Page 105 of Rook of Ruin
Bringing the spoon to my mouth I quickly drink the warm, spicy broth. “Oh, it was fine. Nothing too interesting. Normal day.”
Zane blinks and shakes his head at my blatant lie. What does he want me to say? I’m falling apart, my soul is shattered, and I allowed my bloodlust to overtake my senses in the Locker earlier today? I actually felt bad for the Recruits who had to clean up the cells after I left.
“And how was your day, Honeycakes?” I hate the nicknames, but we lost a bet. Damn Tess and her card games. The redheaded man grins, followed by more titters; he is loving this. I’m doing this solely for the tiny giggles and smiles.
Zane shrugs. “It was good.” He glances around the small table.
Nodding, I try to sound as normal as possible. “And how—”
Tess barges into the small room, face red from running. “Sorry I’m late.” She creeps over like a cat and flops down in front of her dinner, shoving a letter in Zane’s face. “What’s this?” Her blue hair falls forward as she tilts her head, staring at her napkin.
“A swan,” I say as calmly as possible. The monster in my chest rages at me for staying, for smothering its need—because no matter how hard I fucking try, Orlaith is always on my mind.“How was your day, Empress of Incredible Beauty and Wit?”Why did Tess have to make up such a long name?
She eyes her swan with suspicion and then pokes it. “You made this?”
“Yes.” I flick my eyes over to our small guest—and then I correct myself. “We made this.”
“I really like it.” She grins, the gap in her teeth showing. “Look what I found.” She hauls a large loaf of cinnamon sweet bread out of her satchel. “My day was good, but”—she rubs her hands together—“let me tell you all a story about the time I broke into a cake shop and fell into a wedding cake, only to end up as the head baker for a duke.”
Thank the Maker for Tess and her family for helping me keep my vow. This whole thingwouldn’t work otherwise.
“Achild?” Red laughs the next day as Milo stands next to Viper, who shows him a few daggers, and in return, Milo shows Viper the gifts we bought him. Simon gave Milo a practice sword, and I gave him a children’s picture book.
“Ruin has a soft heart.” Dove then glances at Bow, trying to hide her smile as she observes him receiving orders from Isle. I requested that he come with us, a test to see if he is as worthy as his brother to be one of Simon’s warriors, and he seems eager to prove himself.
Our warriors and horses fed and cleaned, leathers mended, we ready for the final days of our journey. A crowd gathers to watch as our warriors and horses move into formation. Milo stands next to the carriage, his little chest puffing out as he stands at attention like the Bethalian warriors surrounding him. Paul is on Milo’s other side, his leg wrapped and leaning on a crutch.
Simon hands me Sal’s reins and adjusts the new white gold, onyx, and diamond crown on my head. We wear our crowns for the people of this town, and I mount Sal as he mounts Artho.
“Ready?” Dimples dig into his face.
“For you? Always.” I throw him a flirtatious grin.
“Hells, O.” Simon smirks.
Milo helps Paul into the carriage and then clamors inside before we lead our warriors through town. Again, Simon throws coins to the women and children as I smile and wave. When we leave the town on a dusty large road, Simon meets with a scout and Isle while I ride over to the carriage, dismount, and peer in to see Milo reading. “Do you like it?” I ask, hopeful.
“Yes, see this?” He shows me a beautiful purple and silver dragon. “The Rook told me Jovan fell in love with her.” Milo sticks his nose back into the book. “Imagine falling in love with a dragon.” He makes a gagging face.
Paul and I laugh.
We arrive at another beautiful large town, Kinwood, at dusk. Excitement buzzes in the air as a crowd gathers to see us, to see their prince and new princess, and we wave and nod to the people. This town is similar to the last, with large thick walls surrounding it and intricate wood carvings on each building. When we make it to the large inn, exhaustion overcomes everyone. Milo begs for me to read him a short story, and I read until he falls asleep in his room. Nodding to the two warriors posted outside of our rooms, I join Simon downstairs with the rest of our warriors in the inn’s dark tavern.
One shot of spice, and Simon murmurs, “Upstairs now.”
As soon as the door shuts our leathers come off. We make it into the shower, and Simon washes my body as I wash my hair.
I love how smooth I am when he touches me—so thankful Tess talked me into that permanent hair removal service duringgraduation weekend at the barracks. I never have to worry about prickly hair, though I doubt Simon would be turned off by such a thing.
My heart starts to beat fast as he washes off my stomach, and my mind wanders to the book I brought with me, which is full of wonderfully wild ideas. I almost choked on a piece of toast when it explained in great detail how the heroine took her lover into her mouth, careful not to bite down. It drove her lover wild. I hope I can copy her actions—I hope I can drive Simon just as wild.
“O, what are you thinking?” I gaze down at him kneeling, massaging my legs as soap runs down my skin.
My eyebrow quirks. “Well, right now, I’m enjoying you on your knees.”
Simon hums. “Only for you.” He kisses up my thigh. “My very own Ruinous woman.” He pauses and looks up with a devious smile. “And what are you thinking?”
Curling my fingers around his chin, he takes the hint I want him to stand. “Let me show you.” My voice is husky and needy.
