Page 77 of Oaths & Vengeance
“If it’s about your wife, I’d imagine so.”
I jolted at his words. “You know?”
He nodded. “My father informed me the day after he married the two of you since I need to be aware of such matters. He worries about the future of the realm.”
“Yes, that is true,” I agreed.
Though it still surprised me, I understood why the king chose to tell him. Armin was excellent at keeping secrets and would never betray our trust. It only worried me as more and more people learned about my marriage that it could eventually leak out before we were ready.
The prince looked at me with azure eyes that matched his father’s. “I believe you chose wisely with Lord Morgunn’s niece. She is powerful with a good heart, but I sense something may have happened to her.”
“Aella hasn’t been seen in five days, and all my attempts to locate her at Ivory Castle have failed. None of my spies have been able to provide any information, either,” I said and went on to explain what happened the night she disappeared.
Armin frowned. “So you wish us to help by summoning her?”
“Yes, I do.”
“As you know, the summer ball is in two days. We sent invitations to all the lords and ladies over a month ago. Her uncle confirmed his attendance but not hers. I can have my father insist she be here. Morgunn can hardly refuse, and if you’re there, you can see her for yourself.”
Relief filled me. I’d forgotten about the ball with so many other matters on my mind, but it was the perfect way to see Aella without drawing suspicion—as long as I was careful. “How soon do you think your father can get word to Lord Morgunn?”
“I’ll make certain he sends a sebeska by this evening.”
“You have my gratitude,” I said, glad I’d run into him. It didn’t hurt to have the prince on my side as I navigated my complicated marriage, and I needed to rebuild our relationship in any case.
Armin nodded. “Then I suppose you should prepare yourself for the ball.”
“Will you be there?” I asked. While serious about his duties, he often skipped social events. He and his wife had six years of being at the center of them, constantly proving to be the happiest couple in the realm as they danced the night away. Those times were past now.
The corner of Armin’s lips twitched. “I hadn’t planned on it, but in light of this turn of events, I believe I will attend. It would be well worth it to watch you and your wife in the same room, playing a rather dangerous game.”
At least it was some consolation that my struggles helped him. “I will look forward to seeing you.”
Chapter 34
Aella
Briauna entered my room, bustling quietly. It was dark due to the spell on my window because my uncle felt I shouldn’t even enjoy natural light or look at my garden. Not that it mattered since I didn’t have the strength to leave my bed except to use the chamber pot. Even with that, I needed help.
The iron cuff on my arm slowed my healing down so much that it was pure agony to move with my back shredded and the wounds only beginning to close. If I jostled them too much, they reopened and bled again. Briauna had changed my sheets numerous times over the last week.
Lord Morgunn came once daily at the same time as the healer to ensure she didn’t knit them back together with her magic. All she’d been allowed to do was clean and rebandage them. Ulmar came at other times to fill my head with intense pain, taunting me all the while that I must never embarrass him again like I did that day in the training ring. He didn’t stop until blood ran down my nose. My life revolved around pain, misery, and wondering if my husband had willfully brought this torture upon me.
“Where is Lord Morgunn?” I mumbled from where I lay on my stomach, finally noticing my uncle wasn’t in the room.
The healer took a seat beside me, sympathy on her face. “You’ve received a reprieve. The king insisted you attend the ball tonight, so we only have six hours to prepare you. When your uncle received word, he ordered a dress but wouldn’t let me prepare you until now.”
I lifted my head. “Why would the king demand I be there?”
“I suspect your husband has something to do with it,” she said, pushing a golden lock of hair from my cheek.
A sigh escaped me. “Then Darrow must need something, or else why bother? It’s not as if I matter to him. He probably kept me away that night so my uncle couldn’t attack, knowing it would get me in trouble.”
Had he laid there in the woods that night, letting me pleasure him while fully aware of the trouble I’d be in when I returned home? That question had plagued me for days as I lay in pain and misery in my bed.
“Don’t say that, dear,” Briauna tsked. “I refuse to believe he’d wish harm upon you.”
Of course, she’d defend him, being her sister’s favorite and all.
