Page 33 of The Mountain King
Kailigh glanced to the side as Serephone, Cinvarra, and Persia approached, Maddugh’s sons herding them along until they stood with their mother.
“Nevertheless, there are three women with enough of our blood to make viable mates for a Dwyrkin of their choice. Those of you with the bravery—and the manners—who are inclined towards a courtship may plight your case to their mother.” Maddugh smiled, pleasant. “So there is no confusion, the three women available for courting are the three daughters you see before you.”
Kailigh’s brow rose. He let her off the hook. He returned her suddenly interested look with an inscrutable one of his own, and Kai’s eyes narrowed. He was up to—
“The eldest of the women, their mother, is mine. I will take her as my wife, and she will rule at my side.”
The silence in the tent was deafening. Except for the strangled cough in Serephone’s general direction. Maddugh glared at one of his sons.
“The air,” she heard Hrutha murmur. “Something in the air.”
Kailigh stared at Maddugh, wondering why her temper wasn’t exploding at the moment. She should have been cussing, threatening to beat him into the dust. She crossed her arms, glaring. So, he thought she belonged to him, did he? They would see.
When it was clear she wouldn’t say anything, Maddugh’s brows rose, then he turned his attention back to the crowd. “My woman’s daughters are my own—insult them at your peril.” He waved a hand. “Go. Drink, swive… let there be a mess of brats born nine months from now.”
There was raucous laughter and cheering at the end of his speech. It was the strangest thing, a Lord urging his folk to fornicate and make babies. She supposed, if their numbers were as few as rumored, that social norms such as premarital sex went out the door in favor of getting in all the attempts at reproduction as possible—whether they could wed or not.
But there would be no unwed shenanigans withherdaughters.
He jumped off the platform and crooked a finger at her, with a quirk of his brow, designed to aggravate her enough to follow him just so she could give him a piece of her mind.
Kailigh marched towards him. “Just what is the meaning of the bit of public foolishness?” she demanded.
His grabbed her waist and swung her to the ground—not that the four or six inches would have been a hardship. “Why, mistress, I was certain I spoke clear—”
“Don’t sass me.” Kailigh shoved a finger towards his chest. “What are you up to? I told you I was in no mood for your flirtations.”
“I am not flirting. Why aren’t you convinced my intentions are honorable when I’ve declared them in front of my people?”
“You’re stuck,” Amnan muttered, passing by with Persia. Her daughter threw her a half sympathetic, half gleeful look. “Can’t deny a dragon Lord who has publicly declared his troth.”
“What?” Kailigh exclaimed. “That’s the—”
“Let’s find a quiet place to talk, hmm?” Maddugh took her arm, eyeing her thoughtfully. His eyes dropped to her chest. “I’m a little disappointed in your reaction to my public declaration—I was anticipating more entertainment. What is this you are wearing around your neck, mistress?”
Kailigh looked down, startled. She’d forgotten about the necklace. “A Traveler’s charm, to… suck up negative energy so I can enjoy myself for the evening.”
“Really?”His teeth flashed. “I must send this Traveler my compliments on the handiwork. I wonder if she has other mood-enhancement offerings.”
Kailigh considered, ignoring his subtle insinuation. Her moodwasmuch… mellower. “That damn woman,” she said, without heat. “When this wears off, I will be furious.”
He’d led her to a section of the faire that was less crowded, the vendors and entertainers having thinned somewhat since the bulk of the noise was around the beer garden and beyond. Kai glanced up at the sky beyond the peak of the mountains surrounding them. The night was clear, moon bright with its accessories of winking stars.
“Kailigh.” She turned her attention back to Maddugh, who stared at her with a mixture of amusement and displeasure. “You aren’t paying attention to me at all, are you?”
She sighed. “You’ll do what you will do. There is no point in me being upset about it.”
His eyes narrowed, the usual half mocking, half cocky turn of his lips straightening into something else. “I see. It’s been a long time since I had to work to seduce a woman.”
Her mood might be lighter, but her brain hadn’t shrunk. Kailigh’s hand slid towards her thigh. He caught her wrist, pulling her towards him.
“None of that, mistress.”
“Well, then let me go. There are plenty of women—” She gestured vaguely with her free hand. ”—out there willing to play with you. Why plague me?”
His eyes were inscrutable, though a smile curved his lips once again. “You aren’t boring.”
She expected the kiss. He’d given her enough time to put up an actual objection, after all. Kailigh had a notion he was a man who would take severe exception to an accusation of forcing his attentions on a woman.
