Page 137 of Between Wrath and Mercy

“Aye, Your Majesty.” Dewalt dipped his head, and his eyes twinkled as they met mine. He gave me a grim smile, a look that told me he suspected this might happen, and I realized I hadn’t taken a proper breath in a few moments, inhaling deeply.

“Lord Ellington?” The man who started the original line of debate had promptly shut his mouth and sat back, allowing Scias to take the brunt of the altercation. It seemed Scias was the only one with a spine between the two of them.

“Aye, Your Majesty.”

“Delightful, I amstarving.” I blanched, listening to Scias' garbled blood and moaning had done the worst thing to my appetite, but evidently, Queen Shivani’s stomach was made of something stronger. “Crown Prince Rainier and Crown Princess Emmeline, will you lead the way to our festivities?”

Rain stood and pulled my chair back before offering me his arm, leading me around the table so as not to pass Scias on the ground, Lavenia and Dewalt filing behind us. Rain leaned toward me as we walked, speaking softly against my ear.

“I’m sorry to do that today of all days.” I could tell he was sincere, but I wasn’t sure if he needed to apologize.

“He deserved it. Do try to behave the rest of the night, though?”

“I don’t know, Em, if my tongue isn’t inside you soon, I’m liable to—”

Despite the shivers racing down my spine at his words, I cut him off with an elbow, and I heard Lavenia snicker behind us.

“You know, princesses aren’t supposed to elbow people.” Dewalt groaned a moment after he said it, and I grinned, knowing Lavenia had helped me prove his statement wrong.

Chapter 44

Theballroomwasvast.I had never seen a single room so large. It had opulent, white marble walls with veins of gold throughout, onyx floors, and crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceilings. During the day, I was sure the stained glass would create beautiful, colorful paintings on the walls. Each window encased a depiction of the kings and queens of Vesta, including the present rulers. I studied the glass which held Soren's likeness, a dated image of him created centuries ago, likely before he ever bonded with Shivani. His hair was blond—I could tell that the glass used was butter yellow—and the green eyes, the same ones I couldn’t get enough of on the face of Rain, were almost black, with the moonlight doing little to illuminate the glass. I thought it was more fitting that way, truth be told. My eyes moved over Shivani’s image, her decadent, red dress taking up much of the piece, the various shades reminding me of blood. I tried not to think that one day, Rain and I would take up a place in the glass of the ballroom, a truly bizarre thought reminding me just how little I knew of our future.

When we finally made it inside, the councilors took their seats, followed by the rest of the royal family, until Rain and I were formally announced. Once we walked in, he surprised me by pulling me against him and giving me a fierce kiss that I melted into, ignoring the loud reception it garnered. He had one arm wrapped tightly around my waist, bending me back enough that one of my feet popped up, while the other snaked into my hair, holding my head still as he kissed me thoroughly. It was as if he wanted to write his name on my tongue and breathe his essence into my body. It was all surreal to experience the intensity of his love and the depth of his passion—especially in front of the nobility of his kingdom—as hiswife. When he finished kissing me, completely rendering me both thoughtless and speechless, he pulled me up, holding me tightly as he gazed into my eyes. Those green pools glimmering with untold promise held everything he wanted to say but didn’t have the words for.

“Mine.” His lips spread into a wide smile.

“Yours.” I agreed before giving him a quick, soft kiss.

We were whisked away to the center of a wide table that held more food than I would have thought possible. There was a surprisingly large platter full of cut and cubed cheeses, and I wondered if it was an intentional detail Lavenia had included, just for me. We made ourselves a simple plate, but I barely picked at it. Nervous energy had tided me over since breakfast, and I wasn’t sure my stomach could handle much of the food, regardless of how delicious it tasted. I searched the room for people I knew. Mairin was seated at a table with a blonde woman that I took too long to recognize as Thyra. Her hair was only half up, and she wore a plain wine-colored dress that didn’t look quite right on her despite her beauty. I noticed a sword belt hanging from the back of her chair, and I smiled, confident in the Thyra I knew. I sighed, remorseful over her fears and need to kill the men who might threaten me, but thankful for the woman all the same.

Drunk on my emotions and nerves, and perhaps too much champagne, I set my plate down and walked straight over to the warrior, dragging Rain along with me. She saw us coming and hastily set her mug down, splashing what I assumed to be ale out on the table. She went down into a clumsy curtsy, and I nearly laughed, catching myself so as not to make her feel bad about her attempt. It was worse than mine.

“Be my Second.”

Her eyes widened as she rose out of the curtsy.

“I’m sorry, my la—Your Highness, what?” I was startled by the change in title but ignored it, pressing on, glancing at Rain who nodded encouragingly.

“Rainier would like me to pick a second in battle, command, whatever it’s called, and I would like it to be you.”

Thyra’s jaw dropped, and it felt like an achievement of sorts to catch her off guard.

“You want me to be your Second, Princess Emmeline?”

“Oh gods, don’t make me take it back. But yes, of course, I want you to be my Second. Who else?”

“I am most honored. Yes, of course.” She dropped down to one knee before I could stop her and stared up at me expectantly. I stared in confusion before Rain leaned down and spoke quietly in my ear.

“She needs to pledge an oath now.” He pulled his sword out of its sheath and handed it to me. I gaped at him, and he shrugged, almost as if to say I’d gotten myself into this mess. I studied her for a moment; her eyes were blue like ice, and deep laugh lines made up most of her face. Rain leaned into me, offering more advice I needed.

“One shoulder, then the other.”

I raised the heavy sword to Thyra’s shoulder and gently lowered the weight onto it.

“I charge you, Thyra of Skos, to defend and protect the weak and oppressed and to show no mercy to those who do not deserve it.”

I lifted the sword to her other shoulder as she watched me diligently.

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