Page 91 of The Empire and the Wolf King

I was too shocked tae speak. “What are ye doing, Wilfrey?”

“Mairead, you deserve someone who is devoted to you. Someone who will support you when you are feeling weak, someone who will listen when you prattle on about insanities like ‘time travel’ as if it is a thing that one can do. Someone who will clink their champagne flute to yours when you are celebrating the ‘death of your enemies’ and someone who will keep you company in this giant luxurious castle. Someone who is one of the most celebrated actors in the world, a little down on his luck, but still, someone who looks good, as you say, ‘on your arm’.”

I ran my hand through his hair as he spoke, tucking it behind his ear. His hair was blond, his cheek chiseled, his jaw square, he had the look of a leading man… a young Robert Redford. A younger woman with less power, might swoon tae hae him kneeling before her, but I was not so weak. I had had men in this position before, powerful men…

But I did like it a great deal.

I said, “Are ye offering tae be that someone?”

“Yes.”

I smiled. “I do verra much like a man who will get down on his knees for the important conversations, begging me for my favor is the most important of them… Ye daena want tae consider?”

“No, Mairead, you might change your mind. It is unlikely that I will ever have an offer this good again. A castle and a title in exchange for my devotion? I was already becoming devoted, you might have saved yourself the offer.”

“You were already becoming devoted? But we have only spent a few days together, ye hae shared my bed a handful of times. I think ye might be devoted tae my power.”

“Can the woman above me be separated from her power?”

“I suppose not.”

“You have spent your life gaining power — am I to pretend that I would want you without it? You would not be the same person. When I share your bed I am sharing it with Lady Mairead, the most powerful woman in the world. I am a subject of the king, you are the king’s mother, it would be impossible to separate out how I feel about the woman, separate from her power. Would you truly want me to?”

“Nae, ye are correct. This is my power, rightfully gained, for the entire purpose of increasing my worth as a woman.”

“As is right. We ought to marry.”

I said, “Then we are decided.”

He kissed the back of my hand and then stood and kissed me on the lips. He poured more champagne.

CHAPTER 42 - LADY MAIREAD

THE KINGDOM OF RIAGHALBANE - 2391

Itook a deep breath and turned to the bundle. I opened the edges of the towel tae see the spoils of my victory.

Wilfrey asked, “What are those?”

“Tis a vessel, a Trailblazer, and a Darner. They were mine and he stole them. I daena ken how, but he did, and I am verra glad tae hae them back?—”

I froze.

What happened tae my monitor?

Och nae.

He asked, “What happened? Are you well, Mairead? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“It just dawned on me, where is my monitor? I gave it tae Archibald and he promised tae return it, but tis nae here.”

I picked up the edges of the bundle and looked under it.

He asked, “Was it important?”

“Tis crucial. Tis for monitoring all the vessels. He was supposed tae bring Asgall’s body and all the devices tae me, and he dinna, where would he hae left it?”

I leaned on the front of my desk once more, watching the video, thinking, tapping my lip. “I told him he must return it, tis not like him tae defy me.”

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