Page 88 of Rise of a Fallen Man

“So, what do you think?” I lifted my face up to the morning sunshine. “Today is one of the last scorching-hot days of summer. It will start cooling off soon. But the weather will remain fairly warm well into the fall. Rorrim is north of Olakrez, as you know. The climate here is significantly warmer than what you’re used to. It’s fine to lose a layer or two of clothing, even for men. I know for a fact that King Trebor is dressing down to a waistcoat, too, and so are his gentlemen-in-waiting. You won’t be the only one, if that’s your worry.”

He chewed on his bottom lip, staring out into the gardens. The ceremony site was on the other side of the palace. But even here, the servants had put the extra strings of lights in the gardens. At night, the lanterns will illuminate the entire grounds with a golden light.

“My aunt wouldn’t approve of my showing up in public in any state of undress,” Leafar said quietly.

Irritation at the grand duchess’ incessant meddling spiked in me once again.

“Your aunt no longer has any power over you, not unless you let her have it. You’re a married man now. You no longer depend on your family for anything.”

He glanced at me before quickly averting his eyes again. “Unless the consummation happens tomorrow in her presence, our marriage will be declared invalid. And then...” he drew in a shaky breath, “she’ll take me back to Olakrez.”

Would she really go through with that? There was no political advantage for Olakrez to reclaim their prince.

“I’ll talk to the grand duchess first thing tomorrow morning,” I promised.

He paled, turning almost as white as his cravat. “Don’t... Please.”

“I’ll have to,” I explained softly. “I can’t let her intimidate you like this.”

Having sex with Leafar was even less possible than before. Not after I saw Salas yesterday. But I had to carefully consider all implications of my refusal to fuck my husband for his aunt’s viewing pleasure. Our marriage might be a sham, already falling apart at the poorly constructed seams, but it couldn’t be annulled. I would not subject Leafar to shame and punishment from his family.

The Queen of Olakrez might feel upset about the lack of proof of our physical relationship. She might even use it as a leverage against me in our future negotiations, but I wouldn’t let her take her displeasure out on her son.

“You don’t have to worry about it, my prince. I will take care of it.”

His manicured fingernails scraped against the stone of the parapet as he turned to me with anguish etched on his perfect face.

“How can I not worry, Your Highness? I’ll have to go back to Olakrez and...” he swallowed hard, jerking his gaze back to the gardens, “face my mother.”

“Leafar.” I touched his arm, bringing his attention to me. “Why do you not believe me when I say that no one will take youback to Olakrez against your will? We vowed to trust each other. Why don’t you trust me to keep you safe?”

He looked torn, with a haunted expression in his cerulean eyes.

“How much can a husband trust his wife when he doesn’t have her love?” he asked.

I couldn’t lie to him, not even when I desperately wished to comfort him.

“It has never been about love between us, my prince. But I gave you a vow to protect you in front of this entire court, in front of your family and mine, and I will keep it.”

“Until your love for another will step between us,” he muttered, gripping the parapet.

“What are you talking about?”

“A vacant heart can always be filled sooner or later, and if it’s not with love for me, then with love for another.”

The words didn’t sound like his. I’d bet my crown, they came from someone else—his aunt, his family, or someone from his entourage—whoever had been feeding him all these insecurities.

But wasn’t there some truth to that too?

My entire being was filled to the brim with a strong, passionate feeling that never belonged to my husband.

Was it love?

My heart slammed against my ribs. The day suddenly felt even hotter and its sounds more acute.

That head-spinning sensation of falling that I always experienced when next to Salas, was it from my plummeting to my destruction?

Or was it the soaring thrill of flight?

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