Page 136 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Do you feel that?” His eyes grew wide as his heart stampeded, racing faster than the adrenaline rush he’d gotten when he called me a whore. “Does it feel like your heart might burst in your chest?” He tried to pull away from me, but my grip was strong. “I will not think twice next time.”

He stared down at me, lips parted in shock or fear. When I finally released him, he stumbled backward, disgust and horror on his face. Rain stared between the two of us, stiffening. The look I shot him was a warning to not interfere, and he acquiesced. This was the first time I’d been challenged, and of course, it was only minutes after our vows. But he knew just as well as I did that to do this, to live this life by his side as not only his wife but also his queen, I would need to set my standard and draw the line without him.

Rain pulled us away under the guise of introducing me to more council members, his grip firm on my arm. Between each introduction, he studied me, waiting for an explanation I refused to give. I knew if I told him, there would likely be bloodshed on this day, one of the most important days of my life, and I didn’t want that. If Scias said anything aloud, I’d let Rain handle it, or I’d keep my promise to the vile fool. But I wanted to give the man a chance to learn his lesson. A few of the other council members were less than receptive of me, but at least half seemed to be genuinely content with the events that had passed. Introductions complete, the ten council members, Dewalt, Lavenia, Rain, and I sat down at the table. Queen Shivani stood at the chair I assumed to be reserved for Soren, her presence serving as a replacement for her indisposed husband. Clearing her throat and folding her hands together, she let her sight settle on her son, a soft fondness on her features I'd never seen before, while everyone in the chamber quieted down.

“We will make this brief so the festivities may begin, and our bellies will be full of food and wine. Crown Prince Rainier Vestana has taken a bride today and formed a bond with a conduit. Council of King Soren Vestana, will you recognize Emmeline Vestana, formerly Highclere, as your crown princess?” I inhaled the tiniest breath at the new stylization of my name, and Rain squeezed the hand he held under the table. I wasn’t sure if he thought it was nerves or doubts, but I offered him a smile, reassuring him that it was merely a surprise.

As “ayes” resounded, the final two men, seated to Dewalt’s right, remained silent.

“Lord Ellington?” Queen Shivani turned toward the man expectantly as if he were slow and not paying attention. She put a hand on Rain’s shoulder next to her, and I was curious if it was to make it easier to siphon his abilities if necessary. How many times had she assumed that role with Soren? How often was she dousing his flames? Did she think Rain capable of that same rage?

“I have some concerns, Your Majesty.” Ellington’s voice was higher, nervous. His heart nearly beat out of his chest.

“Do you care to share them, Ellington?” Shivani’s voice was tight and clipped as she spoke.

“Did Crown Prince Rainier not have an arrangement with Keeva of Nythyr?" Without giving Shivani a chance to respond, he continued, the rapid flow of words he spilled buoying him. "And right before the arrangement was to take place and the alliance strengthened, a woman, one who has not been seen or heard from in recent years, took her place at our prince’s side? Does that not sit well with anyone else?”

I heard one or two murmurs of assent, and my blood chilled.

“Emmeline had been in hiding until the Folterran forces kidnapped her child. It was a mere coincidence Prince Rainier’s assistance coincided with his engagement to Keeva.” I was surprised Shivani was the first to come to my defense.

“Why was she in hiding? This child is supposedly the Beloved. Why was she not formally identified by the Myriad?” Scias blurted out, earning himself a strict glare from the queen and a scoff from the man beside me.

“PrincessEmmeline's daughter was not formally identified by the Myriad in an effort to protect her after what happened to her sister. You may recall Martyr Lucia?" Rain's voice heated, dripping with derision. "Emmeline chose to protect her daughter and keep her hidden until she came into her divinity.” Quiet and precise, the anger in Rain's tone threatened to rise. I knew the secret I’d kept so carefully hidden for so long would come to pass as common knowledge, but I still wasn’t prepared for how naked it made me feel. Rain’s hand moved to my thigh and squeezed, the grip harsher than he likely intended, but I withstood it, needing the discomfort to anchor me. Shivani's icy gaze on her son moved to me, and I looked at her with apology, knowing Rain spoke out of turn. She pursed her lips before addressing Ellington and Scias.

“Once she has been retrieved, she will be formally identified by the Myriad, but I believe what she speaks is true.”

I stared at Rain in horror, the reality of what Shivani had said hitting him in the same moment. A slight head shake that did nothing to quell my fear was his only response. It was clear we couldn’t discuss it now, but did it mean it would never happen? King Soren couldn’t die fast enough. If it was between Queen Shivani forcing Elora to be tested and identified by the Myriad and me placing my hands on the king myself, ensuring his heart stopped and Rain became king, I’d kill the man in an instant. It wasn’t as if I didn’t want to do it anyway.

“And we are going to war over a child who we don’t even know for certain is the Beloved?” Scias was yelling, his face flushed with anger, and his hands were fisted where they rested on the table.

“Yes.” Shivani’s answer was simple, her voice terse.

“You will go to war with my kingdom over—” Shivani cut him off quickly.

“Vesta is your kingdom, Scias, is it not?” The councilor snapped his mouth shut and turned to Rain, who I knew sat furious beside me. It was my turn to squeezehisthigh.

“And you are willing to risk good men and an alliance with Nythyr for this," he paused to sneer at me, "witchof a woman?” He shouted, and the chamber grew still and silent. I took a deep breath, inhaling through my nose and out through my mouth. Lavenia, who sat on my other side, pulled my hand into hers. I watched as Rain’s head turned slowly toward Scias, giving the man a few moments to take back what he said, but the councilor remained taciturn. When Rain finally spoke, his words were lethal.

“What did you call my wife?” I sat perfectly still, and so did most everyone else in the room. The other council members didn’t appear to be surprised that Scias had earned their prince's ire, but I paid special attention to those who seemed to sympathize. One woman with a pronounced widow's peak looked particularly angry, giving Rain a bold and withering glare. The oldest member of the council, I couldn’t remember his name, glanced back and forth between the two men, and seemed to be warring with himself about speaking out on Scias’s behalf.

“This fahyše is going to lose you men! Nythyr, trade—” Scias’ accent had come out, his voice thickening as he yelled and shook in anger. It cut off, though, as we all felt the small rumble, the only hint Rain gave of his disintegrating calm. He let go of my thigh, and I knew then the path our day had taken. Killing a council member on our wedding day was not something I wanted from him, no matter how much he might want to, and I tried to express that by the look I gave him. But when Rain stood and Queen Shivani hadn’t said anything, I knew it was up to me to diffuse the situation. I didn’t care as much about Scias as I cared about it being a blight on our day. It was likely I’d have to get used to being called a whore—in his language and the common tongue. I had to make an effort and prove myself as capable. I willed my divinity to steady my heart rate, and I felt a cool sense of peace come over me. I sat forward, grasping my champagne flute like a lifeline before I cleared my throat. Every head in the room snapped to me as I spoke.

“That is twice in the last hour you have called me a whore, Sir Scias.” I forced a small laugh, attempting charm. “I am starting to believe you are not fond of me.” Taking a sip of my drink, counting each fizzy bubble that popped against my tongue, I feigned nonchalance. “Do you not remember my promise?” He stared at me, a mixture of shock and defiance on his face. With Shivani as their queen, I would have thought the councilors wouldn’t be surprised to have a vocal woman in their midst, but I gathered that perhaps they’d expected something different from me. A daughter of a minor lord who had hidden within the poorest of the kingdom, they must have thought I would be meek and mild, grateful and compliant because of the opportunity. I watched Scias’ jaw move, clearly debating retorting. Rain slowly lowered in his seat next to me, and I felt his burning gaze on the side of my head, clearly agitated I hadn’t divulged the details of my earlier interaction with Scias. I ignored him, steeling myself to maintain my icy countenance, and addressed Scias with the calm indifference I hoped would serve as a deterrent for him to continue down this path.

“In case I was unclear, I will reiterate. I told you if you ever called me a whore again, I would stop your heart. Though, I did say it more with my divinity than with my words. I did not think it would be so soon. As I am reluctant to sully my wedding day with your death, I do hope you can find it in you to control yourself?” I was doing everything I could think of to keep my voice steady and measured, the tension in the room overwhelming. Scias’ throat worked as he struggled with what to say next. Part of me hoped he would say something stupid. He was clearly sympathetic to Nythyr and likely Keeva, the woman who had tried to kill me only days ago. The kingdom would not be worse off for the lack of him. Scias leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table in front of him, before he bent forward once more, exploding with anger as he addressed Rain.

“I will not allow it! I will not approve of this. She is a whore, and you've been bewitched." Spittle flew from his mouth, and I watched the mistake register on his face as he paled. "Your Highness," he tacked on, his voice meek. He underestimated Rain. He underestimated my husband. The man who chose to be my defender and protector. I had known in the back of my head that we wouldn’t get through this day without bloodshed. I knew the minute Scias called me a whore, breaking into my mind, that he did not have much time, but I had hoped to get through the day at least.

“That makes three, Scias.” Rain’s voice was cold and unrecognizable. Dewalt rose from his chair at a nod from Rain, and I held my breath. Shivani watched her son quietly but did not say a word as he walked carefully toward the man who had insulted me. Scias knew what he had gotten himself into, and he sat straighter, his nostrils flared. Dewalt grabbed Scias by his forehead with one hand and his jaw with the other, pulling his mouth open. That’s when he began to struggle, and I saw Dewalt’s muscles flex as he held him still. I didn’t want to watch, but I forced myself, knowing this was because of me. This was the first drop of blood spilled on my behalf because of our marriage, and I was only mildly disturbed that I had no desire to stop it. The consequences were upon Scias, and I would not intervene.

Rain pulled out his dagger and swiftly grabbed Scias by the tongue, slicing it off in one fell swoop. Dewalt let go, and he fell unceremoniously to the ground in a strangled scream, blood rushing out of his mouth.

“If anyone else feels they cannot hold their tongue, I will be happy to do it for them.”

Rain’s voice boomed in the chamber as he threw the tongue down on its owner. No one said a word to refute him, nor did anyone make a sound, the only sound the gurgled screaming of the man who laid on the ground, now without a tongue. The councilor with the widow’s peak was a bit green around the gills, but no others seemed moved by the spectacle. “Duke Holata will take his seat on the council.” Rain looked to his mother across the room, the only one of the two of them with the ability to appoint Dewalt since Rain was not yet crowned king, and she nodded before turning to our friend.

“Duke Dewalt Holata, do you accept the position of servitude on King Soren Vestana’s council?” Dewalt murmured his assent. “And do you recognize Emmeline Vestana as Crown Princess?” The queen seemed nonplussed by the councilor moaning on the floor, choking on his blood. It disturbed me that I hadn’t felt compelled to help him, my divinity a quiet hum that betrayed no demand to heal and fix, almost as if it knew. Rain bent over Scias and wiped off his dagger on the man’s shirt before sheathing it and returning to my side.

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