Page 18 of The Bone King and the Starling

I grin, feeling a surprising warmth in my cheeks. Am I blushing? “She does not need to know. I’m certain my ministrations have frightened her enough without her knowing she’s the only female I’ve ever claimed.”

“It did not sound like she was disappointed,” Daneera laughs. The other males laugh with her. “Her screams could be heard to Ithanuir.”

My smile nearly splits my skull, it is so large. “The sounds she makes. Gods, the sounds… Lohr did not tell me it would be like this.”

The thrall has returned, quicker than I suspected she would, with a platter piled high with foods from the feast and a full flagon of ale, a full pitcher of wine. I thank her and bid one of my men to pay her with coin — there will be no more of this thrall business here or anywhere in Wrath. I abhor how my wife has been treated in the days I’ve known her and how I expect she was treated her entire life. The surprise on the thrall’s face when he hands her a silver makes my heart clench. Tears come to her eyes. She looks at me, looks at him and stutters, “Th-th…”

“No thanks needed, young one. Enjoy your rest this eve,” I say and she scuttles off while my warriors laugh once more.

“Can it be? Is the bone king no more?” Daneera crows, her pale face alight with color.

“King of bones? Perhaps king of lambs,” Fuzier adds.

“He’s soft as a peach,” Dolar says and the males devolve after that as I lumber onto my knees, steeling myself for the shock of seeing her in bed again and trying to will my cock into submission so I don’t rut her. The last time was too much for her, I know that — knew that — but I was a virgin bastard and lacked the restraint. I will do better going forward. I hope. I pray.

“You’re damn right I am. You’ll find me next on the battlefield, armed not with an axe, but with flowers,” I grunt.

My warriors are laughing in earnest now and I grin around at all of them, rise to stand with my lady’s tray in hand and arch to stretch out my back. My cock, only half erect now, hangs heavy between my legs. Hektor points at it. “She really was a virgin then.”

I glance down and grin broadly, but then my smile wavers. There is a streak of blood on my cock. Pride hammers in my chest, along with an unfamiliar concern. “Should I have Hilde look at her?”

“Ah, that’s normal, my Lord.” Hektor is young, yet still more experienced than I am with fucking, particularly in that he fucksboth males and females. “A little thing like her would have bled naturally, opening her legs for that monstrous snake you’re wielding.”

I nod, strangely reassured by the much younger warrior.

And then Fuzier, a male my age with light brown skin and dark hair streaked with grey, says in that same chipper voice, “And is she pleased to know that she’ll be coming with us after the games? Back to Ithanuir, that is.”

“How could she not be?” Daneera says. “Have you seen the way they treat their thralls around here? Disgraceful. It is a shock Raya has not yet struck down this foul place.” She speaks loud enough I know that the table full of Winterbren’s so-called warriors can hear her. In any other city or village, I might reprimand her disrespect. But not here. Now, I do not even look up.

But I do frown. “Of course. I told her many times what she means to me, to you, to us all.”

But my warriors don’t laugh. Instead, they exchange glances that seem to speak a tongue I do not. “Speak, the lot of you. I may be the king of flowers for her, but for you all, I will be the king of flayed corpses if you don’t open your mouths.”

Ale and wine are running freely through the group. Hektor, a dark-skinned waif of a man who doesn’t look like a warrior at all, yet ranks among my most lethal, drags his wrist across his burgundy mouth. “You mean to say, my lord, that she does know that she will become queen? That she does know you intend to wed her?”

“Yes. I was clear.”

“You are a lucky male then.” Fuzier sits up and hands me the pitcher and the ale flagon.

I take both in one hand, brow furrowed. “How do you mean?”

Fuzier scoffs. “My wife would take my stones in the night if I had her before making her an oath before Ghabari.”

“Many males take their wives in raids,” Daneera insists.

“This isn’t a raid,” Hektor responds, and he’s right. Unease stirs in my belly. “But I’m certain she’ll go easy on our virgin king.” He grins, but the doubt has already been sowed. I kick him in the thigh and he buckles around the blow, laughing as wine dribbles down his chin. “I mean no disrespect, my liege.”

I turn to Fuzier. “You think she will be displeased?”

Fuzier actually looks thoughtful, his eyes growing distant as he stares in the direction of my chambers. “Did you inform her she would be your queen or did you ask her?” He tugs at his wine-stained bottom lip.

My skin prickles. Despite the heat of the fire, I can feel the chill of the drafty hall in ways I could not before. I shudder and glance over my shoulder, the pull to return to her side and ensure that she is pleased with me strong.

Fuzier continues when I remain quiet. “She is likely not a female who’s been given many choices in life.” He shrugs as if he has not obliterated the coherency of my thoughts.

“And you are certain that she’s aware of her new status?” Daneera adds. “If you’re not certain, there is always time then to change your approach and ask.”

I rub my bearded chin, feeling the wetness of her slick still coating it in parts. And loving it. “Perhaps, I will ask.”

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