Page 110 of A Pact of Blood

His voice rings out cool but ominous. “No one harms my wife. Your empress has offered all the help she can. Don’t shame our empire by punishing her for her good will.”

A shiver travels down my back.

The spectators are already slinking away, leaving the dead man for the guards to collect. The music in the square has faltered; no one speaks above a whisper.

Marclinus defended me, but at what cost? What do allthese people think of me now that a man’s been killed over grabbing at me in a fit of anguish?

Just as they might have associated my husband with my efforts at healing, now I’m tainted by his violent inclinations.

I gather myself and step farther away from the ring of guards. Marclinus turns toward me with a casual air as if he isn’t remotely affected by the fact that he just murdered a man.

Would I really expect him to be, after all I’ve seen of him?

“I think that’s enough of that sort of excitement,” he says with a crooked grin. “Do you need more entertainment than my court has been providing to keep you occupied, wife? Is there something else you need?”

Gazing up at him with my stomach churning, a different stream of images fills my head: all the things I might need to remove him from my life entirely.

“Actually, there is one thing I was hoping I might add to my possessions, if we can find one in town. I’d like to adopt a kitten.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Aurelia

Ikeep accepting dances long after I notice one of my princes and then another duck out of the ballroom. There’s no point in dragging Marclinus off to bed in the early hours of the night when I’ll just have to wait next to his unconscious form before I can see the men I actually want to embrace.

And the more distance I can put between my departure and theirs, the better, in case Bianca is still speculating about my possible interest in Lorenzo.

I have to take this opportunity. It’s only been a couple of nights since our last interlude, but we head back to the capital tomorrow. I can’t imagine how we’d find an opportunity to meet up at any of the waystations along the road southeast.

Marclinus turns me in his arms with one of his smallsharp smirks. It’s hard to tell if he’s looking forward to returning to his most consistent home or worried about being so far from the empire’s most urgent conflict again. Tribune Valerisse hasn’t returned since the day I met her, but I’ve noticed at least a few hasty messengers arriving on horseback.

Perhaps it’s a little of both, the happier emotions and the more fraught tempering each other in turn. He’s had plenty of smiles and chuckles for all the ladies he’s danced with and the noblemen he’s talked to in between, but not the unnervingly frenetic energy that comes over him sometimes.

This may be the first ball I’ve attended with him where he hasn’t groped my breasts or my ass once. His caresses have been limited to my waist, my shoulder, and the occasional squeeze of my hand.

I’d be relieved not to have our intimate connection on full display, except I’m not sure if it means he’s simply not in the mood tonight. Maybe I should have found a way to slip a little of the fertility potion into his wine to ensure he’d be eager for a tumble.

If this month’s attempts are successful, it probably doesn’t matter if the date of conception doesn’t line up perfectly with a night Marclinus thinks he bedded me. I’d rather not leave even the slightest chance for doubt, though.

So much depends on everyone’s certainty that the child I’ll bear is his.

With a shift in the music, we part ways to entertain other dancing partners. But as soon as I step back from the baron who claims my attention for one song, I find myself facing my husband again.

He offers his hand with a brilliant grin that only emphasizes how ridiculously, unfairly stunning his face is. “My turn again.”

I step into his arms without hesitation. Beyond thepalace walls, the bell for the eleventh hour rings. Impatience gnaws at me.

I don’t think I can wait any longer. Half of the court nobles have already drifted off to their bedrooms by now. It’ll hardly seem hasty.

As I decide on my approach, Marclinus adjusts his grip on my fingers and strokes his thumb up and down my side. “It’s been gratifying getting to spend so much time with you this past week, wife. I hope you’ve had no reason for complaint.”

Is he fishing for criticism? I don’t even know what he means when I don’t think we’ve been together here more than we have anywhere. We spent a week trapped in a carriage with each other before we arrived.

My only new complaint would be that he hasn’t seen fit to let me in on the current situation in Lavira since our last conversation about politics and advising. I’m hardly going to mention that when I promised to leave my involvement at his discretion.

I smile back at him as winningly as I can. “None at all. As much as I enjoy the capital, Rexoran is a lovely place as well.”

Conveniently, he’s given me all the opening I need. As he spins me around with a swell of the melody, I tuck myself closer against him and let my expression turn coy. “I’d very much like to spend a little more time with you before we leave, just the two of us. Would you like to continue our dance in my chambers?”

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