Page 101 of What Fury Brings
Ydra had no doubt meant the lack of sex. As though Olerra could just stop thinking about how much she wanted Andrastus. But what if she’d actually meant to stop worrying about the fact she didn’t have the Gift?
Women in other countries had to put their faith in men. Just trust that they wouldn’t be hurt by them or taken advantage of. Olerra didn’t have the goddess’s strength, and that meant she would have to do the same if she wanted to draw closer to her Brute.
And shereallywanted that.
Olerra rose and held down her hand to Andrastus, who took it. She helped haul him to his feet, showing her strength to the whole room.
“I think we’ll retire now,” she said.
“Enjoy your evening,” Toria said.
The queen simply nodded.
Olerra tugged her prince after her, eager to reach her rooms.
The hallway was quiet, and Andrastus kept apace with her easily. He seemed just as eager to reach her rooms, which only made her more excited. They walked hand in hand. She kept darting glances at her man, waiting for him to drop the act now that they were alone.
He didn’t.
She was so caught up in the moment that she failed to notice when they were no longer alone.
Something barreled into her from behind, sending her off-balance, and Olerra cursed herself for not being more observant.
Andrastus caught her before she could stumble more than a step, and he spun her behind him before Olerra could see what the danger was.
“Watch where you’re going,” the newcomer said. Olerra peered around Andrastus’s body to find the boy that Glenaerys had bought at auction all those weeks ago, before Olerra had set out to steal her prince. He now wore Glen’s armband, and his face had a bit of fear mixed with anger as he moved along. Did he not realize whom he’d shoved? Or was he afraid because he was on Glen’s orders to do something?
Andrastus raised a hand as though to stop the boy for his rudeness and demand an apology, but Olerra wrapped a hand around his bicep. “Don’t. Let him go. He doesn’t have an easy time of it. He’s one of hers.”
Andrastus relented. Once the boy rounded the corner, he turned to her. “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Olerra’s guards spilled into the hallway, having caught up with their sudden disappearance. One of them gave her a disapproving look, as if to chastise her for not telling them she and her prince were leaving.
Olerra had been so caught up in the moment, she hadn’t even paused to think about safety. How did this man make her lose all sense?
“Let’s go,” Olerra said.
The prince seemed only too happy to follow.
Sanos had drunk plenty, but he’d always been one to hold his drink well. He was perfectly coherent as Olerra led him down the halls of the Amarran palace. She locked the door when they reached her rooms.
They were alone.
And he was unchained.
He had exactly zero desire to leave.
Not with the way she was smiling at him or the way her hand felt so warm in his.
The stab of guilt that suddenly jolted through his body was both unwelcome and unexpected, but it must have shown.
“What is it?” she asked, making no move to pull away or draw closer.
If they were going to do this, and he desperately wanted to do this, he needed to be honest with her. At least about the things he could.
“I have to show you something.”
