Page 27 of A Bond of Fire and Roses

He shrugs a shoulder. “Humour your husband and come see it anyway. You might change your mind.”

Husband.

Erax walks to the back of the chapel. Curiosity compels me to follow him. Outside, in the well-maintained gardens, three bonfires have been lit. Thick, black smoke stretches into the sky where the dragons are still dancing. Their giant forms briefly eclipse the sun. My blood runs cold as I look over each of the bonfires. They aren’t empty. People have been burned in them. I recognise a few of the charred, blackened corpses still tied to the logs, and a wave of nausea hits me.

Erax places his hand on my back. “You remember your protectors—all the nuns I ordered to look after you? All the people who witnessed or took part in your torture?” He follows my gaze, and a smile lights up his face. “Their bodies will line the streets as my gift to you.”

My mouth parts. I don’t know how to feel—happy or horrified. Definitely both. And I definitely should not be surprised Erax would do something like this after what he did to Sister Gabriella and her acolytes. But still… Is this what revenge feels like? It tastes more bitter than sweet.

Erax watches me, gauging my reaction carefully, a hopeful glint in his eye.

“Dead, burnt bodies aren’t a gift, Erax.”

“To a dragon, they are.” He leans in, kissing my cheek. He killed them, all of them, who hurt me and played a part in my decade long torture. There were at least fifty of them. I still don’t know how to feel. "No one is ever going to hurt you and think they will get away with it. You're my wife, Maelena. My queen. Now let’s go celebrate.”

CHAPTER TEN

Ihave always known I would be queen one day.

I just never thought I’d be the queen of my enemy’s kingdom.

Erax's kingdom. The way he called me his queen sent shivers racing through my body, igniting every pore and scar with a desire I’ve been too frightened to feel.

The excitement is palpable in the air the moment we exit the chapel. I squint my eyes against the blinding sunlight reflecting off the rows of golden armour lined up outside. Beyond the wall of guards framing the pathway, thousands of people have gathered behind them to celebrate, and they’re all cheering and throwing confetti. Gold petals cascade around us, some of them landing on our heads and shoulders. I smile at the white sunflower seeds being tossed alongside them, scattering over the ground at my feet. It was tradition in my parent’s kingdom to throw the seeds at newlyweds to wish them good luck in their marriage.

Newlyweds.

The word stops me in my tracks. Erax —my husband—glances at me. Is that apprehension or annoyance on his face? My hand throbs, and I absently rub it, my fingers brushing the cut that bound us to each other. It pulses under the bandage Erax wrapped around my hand before we stepped outside. He watches the movement and then, to my surprise, takes my hand in his injured one. Once more joining us.

I hold my breath as I let him lead me down the path to the carriage waiting for us. He waves to his people—to our people. I glance up at their faces peering around and over the guards, trying to get a glimpse of us. Children poke their hands through the legs of the guards to throw more confetti. I raise my free hand, and I wave at them all.

They return the gesture with even louder cheers, and even more applause. Somewhere amongst these people are assassins and people who want to hurt me. I allow myself just a moment to forget about that. It’s not every day a woman gets married to the enemy of her life.

Besides, the dragons flying low overhead, and the hundreds of guards forming a protective wall around us, are surely enough of a deterrent for now. At least I hope so.

At the end of the path, Erax helps me into the carriage. He then climbs in and slides onto the seat beside me instead of the one across. I stare at the empty seat, my whole-body tensing as it instantly begins to heat up. We’re so close to each other. Far too close. His scent engulfs me, mingled with the smell of his blood on my lips and the memory of the kiss we shared as man and wife. Man and wife. The reality is like a heavy fog wrapping around my senses until they’ve been completely devoured by him, and all I can think about are those three things. His scent, his blood, and that awful kiss that bound me to him and made me weak at the knees.

He taps the roof, and the carriage jolts into motion. The sound of the seeds pelting off the carriage reminds me of rain tapping against a windowpane, and for some reason it makes me smile. I always liked the sound of rain. Even on stormy nights, I found its presence to be comforting. Grounding. However, in the corner of my eye, I spot Erax watching me, as if scrutinising my smile, and it makes me uncomfortable. My cheeks flame.

Why, now, am I suddenly feeling embarrassed with him?

No, not embarrassed.

Shy, as if I’m just a girl again, with a stupid little crush on the boy who always tried to look out for her at the convent. I shake my head. Husband or not, Erax is still my enemy. The convent suddenly feels like another lifetime. I can’t let myself forget it. I scoot as close as I can to the window and focus on the people cheering outside. No, I can never let myself forget what he did that day he burned my world to the ground.

It feels like only minutes pass before the carriage arrives. It halts outside the palace doors, and I’m relieved to see no more nun-eating-dragons or bodies being burned alive. I think I’ve had my fill of that. I don’t want any more gifts from the king.

As I let him take my hand and help me out of the carriage, I can’t help but wonder if that is what he’s doing—making amends via these gifts—and why. I thought he hated me.

I thought I hated him.

But the way my ridiculous heart is beating right now makes me wonder that perhaps I don’t hate him as much as I once did. Perhaps neither of us do. Or, and this is not highly unlikely, perhaps he’s just trying to lull me into a false sense of ease, so I’ll let my guard down. Then, when I least expect it, he’ll attack again.

My heart doesn’t seem to believe that. It’s still beating like a star shooting across the sky at hypersonic speed.

Erax climbs out of the carriage first and then again offers me his hand. I slide my own tentatively into his. His grip is surprisingly firm as he leads me back into his home. Behind us, his people wait in anticipation at the gates. It had been customary in our kingdom to allow those wishing to celebrate the royal wedding into the palace where they would be invited to feast and enjoy the festivities. However, the guards are ordering everyone to return home.

“Why are you not letting them in?”

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