Page 66 of Vows of Sacrifice

“Isamane loves poison. Don’t accept anything from her. At least, if you want to stay alive. Fortunately for you, the substance hasn’t had time to really do its work.”

By the tone of his voice, I could tell he was furious. He covered me with his cloak so that I could conceal my nakedness. I sighed with relief to see that it was big enough to wrap around my body.

Nadrisse had wanted to poison me.

“But why?” I whispered.

Did she hate me that much? Or rather, did she love Dovah that much? At the thought, I felt a pang of envy in my chest.

“I think you already know the answer,” he replied gravely.

I looked up at him.

“Because I’m . . . ‘me’?”

His silence served as confirmation.

“Come, you need to take a bath. I’ll summon the owner of a local shop in town to buy you some Osacanian dresses. The Isamane will no longer be able to use this as an excuse to try to kill you.”

Good timing, I thought bitterly.

* * *

While I was still taking my bath, the owner of the store arrived out of breath, with many servants. They deposited countless boxes containing everything needed for a truly first-rate trousseau. Dovah asked Luanda to prepare our meal so that we could have it in our apartments. As I tried on the outfits under his interested gaze, he took the time to explain to me how the Osacan ceremony would unfold.

I listened attentively, then told him about Elendur’s strange words concerning the fall of the dragons. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw sparks fly across his ink-black irises. He didn’t immediately comment on what I’d told him, but when he did, it was with a succinct “ah,” punctuated by a disgruntled growl.

We ate together in a silence, interrupted only by the clatter of our cutlery, and I made a point of pretending to ignore his steady gaze as I chewed my meat. I wanted to forget that I’d found myself naked in front of him, in broad daylight, in a garden full of cacti.

When he lit a cigar, I couldn’t help but watch him surreptitiously. Only, he caught my gaze on the glowing tube that he held between his fingers.

“I am extremely angry at Isamane. So much so that if I don’t smoke a cigar or two, I’ll kill her before dawn. You’ve got to admit, it’d be a shame to gut the king’s sister just before our wedding,” Dovah said in one breath without batting an eyelid.

He had guessed my questioning, for since we’d arrived in Tarnton, I’d rarely seen him use his drug.

“Yes, indeed,” I agreed.

He smiled at me. A long silence passed between us.

“I didn’t look,” he declared suddenly.

I raised a questioning eyebrow.

“I didn’t look when I took your dress off.”

My mouth immediately formed a silent “oh” and I felt my cheeks turn red.

“Thank you for that. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

He shook his head, then, sitting back in a wide armchair, took another puff.

“Don’t take me for one of those gentlemen from Muvaria’s court. There was a reason for that, but I won’t tell you. I just wanted you to know. I can see that you don’t dare look at me anymore since that happened.”

With that, he stood up.

“I have matters to attend to tonight. The creatures of the Abyss are swarming. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a very long day.”

I nodded. The Abyss. Everyone here kept talking about it, Dovah first and foremost, but what was this monstrous enemy they all feared? I watched him leave, deep in thought. When Luanda and Marione entered, I sat up straight.

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