Bride of Ashes (Kingdom of Shadow and Ruin #1)

38. Lorant

38

LORANT

“ S he has not come to me for three nights,” I roared, pacing. Always pacing. “Three fucking nights.”

“I spoke with her about it today.” Tension thrived in Merrick’s voice. “She’s been busy with Lord Briscalar the past days, discussing details related to the coronation and the events surrounding it. But I asked her to continue with you, and she said she would.”

His assurance should calm me, but it didn’t. “You see her all the time.” Damn, but I sounded like a whiny puss.

“Not as much as I’d like. I’m busy. You know that. I probably don’t see her any more than you.” He kept his voice neutral, but there was something different in his tone.

I stopped pacing and turned to look his way. That gleam in his eyes . . .

“You love her.” Surprise sliced through my words. I should be happy for him, but all I felt was soul-shattering sadness. “Does she love you back? Has she told you yet?”

“No. No, um . . . no. Not yet.” He stared down before looking up, the happiness and hope on his face kicking me in the gut. “I haven’t asked her, either. I wouldn’t. You know that. But there’s something in her eyes when she looks at me that . . . Well, it gives me hope for a future I could never imagine without her.”

Talk about shredding me. Completely shattering my soul.

But I met his eyes and nodded. He needed my acceptance as much as I did his.

“How could I not love her?” he said.

Oh, to feel that bliss of new love.

“It hasn’t been long,” he said. “But she’s . . . You can already see what I mean. You’ve talked with her. Worked with her. She’s amazing. Pretty, yeah. Gorgeous, actually. But it’s not all about that—”

I snorted.

His grin spread wide. This man took on life with excitement, never with the fear that it would slap him across the face when he wasn’t looking. He was a kind, decent person, and because of this, he could find some goodness in everyone else.

Even me.

“Yes, I’m falling in love with her.” Strength came through in his words and in his posture. “I can’t imagine not loving her now.”

I didn’t ask if they’d been together yet. I couldn’t ask. Knowing she’d gone to his bed would rip me apart. If I knew, images of them together would haunt me. How could I do what I must if all I could see was them moving together? She’d moan like she did when I was with her. She’d cling to him and beg.

Fuck.

“You should’ve seen her in the throne room the other day.” Wearing a sappy smile, he shook his head and told me what happened with the stolen cows. “She’s smart. Savvy. Perfect for something like this, and it shows. Her first time delivering judgement too. She delicately manipulated both men in a way that made them believe they’d each won. Well, the lord might disagree on that since he has to allow Devron to collect his cows. Sweat was slithering down his face. He knew he was caught and every time he glanced back at the other lords and ladies watching raptly, you could see he knew he was going to be knocked down a few rungs on the ladder before the day was through.”

“She fixed it.” I wasn’t surprised. All that untapped power and a clever mind? No one could defeat her.

Except time.

“Two strong men with adjoining properties,” he said. “Even I wasn’t sure what the outcome would be. We can’t have battles among our own people.” He swung his leg up, hooking the back of his knee on the arm of his chair, and his face went solemn. “She can do it, Lore. I know she can, and I think that’s what’s most important here.”

“One day of good judgment doesn’t prove much.” Yes, I had my doubts, but that was the usual for me, not him. I started moving again, though my steps were no longer fueled by anger.

He grunted. “Anyway, I asked her how things were going with you today, and she admitted she’d stayed away for three nights. I asked her again to work with you, not making demands like you would, and she said she’d be there tonight.” His low laugh rang out, and I cringed, hoping he wasn’t going to reveal anything intimate between them that would make me crave her more than I already did. “Try a little harder to be nice. I know you have it in you.”

Somewhere, buried deep inside.

“Speak kindly to her. Act civil if you can. Encourage her, for fate’s sake,” he said. “She needs you, and I need you to do this.”

“Alright, I’ll try.” I couldn’t promise anything more than that. “There are only three days until the coronation.”

“I can’t wait until the crown’s placed on her head and to hear the cheers echoing in the throne room. No matter what happens after that, we’ll be set.”

“And then you’ll escort her to dinner.” He’d help her into her seat, and he could even lean close and kiss her and no one would blink an eye. The ladies might be jealous, though they’d had their chance. The lords would envy him his claim to this glorious woman.

None more than me.

“She’ll take her proper place at my side as queen,” he said. “Mother is not pleased, but we couldn’t expect anything else. I’ve spoken with her. She’ll behave.”

She’d better.

“And then you’ll escort her to the masked ball.” I could picture her wearing a dress that showed off her stunning curves. The whispers of envy that would flicker around the ballroom when she appeared at the entrance on his arm. The mask that would only enhance her beauty .

“Yes,” he breathed. “I’ll lead her in the first dance. You’ll be there. You’ll see.”

I couldn’t stay away.

“After that . . . So much could happen after that.”

He’d soon take her to his bed if he hadn’t already. He had to.

Merrick rose from his chair and strode closer, standing well within reach. “I should go. So should you. She’ll be with you soon. Work with her. Kindly. I’ll stress that again. Start with her affinity for manipulating shadows. She’s going to need that more than anything. Lightning and fire . . . I’m sure they’ll play a role in this too. That may be her biggest challenge. They’re unruly.”

“They’re deadly. She needs to be careful.”

“Which is why you’re helping her, not me. This is more your realm than mine.”

I was the darkness.

“This skill is rare,” he said. “Special.”

Just as she was.