Page 24 of A Dance of Shadows

I ignore the shiver that prickles under my skin. “I thought we were encouraging the people to compare us to the godlen. I was honoring what Elox would have done in the same situation. Even the Rionian royals?—”

Linus slices his hand through the air to cut me off. “That mockery of a royal family barely rules in anything other than name. You’re the empress. You interfered with my demonstration!”

I lower my head, suppressing the urge to fully cringe. “I didn’t see it as interfering but enhancing. It was never my intention to undermine the spectacle you created.”

“You don’t even know what you’ve done.” He lets out a bark of a laugh and starts to pace in a tight circuit. “You’ve shown such generosity to the Rionian people. We can’t have themthinking they’re specially favored. We’ll need to find a display of good will for you to carry out in all of the countries on our tour.”

I can’t see how anyone from those other countries is likely to find out what I did in Rione, or the Rionians find out what happened elsewhere, but it doesn’t seem wise to mention that fact. Besides, if Linus has decided Ishouldshow off my generosity to all our conquered kingdoms, that works in my favor even more than I could have hoped.

“I hadn’t thought things through that far,” I say meekly. “I’ll do whatever you see fit to ensure fairness throughout the empire.”

Linus hums to himself, his typical smirk creeping across his lips as if he’s suddenly amused by the thought rather than angry. The shiver travels straight through my gut this time.

Gods only know what torments he’ll devise for me. This is exactly the sort of thing Marc warned me about.

But I’ve endured plenty of torture at this man’s—and his twin’s—hands before. I can withstand more.

Until he’s exactly where I need him to be.

The more I play the lamb with him, the less he’ll expect it when I let loose the wolf.

Linus steps closer to me again and grasps my chin. He pins me with his gaze. “What did the queen and king say to you?”

What does he imagine they would have dared to?

I manage to keep my voice even despite the unsettling pressure of his fingers. “Nothing much. Only how happy they were to serve us.”

My husband guffaws. “Be careful with them. They’ll try to get in your head if they see the chance. Addle your loyalties. All of them always think they deserve their power back, as if they’d know what to do with their kingdoms without us to guide them.”

He thinks the Rionian royals are looking to winmeover? I swallow a laugh. He has no idea how turned around he has the situation.

“I’d have no interest in any silly stories they’d offer,” I reassure him.

“Good.” He nudges me backward, his hand sliding to my neck. His fingers squeeze just hard enough make my pulse hiccup with the brief sense of choking. “You’re my empress. My wife. Onlymine. And I expectyouto serve me like you remember that.”

Without warning, he drops his grasp and wrenches the fragile fabric of my gown right down the middle. As the thin silk slips from my limbs, I tense my arms against the urge to snatch after it.

“You don’t need this.” Linus tears the rest of the dress off me. “I’ll have you wearing just one gown until it’s rags if that’s what I decide I’d like.”

He could easily accomplish that, given my limited travel wardrobe. I swallow thickly and adjust my ring before stroking my hand over his as if in affection. “Yes, husband. I’m yours.”

“That’s right.” Linus pushes me to the edge of the bed and then shoves me downward. My knees hit the floor.

Great God help me, how long will it take for the drug to kick in?

Thankfully, Linus wants to revel in my humble position. He slides his fingers back and forth over my hair. The pins plink against the floor as the waves tumble to my shoulders.

Then he pats my cheek with the fiercest grin he’s offered me tonight. “What do you think of me like this, wife? Is this not the husband you always want?”

His phrasing sends a lance of ice right down the middle of me.

He could simply be referring to his behavior, which is even more aggressive than usual. Or he could knowIknow there’s another husband altogether who’s never treated me like this.

It’s a good thing my temper is too honed to be provoked by his goading, if that’s what it is. “Always. I only hope I can please you.”

“Well, then, serve me. You know what to do from here.”

With a coy smile, I reach for his trousers. I make a show of stroking his thighs through the fabric before I get around to unfastening them. I ease them down slowly with even more caresses, as if I’m simply building anticipation for the act.

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