Page 68 of Fate and Flame
“He never told me, and I never got to ask.”
“You may always look to the past, but you must never stay there. It’s okay that you didn’t ask and aren’t ready. It just means you understand how big of a role this will be. But you will never fail, Fen.” I crossed the room and kneeled before him. “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, or the next day, or in ten years, but I know one thing with absolute certainty. You will run this kingdom and leave a legacy, just like your father did. One day, our son will sit where you do now and wonder how he will ever be as great as his own father.”
His eyes met mine. “You’ve thought about children?”
“I’ve lived our entire lives in my dreams.”
“Will you tell me about them?”
I moved closer and sent him a vivid picture.It’s only what I imagine. What I hope for.
It’s perfect,he whispered.
“We will get there one day at a time. Today is only the beginning and tomorrow is just another day.
“I wish I had your confidence.” He pulled me onto his lap.
“I’m drowning in all of this, just like you are. But I’m not going to sit here and dwell on it. I refuse to let the reality of our circumstances compromise our happiness.”
“So, your aggravated training session with Gaea was just showing off all your happiness?” he smirked.
“Greeve is such a tattletale.”
“I’ll be sure to pass the message along.”
“Must be a drac thing.” I rolled my eyes.
He huffed.
“There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. Something that Gaea said.”
“Can it wait? Just for one day?”
A firm knock at the door interrupted us.
“I guess it will have to.”
“Come in,” he called.
Frair walked in with several other staff. Some carrying fabrics and soaps, some food. Thank the gods.“It’s time,” she said, kneeling low to the ground.
I was allowed a quick bath and then Fen was shoved into the bathing room while I tried not to complain as she draped my body in a long-beaded fabric that covered my breasts, crossed over my navel with a ruby circle band, and then draped around my lower body, pinned low at my hips. She added a necklace. It was tight and dainty in the front, but a long band of perfectly spaced, matching rubies lined my spine.
She pulled my hair back and pinned it only on the sides, leaving a loose plait at the top. She lined my eyes with kohl, added colored powder to my cheeks and stained my lips a deep blood red. I stood before the mirror and hardly recognized myself.
“You are nearly the queen now,” she said, standing behind me. “You must remind our people what that means.”
I nodded, not able to tear my eyes away from the reflection. The door to the bathing room opened, and Fenlas walked out shirtless, with black trousers matching the dark ink on his chest. The hair on his jawline was trimmed and his jet-black hair was slicked back. The moment his eyes fell on me, the bond snapped tight.
“Out,” he ordered the room full of servants.
“You mustn’t touch her,” Frair warned.
“Out,” he barked, his feet already moving toward me.
They scurried out of the room, not bothering to grab their trays as he wrapped his firm hands around my exposed waist, reminding me that he was strong, fierce and lethal. Heat rolled from him so heavily, I thought he might start the room on fire. Those beautiful eyes of his roamed every inch of my tingling body.
“Save it, Prince. You’ve got a tight schedule.”
