Page 35 of What Fury Brings
Andrastus had a pained grin for Ydra, and Ydra rolled her lips under her teeth, trying not to laugh at him.
“Well met, Prince,” she said. “I didn’t know you knew how to smile.”
“I’m still not certain he does,” Olerra said.
Andrastus’s jaw clenched.
“I do not envy the work ahead of you,” Ydra said to Olerra. “Oh, and before I forget, remember the matter you wanted me to look into?”
Olerra was staring at Andrastus’s left bicep. She wanted to run her finger over the armband but knew that she was already walking a fine line with him after last night. And her instructions for today.
“Hmm?” she responded. Gods, it was so hard to focus with him dressed like this. She wasn’t prepared for this level of attraction to her soon-to-be husband. She would just need to stop looking at him.
Olerra turned her attention to Ydra.
“Daneryn has returned from his travels. He’s here.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “Why? When?”
“It would seem—”
Ydra was cut off by the appearance of none other than Daneryn himself. He was alone, though his mother must be in the room somewhere if he was permitted at the queen’s breakfast table. He was taller and broader than when last she’d seen him a couple of years ago. He had light brown skin, just a shade lighter than his mother’s. His headwas covered in brushed-out black curls, each one perfectly shaped. His eyes were bright green.
And they were looking at Olerra with such hurt that she almost looked away.
Daneryn spoke first, a bold move that was outside the bounds of propriety. She allowed it this once.
“Princess,” he said. “I heard of your latest skirmish with the Brutes. Congratulations on another victory.”
“Thank you, Daneryn.”
“I am relieved to see you unharmed.”
Olerra tried not to roll her eyes. The only reason Daneryn wanted her unharmed was because he’d wanted her for himself for years.
The son of a countess, Daneryn was twenty-two years old. He was also theonlynobleman of Amarra over the age of twenty. During the coup led by Glen’s father, the queen’s own brother, Daneryn was fortunate to have been studying abroad with his sister, a rare opportunity afforded to a man. As he was absent from the court and none of his direct relatives had been involved in the revolt, he was innocent of having any hand in it.
But the son of a countess held no interest for Olerra, not when she could have a prince. Besides, she always knew she would need to kidnap a husband, like her mother before her. Daneryn was the easier route and would not show her strength to the nobles.
When he’d returned from his studies a couple of years ago, Daneryn had immediately set his sights on Olerra for two simple reasons. She was the highest-ranking woman in his kingdom he could marry, and she wasn’t so cruel as her cousin.
Olerra had liked the attention, but she hadn’t been ready to get close to anyone and risk her secret. So Daneryn had left for more studies and sightseeing.
Until now, it would seem.
When Daneryn looked at Andrastus, his eyes nearly watered, and Olerra wondered if she’d misunderstood how genuine his affections truly were. Either that or he was an excellent actor. She really should find out more about those studies he’d had abroad.
“You said you weren’t ready to marry when last we spoke,” he said, lowering his voice.
“I wasn’t.”
“But now you are? You’ve taken aBrute? One of the very men you’ve been fighting against for so much of your time as general?”
Andrastus seemed interested in the conversation, and she didn’t like that one bit. Olerra decided being nice wasn’t getting the job done. She hardened her voice. “I am a princess, and I will choose whomever I see fit.”
“It’s not too late. You haven’t wed him yet. Wedme, Olerra. I would be better to you than this ill-tempered man. Keep him for your harem if you must, but I am the best choice for husband, and everyone knows it. Look at how he’s fidgeting with those manacles. Olerra, I would behonoredto wear your chains. I’ve ached for your onyx on my arm since the day I could perform.”
As declarations of love went, it wasn’t bad. However, Daneryn was beginning to draw the attention of more people around the table.
