Page 39 of Bride of the Black Dragon
Which is true—every word. Though it’s not exactly what she’s asking.
Her nose wrinkles in distaste, as though I’ve spoken of something foul by admitting to sleeping close with him. I have the feeling she dislikes her oldest son as much or more than she dislikes me and so she doesn’t like to hear of him having any kind of joy or contentment.
That’s a sick way to feel about your own son but as I have said before, I believe she has a dead heart.
“We’ll see if you’re telling the truth this time.” She waves a hand at one of the guards. “Fetch the Court Physician.”
A side door opens almost at once. Of course he’s already waiting. The old man shuffles in with his satchel of instruments and that look of detachment he always wears when performing these humiliating exams upon me.
“Lie down,” the Queen orders. “We’ll confirm your claim.”
My cheeks burn. I want to protest—to scream that I’m not a broodmare to be poked and examined. But I simply nod and do as I’m told, lying back on the velvet settee while the physician fumbles beneath my skirts.
As always, his fingers are like icicles—I can’t help comparing them with Xaren’s big, warm hands. But then, Xaren touched me with love—or if not love, then at least gentleness and with the intent to give me pleasure. The Court Physician has only one goal in mind—to make sure I’m no longer intact.
I grit my teeth and stare at the ceiling with its mural of flying dragons. I pretend I’m somewhere else.
Finally the old man finishes poking around inside me. When he’s finished, he withdraws and bows stiffly to the Queen as he wipes his fingers on a handkerchief.
“It is as you wished—the girl is no longer intact, Your Majesty.”
The Queen exhales through her nose, a satisfied little puff. She sets down her teacup with a clink.
“Very good,” she says crisply, then glares at me. “But don’t think your duty ends there. It takes more than one night for a man to get a woman with child. I expect you to lay with the Prince every night until your belly swells with my grandson. Do you understand?”
I nod, head bowed submissively—I won’t give her any reason to whip me.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I say in a low voice.
She waves a jeweled hand, already bored with me.
“Very well. You’re dismissed.”
I turn and walk out, keeping my back straight until I’m safely beyond the door.
Only then do I let myself sigh in relief.
So that’s it. I’m no longer of interest to her—at least for now. Which suits me just fine. I have no desire to earn her approval. I only want to avoid her anger and survive in her kingdom.
Back in my chambers, Tanzy helps me shed the heavy gown.
“Well, my lady? How did it go?” she asks anxiously.
“As well as can be expected—she didn’t have me whipped,” I say.
“Then I assume things went to plan with the Dark Prince last night?” She raises her eyebrows curiously.
“Things are progressing very well with Prince Xaren,” I tell her. I don’t want to give details—what happened between me and Xaren is still so new to me. I’ve never felt this way before with a man—even the stable boy was no more than a brief crush which I soon lost when he behaved like a beast and I had to run from him.
But Xaren—though he has a beast inside him—was gentle with me. He brought me pleasure and made me come and held me afterwards, stroking my hair. I want to savor those memories and not share them with anyone—I’m going to hide them in my heart, for now.
I have a few more bites of my breakfast, which Tanzy kept for me, and a cup of tea. Then She helps me into a simple riding dress. The stables are calling me—the wind in my hair, the rhythm of hooves beneath me, the scent of fresh hay and freedom.
But I hesitate. Riding alone feels… hollow.
The question rises unbidden in my mind?—
Are Xaren and I truly friends now?
