Page 41 of Vows of Sacrifice

I wanted her to stop acting like everything was my fault. Ashana and I were victims of her brother’s arbitrary decisions, so let her take it out on the right person!

“Are you going to tell me that it was your king who forced you to marry that redhead according to the ancient rites of the Patriarchs?”

The venomous arrow hit its target. For one thing, I didn’t know that Nadrisse was aware of the connection between this ceremony and the Patriarchs. Secondly, indeed, no one had forced me to share my blood with Ashana. I wanted her. I felt she was bound to me in a way that was difficult to explain, and even more so to my former love. In any case, all this no longer concerned her. If she’d let me express my feelings before leaving, none of this would have happened!

“You should go back to the table,” I suggested coldly. “Your brother will wonder what you’re doing.”

Again, Nadrisse squinted to let me know she didn’t like my tone or attitude.

“Are you afraid your wife will question your fidelity?”

I immediately locked eyes with her.

“Not at all, because I won’t give her cause to do so.”

The inflection of my voice and the meaning of my words were crystal clear. I had straightened up and was now glaring at Nadrisse with irritation. I couldn’t bring myself to act otherwise, despite all the tenderness I felt for her.

“I was wrong, Dovah,” she finally says.

“Although I’m naturally curious, I don’t want to know how.”

She smiled harshly.

“Well, I’m telling you anyway. You’ve changed.”

Nadrisse paused for a moment while I recalled the scene she’d made in my room earlier.

“You’ve changed, Dovah the Black Demon.”

With that, she spun around abruptly and went back into the dining hall. I preferred to stay a little longer in the corridor to smoke another cigar. Then, unexpectedly, Nadrisse retraced her steps and pointed a finger in my direction.

“You belong to me! You’ve always belonged to me!”

She didn’t give me time to reply and quickly disappeared through the huge door, behind which stood Elendur and my wife.

* * *

When I returned to the huge, soberly decorated room, I couldn’t ignore the stifling silence that reigned there.

“What a heavy burden yours is,” Elendur greeted me, with a smile that was intended to be compassionate.

“Please excuse me, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t apologize, brother. I know what it’s costing you.”

I didn’t answer. His concerns and mine were at opposite ends of the spectrum. In any case, how could he know what it cost me to be ‘who’ I was? My gaze met Ashana’s, and when her eyes wandered for a brief moment to Nadrisse, I understood the meaning of it: she had noticed the latter’s absence and was probably beginning to wonder about our relationship. I groaned inwardly. I was dreading this conversation. I loved talking to my wife. Discovering her. Pushing her to her limits. It was pleasant, even exciting. On the other hand, the idea of having our first argument, and because of the Isamane, didn’t thrill me at all.

“Ashana and I were talking about your upcoming ceremony,” Elendur said in a paternalistic tone.

I noticed that he referred to my wife directly by her first name, without even using a title. The twins were starting to get on my nerves. I was a territorial creature. I was a precious child of our Father. I immediately grasped my wife’s fingers to intertwine them with mine and brought them to my lips for a gentle kiss. Ashana gasped, surprised by my affectionate gesture, but I didn’t care. My gaze was fixed on my king, and he was fully aware of it. I was in his service because I had decided to be, not because I feared him.

“It’s an immeasurable pleasure and a great honour for me to marry Lady Ashana for a second time,” I whispered. “In fact, I think we should spend our honeymoon in Gulan. Paivrin has invited us, and I confess I’m eager to be there. That is, if you have no objections, Majesty.”

“How could I have the heart to deprive my hand of justice of his wedding night?” he laughed.

A laugh that sounded false, like most of the emotions he so skillfully mimicked.

“Yes, how?” whispered Nadrisse.

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