Page 5 of War King's Treasure

“How often did he visit you?”

“Every few years or so, he’d check in personally, but my father wrote him all the time, so grandfather was aware of how I was.”

More like the bastard who Phillip had given her to had wanted to request more money, but Gavin didn’t want his Nori to know that.

“Were your parents affectionate with you?”

“I didn’t lack for anything, but I wasn’t their child. Not really. They had three of their own. Two sons and a daughter. There was always laughter and fun in their home.”

He did his best to hide his anger. Her grandfather had given her away, much as he had Rory’s mother. Gavin noted Nori had referred to them as her parents, but he had the feeling she’d been ordered to do that. She referred to their children, her siblings. Their home not hers. Her grandfather had paid for her comfort. It hadn’t been given to her, or at least, she’d been made to think it had been bought and paid for. It made him want to beat the hell out of Phillip. He vowed then and there she would never doubt her place in his life. As his wife, his queen, the mother of his children. Their children. Their home. He swore she’d never feel like an outsider again because it was obvious from her words she always had.

“Were you the oldest? Youngest? In the middle?”

“I’m between their youngest son and their daughter. Mary was born a few months after me. Justin was the oldest followed by Robert,” she told him.

He noted the switch in tone when she mentioned Robert. There was something there. He planned to find out what.

“You said Justin was the oldest?”

“He was killed in battle when I was thirteen,” she told him.

“Were you close?”

“He treated me kindly,” she offered.

“And the others? Robert and Mary?”

She shrugged. “You and Theo seem close.”

“Theo and I never doubted we were brothers, and we’ve always acted like it. He took his role as big brother seriously. Watched over me. We’ve been through a lot. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my brother.”

“That’s nice,” Nori murmured, rubbing her check against his skin as she settled into him. “I always wanted a sibling.”

She was killing him and had no clue. It would take everything he had not to rip into Phillip for what he’d done. How could a male be so oblivious to the lives he ruined? He placed people where he wanted them, wiped his hands, and moved on. The man was unworthy of the crown he wore. That was the difference between a male born to inherit and one who fought for what he held.

She mumbled something, but he didn’t catch what she said.

“Hmm?” Gavin glanced down as Nori nuzzled into his neck and went limp. His feisty little wife was sound asleep. Naked. In his arms. She’d allowed his touch and been soothed by it. Enough to relax and drift into sleep.

He stepped from the tub, being careful to jostle her as little as possible. He chuckled at her wrinkled nose and the way she muttered as he dried her body and placed her on the bed. He made quick work of wiping the droplets from his skin before sliding under the bedding beside her. He pulled her back into his arms, dropped a soft kiss on her lips, and made a vow. No one would hurt his wife again. He’d make sure of it.

Chapter Three

Nori woke alone, but she swore the touch of her husband lingered on her skin, on her lips. As memories of the night before flooded in, she groaned and hid her head in the bedding. Not only had she allowed his touch, she’d enjoyed it. Even now, she hated he wasn’t with her when she’d awoken. His hands had done things to her breasts that had set her whole body afire with something she’d never felt. She had a feeling, if she hadn’t fallen asleep last night, they would have consummated the marriage. There was only one thing to do now. She had to avoid her husband at all costs.

She rose from the bed and hurriedly dressed, brushing her hair until it hung in waves down her back. She quickly opened the door, stepped out and nearly shrieked when a male stepped directly in front of her.

“Good morning, my queen.” He bowed before her. “I’ll escort you below to break your fast.”

“Which one are you?” she inquired, immediately recognizing him as one of the twins who served Gavin. Crispin and Conrad, or Cris and Con as Gavin had told her.

“Cris, at your service, my queen.”

She waved that away. “I’m Nori.”

He smiled but shook his head. “Though I appreciate your offer, my queen, calling you by your name would not be appropriate. You are my queen or Queen Montrose of the Dread Lands.”

“Well, that’s a mouthful,” she muttered as she turned to walk toward the stairs.

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