Page 34 of The Last of the Dark Lords

"Skye."

Someone shook my shoulder. I grumbled, intent on drifting back to the blissful sleep I'd been enjoying.

"I'm sorry, my love, you have to get up."

A sharp pain jabbed into my side, and my eyes snapped open. The afternoon sun flooded the bedroom, and it took a moment for Cyrus' face to materialize out of the sleepy blur.

"You pinched me!" I rubbed where his fingers had grabbed my skin.

"We have to get up."

"But...you pinched me."

"I did. You were ignoring me."

Cyrus’ mischievous smirk made me forgive him immediately. That was followed by a flood of emotions: exhilaration at what we’d done, a satisfying feeling of fatigue in my muscles, traces of remorse at having enjoyed my time with my supposed enemy, and embarrassment to be here together after having been so vulnerable. For some reason, seeing Cyrus’ open, playful face swept any awkwardness away.

I reached out, wrapping my arm around his waist and using my strength to pull him close to me. I kissed him, squeezing himtightly as I did so. He moaned into me for a moment, and then pushed himself off me.

"You're not distracting me. We have to get up." Cyrus jumped out of bed, and pulled the covers off. I grumbled as the cold air hit my skin.

"Why? I want to stay here."

"We have to get married."

I sat up straight, my eyes widening. "Today?"

Cyrus slipped a robe around his shoulders. "The big ceremony won't be for weeks. Every person that works here wants a chance to put their stamp on the Lord of Ashfuror's wedding."

I stretched my arms over my head, pushing my body to fully wake up. "Then what?"

"The nuptial ritual. The treaty requires that we be married upon your arrival in Ashfuror. It'll only be the two of us and Manod. Jelenna, if you wish."

"Oh." I swung my legs over the side of the bed. I sat there for a second, trying to take it all in. I thought I would have a day or two to adjust. To prepare for the marriage bond. Everyone said that it was intimate, startlingly so. More intimate than sex. Whatever connection was there now, I knew it would magnify a hundredfold when the soul bond was brought into being.

Cyrus sat down next to me, his voice low as he spoke. "I understand if you're not happy. This is quick.”

I turned, staring into his rich emerald eyes. "It's not that I regret…what we did. It's just, we only met a week ago. I thought there’d be time.”

I turned my face away, my eyes going to a nearby rug. He kissed me on the cheek, the lightest of brushes.

"It’s the nature of politics, sometimes. Human feeling gets left behind." He wrapped his arms around me. "I wish we had longer to learn about each other. But I like what I’ve seen so far. I…I’m not afraid of being known. By you."

I hugged him back, feeling his lithe body against my own. His warmth was comforting. It made me feel like there might be a way through this, some path that didn’t end in heartbreak.

I was avoiding thinking about what I’d been sent there to do. I knew that. But I could no longer think of Cyrus as my adversary, or even as a neutral obstacle. I had feelings for him that were new and strange to me. There was an ease between us that I couldn't dismiss.

"Let's get ready, love." Cyrus stood, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet. "We don't want to keep Manod waiting."

In an hour we were clean and dressed. Servants had dropped off the ceremonial garments while we bathed. Mine was a navy blue robe, embroidered in intricate silver designs. It was open in the front, showing the simple black shirt and trousers I wore underneath. Cyrus' robe was red with gold embroidery, in the same style.

We stood side by side in his bedroom, observing ourselves in the large polished silver mirror. His reflection winked at me.

"You’re very handsome."

My face warmed at his words. "You were made to wear clothes like these. I look…we don’t have this kind of fancy clothing in Greatfalls.”

Cyrus kissed me lightly on my temple. "You couldn't be more perfect."

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