Page 23 of What Fury Brings
“Housebreaking,” she clarified. “Teaching you to be Amarran.”
Housebreaking?
Every word out of her mouth was more ridiculous than the last.
“And what methods do you intend to use on me?” he asked.
“The most common practice is the denying of sexual favors.”
He blinked once. Twice. “You’re going to withhold sex from me?” He laughed. “That only works if I want sex from you, which I can assure you, I no longer do.”
“Your words would have greater weight if you hadn’t been pawing at me just two nights ago.” When he tried to argue, she added, “Let’s not bicker now, as delightful as it is to go head-to-head with you. Let’s become better acquainted. The only things I know about you are what my spies have told me. Tell me something real.”
The question startled him. No one had asked to know anything about him before. How could they when he kept everyone at arm’s length?
“I—” he started, and cut himself off.
After a beat, she said, “Would it be easier if I went first? You already know I’m a soldier and a general. A princess. I also like to sing. I enjoy games of strategy. And… I’m afraid of bees.”
He wanted to make a harsh comment so she would feel its bite, but he couldn’t. He processed the words slowly. Felt how real they were, and something ever so small shifted within him.
“Bees,” he deadpanned.
“Yes, they’re loud. They sting. And they stand between me and the smell of a full blossom. There. Now you tell me something.”
He ought to snap. To yell at her some more and tell her he wasn’t going to play along.
Instead, he found himself saying, “I’ve always wanted to see the ocean.”
Her eyes met his, and her smile was open. “I’ll take you.”
She smiled so damned much. Why did she have so much to smile about?
“I need to shit,” he told her, stopping any further conversation.
She showed no reaction to his crass language. She had her friend stall the cart, then Olerra untied him from the railings at the side. She retied his bindings so his ankles and wrists remained close together. He had to shuffle off the road, her hand on his arm the whole way.
When they reached a tree, he turned to her. “Are you going to watch?”
“Of course not. I won’t be far, though.”
“Naturally.”
He really did need to relieve himself, so he took care of business the moment he heard her footsteps recede. After he tucked himself back inside his pants, he looked about for a sharp stick or rock. Anything to cut his bonds.
There was nothing in the near vicinity, so he started to creep farther from the road. He couldn’t see her when he looked over his shoulder, so he picked up speed.
“Are you finished?” she called out to him.
“Not yet,” he said, raising his voice so she would think him closer.
Finally he found a rock. He crouched beside some bushes and began to saw the ropes binding his hands.
It was taking too long.
She’d come for him soon. He looked around desperately for somewhere to hide.
There were some brambles not far off. He lay flat on his back androlled, careful to hold on to the rock. The thorns bit into his skin, but at least he was out of sight now. No sooner had he resumed his sawing did he hear their voices.
