Page 29 of Oaths & Vengeance
“Why are you asking these questions?” Curious as to why he bothered when we’d go our separate ways in the morning as if we hadn’t just gotten married. I took a bite of roasted potato while I awaited his answer.
Darrow served himself a slice of meat pie. “To ease the tension, and because I don’t want to be completely ignorant of how my new wife’s mind works. Ever since we last met, I’ve found it difficult to understand the dichotomy of you. Obeying your uncle on some things yet secretly defying him in others. I can’t figure out if you’re loyal to him or not.”
“I’m loyal to my land and family,” I said, sighing. “I also don’t enjoy drawing my uncle’s ire, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have a daring nature.”
“Such as marrying me and your penchant for hopping around the world with your portals while he has no idea,” Darrow observed.
I gave him an annoyed look. “It’s not like I do that all the time. He doles out the holmium dust I need like it’s more precious than gold. I can only hold a little back for my personal travels. Speaking of which, tonight’s adventure has taken most of what I have left. If you want my services in the future, you’ll have to provide me with more.”
“Of course,” he agreed readily.
We chatted about innocuous things for a few more minutes until we were both full. There was still a lot of food left. I hurried to the washroom to clean up, grateful to find a toiletry kit provided for us. Taking my time, I cleaned my face, brushed my hair, and brushed my teeth. All that was left was the matter of my dress. Sleeping in it would be uncomfortable, but the shift I wore underneath was thin.
It seemed stupid to agonize over my “husband” seeing me in my undergarments on our wedding night, but these were unusual circumstances. We’d mostly been polite with each other this evening. Despite that, we were entering the most awkward part. Then I considered that hundreds of people had seen me completely naked for the last dozen or so summer solstices when we drank heavily, danced, and let our inhibitions go. It wouldn’t be a big deal if Darrow saw me in my shift.
I took the dress off. Examining myself in the mirror, I could see the faint outline of my nipples and the dusting of hair between my thighs, but it wasonly if I looked closely. Why should I be ashamed anyway? He’d likely seen many women’s bodies, considering his reputation.
When I stepped out of the washroom, I found all the food cleared away and Darrow lying on the bed with his shirt and boots off. I allowed myself exactly one second to appreciate his corded muscles before meeting his gaze. It was unreadable. I doubted he even studied me in my shift since his gaze stayed on my face.
No matter how large the bed was, I wouldn’t sleep there with him. I laid my dress across a chair and grabbed a throw to settle on the couch before the fire. It wasn’t very comfortable with the stiff cushions, but I could make do for one night.
I barely heard Darrow’s soft footsteps as he walked to the washroom, but he finished in there much faster than me. Through all this, I watched the fire, wishing I could ignore him entirely instead of being hyper-aware of his presence. When he returned to the bed, there was a slight creak, and the rustle of blankets.
“I’m not going to let you sleep on a hard couch, Aella,” he said, sounding mildly amused.
Though he couldn’t see my face, I still rolled my eyes. “It’s my choice where I sleep, and it’s not going to be with you.”
“Worried I’ll seduce you?” he asked.
Yes, and that I’d be foolish and give into it. As long as Darrow wasn’t touching me, I could resist him. “No.”
He chuckled. “Everything that happened earlier was for the king’s benefit and had no meaning behind it. I’m not going to touch you, dear wife.”
There he went with that term again, as if he had to remind me I belonged to him now.
I shifted uncomfortably. “Let me be, Darrow.”
In the next moment, a weightless sensation took over my body, and I squealed as he lifted me into the air and guided me toward the bed. He watched my face with amusement as I struggled against his invisible hold. There was nothing I could do to get free. His powers were too strong, and using wind against him would only destroy the beautiful room. Considering we were in the king’s palace, I could hardly do that.
A moment later, he settled me gently on the opposite side of the bed. I glared at him as the throw blanket flew to the floor with his invisible power, and the duvet came over the top of my body. He still hadn’t freed me, so I was immobile and vulnerable.
“You can call me ‘Dare’ now that we’re married,” he said with a satisfied expression.
“Let me go.”
He propped his head on his hand, lying on his side. The blanket only covered up to his stomach, giving me an up-close view of his impressive upper chest. A few jagged scars ran across the corded muscle, surprising me. I forced my gaze away from him. “I’ll call you an overbearing jerk before I call you anything else.”
“I’m ensuring we can at least say we slept together, should anyone ask,” he replied. Then, a couple of the extra pillows moved to settle between us. “But have no fear. I won’t fill you with my cock tonight or any night until you beg me for it.”
“Do you have to be so graphic?” I asked, hating myself for visualizing him plunging inside me. He was the enemy and callous. I would not give in to temptation. Even now, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill my people, and I couldn’t forget that.
He chuckled. “Do you deny the thought hasn’t crossed your mind?”
“Yes,” I lied. “If you never touch me again, it won’t be long enough.”
“You overestimate your ability to resist me.” An invisible hand pulled the hair from my face. “But I look forward to the day that your will crumbles and you submit your body to mine.”
His hold on me eased, and I rolled to my side away from him.
