to an end,” Nori said softly. “He married me to gain my grandfather’s agreement to what they wanted.”

Rory shook her head. “There’s one thing you should learn about my brother. He never does anything he doesn’t want to. No matter what it might gain. When he decided to marry you, it was because he wanted to. Our men are hard but not cruel. They’ll defend their people and their lands with every breath. But their wives, the queens who stand beside them, there’s no wrath like the one they’ll show to the man who puts one of us in harm.”

“That’s possession. Not love.” Nori didn’t want to be chattel. She wanted to be loved. For once in her life, she wanted to know someone loved her.

“Then show him,” Jo said. “Theo took me in order to teach my brother a lesson. Instead, he found he couldn’t let me go. Not because of anything Jamie had done. Because of me, of how he felt with me. He loves me. That big brute of a man is mine.”

“Trust is the key,” Rory added.

“It’s in how he touches you,” Serena suggested.

“Definitely that,” Jo agreed, and all four of the women laughed.

Nori didn’t join in. She’d liked the way Gavin had touched her the night before, but she’d been embarrassed when daylight came. And trust? It would take more than a few days for that to form. Love? A dream whispered in the darkest part of the night.

Gavin was kind, though. His touch was tender, gentle, however it had ignited fires beneath her skin that had settled in her core and left her aching as she’d drifted into sleep.

“Nori.”

She glanced toward the door and wondered if she’d conjured Gavin with her thoughts. Then she really studied him. His long, muscular legs were displayed to perfection in leather. His chest was bare, revealing every dip and swell of muscle beneath his skin. He wore leather guards on his forearms that drew her eyes to his arms. The man made her feel things just by looking at him. And when he glanced at her? She blushed as she remembered how it felt to be naked in his arms while he was equally naked.

“What are you thinking, wife?” he asked, one corner of his mouth tugging upward. She knew the flush on her cheeks probably told him exactly what was on her mind, but she couldn’t stop.

“Ladies,” he addressed the others as he crossed to her, wrapping his arm around her and settling his palm against the small of her back. “Thank you for keeping Nori company.”

With that he guided her from the room. If any of the others said something, she didn’t hear them. She was focused completely on Gavin Montrose. War King. Husband. She didn’t even blink when he led them back to the bedroom she’d practically fled from earlier. Cris and Con were outside the door.

“Ensure eyes are kept on both Phillip and Buckingham,” Gavin ordered then swept her inside and closed the door.

“Why are we here?” she asked. Part of her was terrified he would give in and take her virginity as she’d asked. Part of her was terrified he wouldn’t. Both had her heart beating so fast she feared she’d pass out.

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