Page 10 of Captivated
Eyes narrowed, I searched his face. A muscle ticked in his cheek and he gripped his hands together firmly enough that his fingertips were whitening. “You can’t even say his name, so why on earth would I believe that you’d allow me to have him?”
“I made a mistake in trying to keep you from him. I know that now. I still don’t like it, but if it means I can have you, then I will share you.”
It was a huge concession for a man like him, but I still didn’t believe him. His voice had roughened, his grip fierce as if he was holding himself back. His eyes blazed with emotion. Mostly fury, I thought, and loathing. Not passion or love or understanding.
Kevin dropped the notebook and papers fluttered everywhere. “Oh dear. I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. I’m so clumsy.”
He dropped down beside me and started gathering the papers, still babbling like he was terrified of me yelling at him or some such nonsense.
As he handed me a stack of wrinkled papers to hold, I caught the flash of silver in his hand. An old-fashioned fountain pen gleamed against his palm.
Metal tip.
Sharp enough to draw blood.
I gave him a subtle nod.Do it.
Then I turned all my attention on Arthur. I tried to smile, but my lips trembled. Hopefully he thought that was overwhelming hope. “Do you really mean it?”
“Of course. I’d do anything for you, my dear. I love you. I always have.”
He reached out and touched my knee, thankfully covered by my skirt, but I still shuddered. Revulsion crawled through me. I had to grit my teeth to keep from flinching and shrinking away.
“All I ask is that you never touch him when I’m not there. I’ll share, but I want to be involved in everything. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Itwastoo much to ask. I was the fucking queen. I would protect this tower with my Blood and cement the siblings to House Isador. I provided the power. The blood. The heart.
He might be a king, but he’d never form his own goddess-blessed nest. He’d never taste my power or enjoy my pleasure, because I’d rather jab Kevin’s trusty pen into my jugular than ever touch Arthur again. If I tried to get through sex with him…
Memories flashed through my mind again, crippling me. Stunning me as surely as a taser. I remembered lying beneath this man as he thrust inside me. Feeling nothing but hatred and disgust.
For myself. Because I was allowing him to have me again, even though I didn’t want him. Even though I loved another man.
I’d married Arthur, and he took his marital rights very seriously.
Sobbing in the night. Curled up in a ball. Hating myself. Night after night.
It had never happened to me, but those memories were etched in my soul. I pushed those horrible memories away with effort. Guinevere was sadly not unique in her situation. There were plenty of women who’d been legally bound to men and forced to service them, with no end or hope in sight. I wouldn’t go back to that kind of life. I refused to even consider it. Even if that meant Arthur tore Lance limb from limb and made me watch while he ate him.
I. Refused. To fuck Arthur. Ever again.
Period.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” Kevin whispered, pushing closer to me as he reached under my legs. “Some of the papers went under your chair. Forgive me.”
He stabbed my calf with the pen.
“Yes,” I whispered, allowing my eyes to flare with the pent-up rage boiling inside me. “Thatistoo much to ask.”
Arthur narrowed a hard look at me, his upper lip curling in disdain as if he’d smelled something nasty. “You forget who I am.”
Slowly, I stood. My power rose inside me, fueled by my rage. “No. You forget whoIam.”
He ground his teeth and released a low threatening growl. “You know what I’m capable of. It’s too late. I’m already inside the Isador blood circle. I’ll kill every single person in this tower, and their blood will be on your head.”
“No. If you kill anyone, that’s on you.”
“What are you going to do?” He shoved up to his feet in one liquid, smooth lunge meant to make me flinch and cower. “Makemeleave?”
