Page 79 of Oaths & Vengeance
“Your husband said he couldn’t locate you this past week,” he whispered, once again surprising me with his knowledge of my marriage.
The healer had been right that Darrow orchestrated my attendance here, but I wondered what had motivated him. “My uncle was upset with me and confined me to my room.”
“For disappearing with Darrow when you should have been in Therress, I presume.”
I nodded. “Lord Morgunn refused to let me out until I told him where I was that night. Obviously, I couldn’t without making matters worse.”
Armin put an arm around my waist and dipped me backward, sending pain through my tender wounds. He caught my expression when he brought me back up. “Are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing,” I said in a whisper.
He frowned. “If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.”
His kind words made me want to cry. Unfortunately, the prince couldn’t help me any more than what his father had already accomplished. “There is nothing anyone can do, but I’ll be fine.”
At least, I hoped. Lord Morgunn had barely spoken to me during the journey here, so I had no idea what was in store for me upon my return. He could be rather unpredictable. Regardless, I couldn’t ask the crown to intervene. While the king had considerable power, using it to punish someone outside the bounds of law would undermine the independence he sought to give each of the lands in our realm. How a highborn male handled his female relatives was entirely his business, except in the cases of marriage or murder.
“Perhaps your husband will have better luck assisting you,” he said, concern remaining in his gaze. “He comes now.”
“What?” I began to ask, but it was too late. The music changed to a slow rhythm.
As the prince let me go, Darrow took my hands. “You look beautiful, Aella. I’ve got half a mind to strip you right here and take you on the floor—damn the consequences.”
He acted as though nothing bad had happened over the past week, but he’d just made it worse. Dancing with the prince hadn’t been too suspicious, but those of us from Therress and Veronna never danced together. At least, not the highborn.
“Are you mad? My uncle is going to have a fit seeing us together,” I said, purposely schooling my expression to outrage so that Lord Morgunn would believe I wasn’t willingly dancing with our enemy.
Already, I’d caught him taking a step forward before the king promptly drew his attention. Truly, I was beginning to love Zadrya’s monarch more than ever.
“I needed to see that you were well after you disappeared,” he said.
Darrow twirled me around before taking me into his arms again. If I thought the prince looked handsome in his attire, my husband appeared devastating. His open burgundy vest barely covered the large muscles of his chest and arms, and I couldn’t help but appreciate his flat stomach and narrow waist. Interestingly, his scars didn’t show, so he must have applied a light glamour I couldn’t sense.
“Did you know my uncle planned to attack that night?” I asked in a furious whisper, continuing to show my fury that wasn’t fake at all.
His expression hardened. “No. I wouldn’t put you at risk that way.”
I desperately wanted to believe him, but how could I? “Not even to save your own people?”
“Believe what you will about me,” Darrow said, grip tightening on my waist dangerously close to my healing wounds. “But I would much rather face your uncle on a battlefield than risk him suspecting and harming you. I told you that your safety matters to me, and I meant it.”
I closed my eyes and took a breath.
Despite myself, I believed him. The vehemence in his tone had rung true. It also helped that he’d orchestrated bringing me here, which proved Briauna right. Would he have bothered if he’d purposely kept me away from Therress that night?
Silence fell between us while we had to separate and circle each other. The way he moved with me through the dance was like a dream after all I’d been through. By some miracle, he never touched my wounds. When he pulled me close once more, we fit together perfectly.
“Where were you this past week?” he asked in a low voice.
I gave him my best haughty look to keep up the charade for my uncle. “Didn’t the locater spell on my wedding ring tell you?”
His gray eyes lit up in surprise. “You know?”
I sighed. “You could have told me from the beginning, and I would have been fine with it.”
“Would you?” Darrow appeared skeptical.
“Yes. Because I have nothing to hide and want you to trust me.” He had no idea the pain I endured to keep our secrets. I could have admitted my marriage and told my uncle everything I learned to save myself, but I didn’t.
