Page 30 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

If I wanted to keep her from Elk, there was an irrefutable way to do it. A way to give her what she wanted, along with what she needed.

And if she wasn’t entirely mine, at least she wouldn’t behis.

“Clan wives are protected,” I offered, my tone more controlled now. “That’s true no matter who she chooses... But if the princess’ safety is a concern, she is welcome to stay in Lochlann.”

The princess in question narrowed her jade eyes at me. “You want to marry me, but you don’t care if I stay here, in Lochlann, while you reside in Socair?”

Was that hope in her tone, or only disbelief?

“You would need to come for the wedding, of course, but after that?” I shrugged, feigning the nonchalance I couldn’t quite feel under the weight of her furious gaze. “It hardly makes a difference to the alliance. As far as I’m concerned, your life is your own.”

I ignored the part of me that rebelled at the arrangement I was so casually offering, the part that wondered what or who she might distract herself with if her husband was a kingdom away.

If she agreed to those terms. If she wanted to stay here.

As easy as it was to read the open anger on her face, I still couldn’t quite nail down the reason.

“What a novel concept.” Her voice was low, but the scathing tone carried all the same.

She opened her mouth, then closed it, like she was physically fighting not to tell everyone in this room that just the night before I reminded her that I owned her.

“I suppose then you would get everything you want,” she said instead.

Is that what she thought? That I wanted the massive pain in the arse it would be to have to explain my absentee wife at every wedding and Summit for the next fifty years?

“I wouldn’t go right towant.” My mouth tugged upward. Did she remember the first time I had said those words, when she had been nearly as angry as she was right now? “But sacrifices must be made.”

“Sacrifices,” she breathed, her lips twisting on the word.

Korhonan tugged her hand slightly, just enough to break whatever spell we were under, enough to make me realize my eyes hadn’t left hers for the entirety of this conversation.

That every other eye in the room was on us as well, expressions ranging from amused to embittered. Mostly Korhonan for that last one.

Rowan shook her head like she was forcing away cobwebs, then squared her shoulders in a battle-ready position. So what she said next wasn’t much of a surprise.

“That’s very noble of you, but entirely unnecessary, as we’re supposed to be discussing stipulations for me to marry Theo, not a counterproposal.”

Theaalionodded with approval, and I willed my fists to unclench.

“Thatismy stipulation,” I countered, having decided that roughly three seconds ago. “That we discuss the merits of an alliance between Bear and Lochlann for the sake of both our people, that you give it genuine consideration. In return, I will give genuine consideration to granting my permission for you to marry Korhonan, in the event that you decide against an alliance with Bear.”

I wasn’t sure why I was pushing when I had told myself I wouldn’t, except that she was stubborn as all storms-damned hell. I couldn’t gauge her reaction from one conversation. If she really wanted to be with Korhonan, I would know after a few days.

And I would consider granting my permission right up until the moment I withheld it.

She looked like she wanted to refuse, while her mother appeared thoughtful. Her father’s expression, of course, more closely mirrored her own, though he didn’t outright intercede.

Just as Princess Jocelyn had said, they were leaving this decision entirely to her, and I was banking on that responsibility holding some degree of weight with her.

Sure enough, she let out a frustrated sigh.

“Fine, but I want a guarantee thatwhenI decide against it, I will have more than consideration. You will grant your fullpermission,”she spat the word. “To marry into Elk, provided they agree to the terms of the negotiations.”

I wanted to point out that it was hardly fair to ask me to agree when she had all but admitted that she wouldn’t live up to her end, but I decided on a different angle.

“Very well.Ifyou decide against it, I’ll grant your permission. But I want permission in turn to stay until I find another suitable alliance.”

If Elk was tied to Lochlann, Bear would need something stronger than a trade agreement to keep us protected, even with Iiro’s dubious word on the negotiations. That was the only reason I decided to bring up an alliance of my own, certainly not because I remembered green eyes staring fiery daggers at my rustled bed the night before.

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