Page 46 of What Fury Brings
The crowd was wild on their feet. They chanted her name, breaking it into three lovely syllables. O-LER-RA. Some of the noblewomen in the front rows were clapping and chanting along. Others sent her nods of goodwill. Others were studiously avoiding her gaze, desperate not to get on Glenaerys’s bad side.
As she stood, Ydra moved between the cousins and threw one arm over each of their shoulders. “Well, Glen, it may have been a wasted courtship, but at least you made Olerra look good.”
If Olerra hadn’t just bargained for her best friend’s life, she might have worried for it with the look Glenaerys shot her.
“Next time, perhaps find a man whose fighting style I’m not already familiar with,” Olerra said, trying to take Glen’s attention off her friend.
“Sleep with one eye open,” Glen shot her way before stalking off.
“Did you just threaten the princess? With a witness present?” Ydra demanded.
“Let her go,” Olerra insisted. “She has wounds to lick. Also, see if you can get Athon out of here before she—”
Too late.
Glenaerys picked Athon off the mat by his hair, lifting him effortlessly to his feet with the Goddess’s Gift. She hooked her arm around his. She used her free hand to dig her nails into the skin of his bicep. The moment she tried to walk off with him—
Andrastus blocked her path.
Shit.
“What’s this?” Glen asked, turning that dangerous gaze on Andrastus. Olerra was already running, placing herself beside her man.
“You’re hurting him,” Andrastus said, eyeing the blood that was coating Glen’s nails.
Glen cocked her head to one side. “Does that bother you? Me hurting another man? Do you wish it was you I was hurting?”
The look of disgust Andrastus gave her was telling enough.
“No?” she asked. “Then you worry for him? You worry over a sore head and a little blood?”
“Andrastus, let’s go,” Olerra said. She looked around, relieved to find that the other nobles were too far away to overhear the exchange. She wasn’t nearly so worried for her standing as she was for her prince’s safety, however.
Odd.
“Wait,” Glen said. “Andrastus is concerned, Olerra. We must put it to rights. Athon, tell the prince you’re fine.”
“I’m fine,” Athon said, not a hitch in his breath.
“Tell him you like it when I hurt you.”
“I like it when she hurts me. Anything that brings my mistress pleasure brings me pleasure.”
Olerra tried to touch Andrastus’s arm, but he pulled away easily with the oil still coating his skin.
“He doesn’t seem convinced, Athon,” Glen said. “You must try harder.” Then Olerra’s cousin reached between Athon’s legs to grab his testicles. She pulled.
Athon grunted in pain. “Thank you, Princess.”
Olerra could see the tension in Andrastus. She knew he would spring soon. Just like he’d done at the breakfast table that morning.
Olerra physically put herself between Andrastus and Glen. She took his face in her hands. “You give her power by reacting,” she said quietly. “She will continue to use this against you. If we leave now, she won’t have anyone to put on a show for. There’s nothing you can do for him.”
Her prince was still poised for a fight.
It was Ydra who finally defused the situation.
“Olerra, you and Andrastus have many admirers who wish to greet you. Come.” She took Andrastus’s other arm, and together they forced him away from Glen.
