Page 90 of What Fury Brings
“What’s going on here?”
The three soldiers stood on their feet and placed a fist over their hearts. “Commander,” they said in unison as Ydra approached.
“Not causing trouble, are you?” Ydra asked Sanos, who was still seated around the campfire they’d been using to cook their food.
“No,” he responded.
“On your feet.”
Sanos obeyed.
“If you’re going to train with us, then you’d best learn to behave like us. When a superior officer approaches, you show respect.”
Sanos nodded, mimicking the motion the others had made. He didn’t know why it was easier to take orders from Ydra than it was Olerra. Perhaps it was because Ydra wasn’t trying to bed him.
“I’d like a word with the prince, please,” Ydra said, and the rest of them scampered off.
He wasn’t sure what to expect when they were alone. Sanos knew Ydra hated him after what had happened with Glenaerys. He knew she was loyal to Olerra, so he wasn’t in physical danger when near her. Perhaps she wanted to shout at him some more.
“Why do you hold yourself back from her?” she demanded.
“Excuse me?”
Ydra eyed him from head to toe. “Olerra says you can perform. Admirably, even. So why do you keep yourself distant? Do you not think my sister beautiful? Do you dislike her character? Why haven’t you asked her to be physical with you again?”
First, Sanos felt his cheeks flame. Olerra had told Ydra what had happened between them. That was mortifying. Second, outrage took over. How dare Ydra come to him like this and question him about personal matters? Finally, a horrible realization set in. Is that what Olerra had been waiting for each night before she left him? She’d wanted him to invite her to… what? Not sex. She was stillpreparing, but other things. Things that potentially involved the giant mirror she’d had hung in his room.
Olerra wanted an invitation. Amarra’s tits, she’d been giving him space, yet opportunity…
And he’d been none the wiser.
How the fuck was he supposed to know that? He wasn’t a bloody mind reader.
Instead of telling Ydra all that, he got defensive. “That is none of your business.”
“Wrong. Olerra is the best person I know, and I make it my business to help her achieve happiness. You are keeping yourself from her. You’re making her work harder than she should have to in order to secure the throne. Why?”
“I amstolen,” he reminded her.
“Would you get over that already? It may have been the start of your relationship, but it doesn’t have to be the end. You need to treat her better. You have no idea the honor she has bestowed upon you.”
“Why? Because I’m her first husband? Lucky me. I think I’ll feel less special once she fills all those bedrooms with more conquests.”
Ydra took a step closer. “You stupid boy.”
“I’m fairly confident that I’m older than you.”
“Yet you behave like a child. Olerra isn’t taking a harem like me. Just this week she has declared you her seul. It is an honor usually only bestowed to a sirem, who takes only one woman as her wife, such as the queen has done.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She’s not taking any men for a harem. Only you for some unfathomable reason, you complete twat.”
Before Sanos could even think of a response to that, Olerra showed up. She smiled at them. “Are you two getting better acquainted?”
“Yes, Andrastus is a delight,” Ydra said so convincingly that Sanos almost believed it.
“I’m so glad you think so.” Olerra ran a finger over the armband Sanos wore on his left bicep as Ydra left them. “And what do you think of my sister-chosen?”
