Page 80 of Prize for the King
The moment the golden ink touches Magnar’s forearm above his wrist, he hisses, his muscles tensing. I grit my teeth, determined to finish quickly. Smoke rises from his skin where I draw, and there’s a peculiar scent, metallic and hot. I dip the quill again, and finish the first mark, a sort of lopsided rectangle with additional lines.
Magnar takes a deep breath and nods. “This one means loyalty. I give you mine and demand yours, Caliane. Do I have it?”
I look into his eyes, still shaken that he had me carve the mark into his skin with acid. His eyes are tight, face tense until I nod.
“You do. I am loyal to you, my husband.”
He rewards me with a smile and nods at the parchment. “The next one.”
This mark is easy, barely three lines, two of them parallel, one crossing. I draw it as fast as I can, and Magnar makes no sound, but his skin steams, growing dented and gold where the acid hits. I straighten and pull away, and he nods.
“This means lust. It means I will only want you and be faithful to you, and I require the same.”
I frown, glancing at the knights standing nearby. “But…”
“The knights are an extension of me,” Magnar explains. “What you promise me, you promise them, and what I vow to you, they vow, too. But apart from them, no one else. Do I have your lust, my queen?”
I look into his molten eyes, licking my lips that suddenly seem too dry, my lower belly filling with warmth. It takes effort to admit it.
“Yes, my king.”
He takes a deep breath through his nose, his eyes closing as if in relief. When he opens them, his face is drawn even tighter, flushed darker.
“Go on. The next.”
It’s a large crescent with a smaller one tucked at one end, and I complete it meticulously. Magnar grunts when I’m done, a drop of acid falling into the mark and etching it deeper.
“I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll wear it proudly. It’s a mark of protection. It means I will always protect you, always be on your side, always support you. And you, my queen? Will you support me, too?”
I swallow, these vows so much worse than the human ones. This is visceral, intimate, and much less formulaic. It requires honesty.
“I’ll do my best,” I say, because there’s little I can do to help and protect him. Magnar is so strong—and who am I? A sheltered princess.
“And the last one. Please.”
His face softens, tension bleeding out as I dip the quill again, studying the mark. This one is the most complicated of them all, made of curving, elegant lines, and I draw it slowly, dipping the quill again and again. Magnar doesn’t make a sound. I don’t think he’s breathing.
When I pull away, carefully putting the cap back on the bottle, he raises his forearm and studies the marks with a pleased expression. He stands up, grinning at me, and turns to the gatheredAgnidari, raising his hand high. I gasp when I see how the marks shimmer in the firelight, obvious and visible to all.
The courtyard explodes with noise, people cheering, drums beating loud and fast. Without another word, Magnar throws me over his shoulder. The cheers grow louder, and he waves, already stalking back inside the keep, rose petals crushed under his feet. The knights follow in silence.
“Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods,”I whisper under my breath, excitement and fear curling in my belly like twin flames.
“Don’t pray right now, pet,” Magnar says, squeezing my thigh. “Unless you want the gods to watch.”
I clamp my lips shut, and he laughs, taking the stairs three at a time. “Fucking finally. My queen. Mywife.At last.”
I gasp when I see my bedroom. Someone must have come inside and filled it with a multitude of candles, lighting fire in the fireplace. A shimmering, golden glow bathes the chamber, the air smelling of rose oil. I breathe faster and faster, and when Magnar lets me down by the bed, my knees shake so hard, I barely stand.
The knights come in, Arvi closing the ranks. The door clicks shut, and I gasp shakily, watching them as they stand in front of me, so tall, so big, somany.
Raduna catches my eye and smiles gently, even though his face is flushed just like Magnar’s, his desire obvious.
“The choice is yours, my queen, and no one will hold it against you, whatever you decide.”
My throat is too tight to answer, so I only nod. Magnar steps in front of me, and I lose sight of the knights, although I’m very aware of their presence.
