Page 49 of The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating

The wind turned cold, and Arabella shivered despite the wards that kept the worst of the high-altitude temperatures at bay. I paused in a small archway while she pulled her hood up.

“Any other scandalous rumors?” I asked as we resumed walking.

“Many.” She pulled a face. “There seems to be a preoccupation with virgins in general, though. Like the one that claims you can shift into a great black wolf and... well, I better not tell you in case it offends your villainous sensibilities.”

“How considerate of you,” I said, whirling to face her. Caught off guard, she stopped just short of running into me. “Though if you’re curious about just how depraved my sensibilities can be...” I let my voice trail off, watching her reaction.

Arabella’s eyes widened slightly, but then she sidestepped me and continued on her way. “Ithought taking their virginities as a wolf seemed counterproductive,” she called over her shoulder, “if you also planned to sacrifice them.”

Amused, I hurried to catch up. “So you admit you’ve been thinking about me, Lady Blackrose. Thatisscandalous.”

She shot me a practiced glare, which did nothing to hide the delightful flush staining her cheeks. “They also say ‘Blackrose’ is just another lie,” she continued. “That you changed your name along the way.”

“Names can be chosen,” I allowed, “and they can be changed if one’s past is worth discarding.”

Curiosity flickered across her face, but I offered no more, and the wind made further conversation difficult without shouting.

At the Gate Tower, the guards snapped to attention, almost as deferential to Arabella as to me. I’d thrown one of them in the dungeons for leering, yet gossip had fixated on how she’d pressed a blade to my throat.

She’d earned their approval without uttering a single syllable in their direction—an economy even I had to admire.

We continued over the lightning bridge to the Great Hall’s imposing black doors. I paused before entering. “You’ll need to come here with me sometimes, to project a united front. That’s part of your role as Lady Blackrose.”

She exhaled in a resigned sort of way. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll set someone on fire?”

“I like your thinking,” I said in a low voice, “but incinerating minions tends to make people too terrified to function. Besides,if I’d wanted to keep you hidden away like a guilty secret, I wouldn’t have thrown that ostentatious wedding.”

Without waiting for her retort, I pushed open the doors.

“Do I have to do anything?” she asked, smoothing her windswept hair self-consciously.

A handful of staff and soldiers milled about, but quieted when they saw us.

“Sit there and be astonishing,” I said quietly. “And let me terrify anyone who looks at you the wrong way.”

“You’re a truly gracious host,” she murmured.

The guard at the dais announced, “Lord Blackrose and Lady Blackrose!” A hush swept the hall. Eyes flicked to Arabella.

I guided her up the steps, savoring the moment. As she hesitated at her new seat next to mine, I bent near her ear. Letting my breath fan across her skin, I pressed a none-too-innocent kiss to the curve of her neck. “You look every inch a dark lady,” I whispered, voice pitched so only she could hear. “It suits you better than you think.”

The faint hitch in her breath was reward enough. I took my seat, noting the curious stares with mild satisfaction. For the next half hour, I uttered sentences of doom and issued verdicts, fielding petitions from farmers, merchants, and those incompetent enough to suspect magical vermin among their livestock. Anyone looking at my wife too intently felt my dominion magic hum in the air. Not a single soul dared question her presence or her status as my bride.

Throughout it, I kept glancing at Arabella. She sat with queenly calm, not speaking unless necessary. And whenever my gaze caught hers, a tiny spark flashed—a trace of amusement or rebellious fury. I couldn’t quite decide which.

When the last complaint ended, I rose and offered her my hand. Once we were free from prying eyes, she pulled her hand away.

“All that posturing,” she said. “Was it truly necessary?”

“Completely,” I said, adjusting my cloak. “It makes you less of a target. If they realize I’m protective, they won’t dare test you.”

She regarded me with a faint frown, then huffed. “And that kiss? Another public show?”

I let just a little bit of heat into my gaze for her benefit. “A tactical display of possession,” I answered. “As per our agreement.”

Arabella gave a small shake of her head. But as she turned toward the lightning bridge, I sensed the subtle satisfaction in her posture, like she’d claimed some power in that hall. I nearly called after her, intending to suggest we explore the deeper parts of the citadel. But a guard jogged up with a quick salute.

“My lord,” he said. “Urgent message from patrols in Arvoryn—bandits are raiding the border villages. We suspect Solandris interference.”

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