Page 6 of Sold to the Fae King (Kings of the Fae Islands 2)

He remained silent, guiding her to the chambers at the top of the mountain palace where he had already assigned her rooms.

Though it had only been a few hours since Lord Perivale had gambled her away, Ember had been determined to ensure she had all she could possibly need when she arrived.

She should see that not all noblemen are like that sorry excuse of a man, he had told himself while organizing it all.

Yet when he opened the grand chamber door, he did not see a look of awe in her eyes. In fact, he was almost sure that she looked appalled.

"Is something the matter?" he asked when she remained standing in the doorway. Ember thought that if it had not been for Filton and the guards behind her, she might have turned tail and run.

A woman has never run from me before. The realization caused an odd sensation in Ember's stomach, one that he had never experienced before.

"No, no, everything’s fine," she responded.

Only fine? Ember almost yelled the words at her. He had spared no expense, ensuring that she had only the finest furnishings, bedding and clothing, and yet she appeared entirely ungrateful.

"I am sorry, Your Grace," she dipped into a low curtsey as though she had suddenly sensed his feelings, "I appreciate all of this. I am merely exhausted after being rudely dragged from my bed during the middle of the night."

There was a hint of malice to her tone, and yet Ember couldn't bring himself to blame her. Though her face was quite lovely and unmarred, he could still see the bruising on her arms and beneath the sheer material of her gown.

"I shall leave you to rest," Ember announced. As if relieved, Iris breathed a sigh and stepped out of the doorway.

"Thank you, Your Grace," she curtseyed again, though Ember got the distinct feeling that her gratitude wasn't entirely genuine.

She is just tired, he told himself as he crossed the room and exited.

A guard stepped forward to close the door firmly behind him. The moment it was closed, Ember announced, "I want two guards on the door at all times."

"Is that really necessary, my lord?" Filton asked, looking shocked. Ember might have felt the same way under normal circumstances, but he had never been in this situation before.

"After what Perivale has likely put this girl through, she is a flight risk," Ember explained to his man, "I have spent a small fortune to obtain her, and I do not wish to lose her."

Before Filton could reply, Ember began to storm away down the hall, leaving the guards to decide among themselves who would take first watch over their newest treasure.

That morning, having been awake all night, he tossed and turned, alone in his bed for the first time since he could remember. After his encounter with the newest member at court, he had detested the thought of taking any woman to bed with him. He told himself that it was simply because he was exhausted after all the excitement of the night, but deep down he knew it was more than that.

Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see were her blue-purple irises staring back. His hand still tingled with the electricity that had passed through them when he had helped her to her feet. Her floral scent still seemed to be clinging to the insides of his nostrils.

Not for the first time, he cursed himself for getting involved with gambling rather than simply demanding Perivale pay up. Then he reminded himself that he was a king, and although it was somewhat of a tradition in his kingdom, he would not stand idly by and watch a young woman be used as currency.

He may as well have just offered her to my father as a second bride, Ember chuckled to himself, imagining what his mother's reaction would have been to such an insult. Perivale was likely stupid enough to have tried it. If only he had been. Then I wouldn't have had to rescue her.

Now, he was at a loss as to what to do with the woman. He'd had his way with many over the years but this one felt different. The manner with which she had come to him was one totally unknown.

Had he been more willing to show a little vulnerability, he might have written to his elder brother, Theo, King of the Summer Isle, who had already secured himself a wife and consequently several children. As things stood, he was determined to figure things out for himself.

With a groan of frustration, Ember dragged himself from his bed. The moment he pulled back the drapes that sheltered his four-poster bed, morning sunlight hit his eyes and he was forced to take a few moments to allow them to adjust.

Still squinting, he pulled on his silken robe and tied it around his waist before passing through the archway that connected his bedchambers to his study, a huge library that could only be fit for a king.

Perusing the shelves, he found the book he had been searching for. He pulled out a tome called Rituals and Traditions of The Spring Isle.

The large leather-bound book made a loud thump as he dropped it onto his stone-white oak desk, and then dropped himself into his chair.

"Urgh…" he groaned. He had read the book several times before, flicking through it whenever he found a matter at court that was hard to navigate, but he had yet to read through cover to cover. He was sure that there were things that even his father did not know about the kingdom he had gifted to him.

Ember wasn't even sure he wished to know it all. Every Isle had their own traditions, some obvious and others more mysterious, but there was only one that interested Ember right now.

Flicking through the chapters, he stopped when he read the words: Love and Marriage.

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