42. Reyla
42
REYLA
W hen I left my suite the next morning, my guard had been doubled to eight. Four strode in front of me with their blades in their hands and magic crackling around them, while the other four, equally armed, walked close enough behind they’d run into me if I stopped. If they could’ve split me and stuffed four more guards between my halves, I bet they would’ve.
“Good,” Merrick said when I stepped into the throne room with my entourage. “Never again.” His warning was for Surren, whose face darkened with dismay. But he took the chastisement and gave Merrick a curt nod.
“It’s not his fault.” I strode down the aisle toward Merrick. A few titters rang out from the ladies sitting on either side, but when Merrick’s gaze hit them, they slunk low in their seats, pressing their hands over their mouths. Their eyes widening, their whimpers rang out when they couldn’t pry their hands off their magically sealed mouths. Was it bad that I took pleasure in the pleading looks they sent my way?
“Please.” Merrick stood as I approached, holding his hand out to me. When our fingers touched, he squeezed mine and tugged me close. His gaze slid from my face to my arm. He lifted my hand and pressed his mouth against the mark on my forearm. Heat flared, and when his head lifted, the scar was gone. He repeated the same process on my cheek and even peeled back the shoulder of my gown to expose the sealed slice from the blade.
While everyone in the room watched, no one saying a word but not a single one looking away, he gently kissed along the wound. Searing warmth followed his path, leaving nothing but smooth skin behind.
“Thank you,” I said as he gently smoothed my dress back into place. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes. I did.” He lifted both my hands and kissed the palms, one after the other.
“I wasn’t hurt there.”
“I’d kiss your heart and your soul if it would help ease your pain, Reyla. Someone . . .” His growl ripped out. He pinched his eyes closed but only for a moment before they opened and blazed into mine. “I’d pay any price to lift even one shadow from your soul.”
“Merrick,” I breathed. My heart swelled and tightened. How much more of this man’s sweetness could I take before my walls crumbled and I stood before him, completely exposed?
“It’s true.” Taking my hand, he led me to my throne and waited while I sat before dropping onto his own .
I explained what happened in a low voice, telling him that I was the foolish one who’d disobeyed, that Surren had insisted on staying with me, but I’d sent him away.
“Lore should not have allowed this,” was all he said, his eyes clouded with fury waiting to be tapped.
“Don’t be mad with them. Please.”
His gaze still simmered, but he gave me a curt nod.
I spent the rest of morning in the throne room with him, soaking in his pride-filled glances when I made one judgement after another. No one voiced a single protest at me holding court today instead of him. But then, I would soon be their queen.
And Merrick’s queen.
As for Lore . . . I’d tossed all night, thinking about our conversation and the way he’d decimated the person who’d attacked me. The way he’d comforted me after.
I reminded myself that he could only be a friend.
“Have lunch with me?” Merrick asked after he’d announced the court was over, and we were done for the day. He released those he’d magically silenced. I doubted they’d snicker again.
Everyone stood, and we left through a room behind the dais as they quickly and quietly filed out through the opposite side.
“Alone?” I asked, linking my fingers with his once the huge doors had banged shut behind us.
My guards milled around us, mixing in with his. Would I always need such fierce protection? I wasn’t used to considering others when I chose to go somewhere or do something. That time might now be over.
“Is there any better way to dine than with me?” Merrick led me through the small chamber behind the throne room and out into a hall I’d never seen before. I could live here for five lifetimes, and I’d still get lost.
I came to a stop and peered around. “Where are we?”
“In the south wing.” He gestured for us to continue down the long empty hall with tall windows on the left side. Sunlight streamed through the pristinely clear glass, sparkling on the dark marble floor and arcing off the silver braid of the guards moving ahead of us.
We were never truly alone.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said in a teasing tone, stopping and placing his palm against his chest. “I’m sorely wounded and worrying that you don’t want to dine with me.”
“I’d be delighted to dine with you, my king.” I gave him a deep curtsy, flaring the skirt of my medium blue gown speckled with tiny white flowers. I doubted I’d get used to dressing this way, but I was learning not to trip on the voluminous fabric or lean too far forward, which made my breasts eager to pop out. Low-cut bodices appeared to be the height of fashion in this court. Honestly, I didn’t mind them other than for the fact that there was no way I’d be able to fight off a feral beast wearing something like this.
It was clear by where his gaze caressed me that Merrick enjoyed viewing all I showed off. And that made my skin and other parts of me thrum in a very pleasant way.
He tugged me up from my curtsy with both hands and into his arms. With his warm palms cupping my face, he kissed me, his mouth searing across mine. He branded me in a way only this man could, and I clung to his tunic, stealing all I could from this moment. When we broke apart, we stared at each other before our matching grins rose.
The guards studied the ceiling, the floor, the windows, and maybe even the dust specks dancing in the sunlight. Looking anywhere but at us. Thank the fates they wouldn’t follow us into his bedroom.
I kept thinking about that. Was I ready to take the next step with Merrick? Maybe after today, I’d decide.
He took my hand, and we continued down the hall and out into another, followed by yet another, one guard rushing forward to open each panel before we reached it to keep us from having to break our stride. We finally arrived in a small dining room I hadn’t seen before, though it wasn’t like I’d explored them. I’d continued to take my meals in my room, behavior I believed was on borrowed time.
Two place settings waited, and he led me over to one, tugging out my chair while I sat. Formally dressed staff hovered near a door on one end of the room, their gazes raptly watching his actions.
“Thank you,” I said as he settled in his own seat. He waved to the staff, and they bustled from the room to bring our meal to us. “Wine?” He held up a bottle, and at my nod, poured me some.
A few of our guards remained outside the room while the rest took stoic positions, evenly spacing themselves around the perimeter. Surren twitched his finger, and the air shimmered around the table before clearing once more.
“A ward,” Merrick said. “Not as strong as the one I’ve got around us, but it’ll enhance it. ”
“I want to apologize again. I should’ve kept Surren with me last night.” Or at least had him remain at the bottom of the stairs. One of the first things I did last night was apologize to him. He’d nodded curtly and insisted it would never happen again. He wasn’t irritated with me but seemed to be chastising himself.
“I’m grateful Lore arrived when he did,” Merrick said.
They must’ve spoken about it, and that made me cringe. How much did they share? Lore wouldn’t—couldn’t—talk about what happened on the ship.
Staff hurried into the room with a cart loaded with covered platters floating between them. As we sipped our wine, they placed appetizers in front of us.
“I ordered a variety of food.” Merrick winced. “As I placed the order, hoping you’d agree to join me, I realized I don’t even know what you like and what you can’t eat. I want to correct that. So I’m going to dedicate some time today to you.” He flashed me a smile that made my bones melt. “You’re going to tell me everything about Reyla.”
“Maybe I’m boring.”
He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “Anything but.” Even a simple touch like this made me ignite. How could he make me crave him so easily?
“There isn’t much I won’t eat.”
“You said you enjoy cooking. Would you make horig cakes for me?” he drawled, his smoldering gaze locked on mine. “I can’t wait to try them.”
“Y-yes.” I sensed he was speaking of things sweeter than my cakes. A shiver rippled through me as I remembered the feel of his mouth between my legs and the way I’d bucked against the thrust of his hand.
“There’s my wildfire,” he said softly, his lips curling up on one side. He leaned close to kiss along my jaw to my ear. “I believe we should find some time soon to make you cry out my name again. Don’t you?”
This guy could turn me on with only one glance.
“Perhaps we should,” I said, my smile joining his.
“Then count on it.” He settled back in his seat, and we ate one course after another until I felt like I was going to explode.
“Do you always eat this much food?” I asked, taking in the nearly empty platters.
“I have a good appetite.”
“I can’t imagine why you’re not . . . rounder.”
He laughed. “Would you prefer me rounder?”
I had a feeling I’d enjoy him no matter what shape or form he came in, but his muscles . . . I’d be a fool not to salivate over them.
“Once we’re finished,” he said. “Put on those leathers that I adore and join me in the training room. I’ll show you how I stay in shape and test your skills with a blade. We can talk.”
“While battling with blades?”
“You can’t do both at the same time?” The teasing sparkle in his eyes sank through me, melting me wherever it touched. “While we’re there, I’ll give you something special.”
“What?”
His voice lowered to a deep rasp. “It wouldn’t be special if I spoiled it by telling you now, would it?”
Unable to form words, I shook my head. Heat thrummed through me. I had a feeling his surprise was going to come in many forms, and I couldn’t wait.
We finished, and my guard escorted me to my suite, where Moira and Calista helped me change. With my sword strapped to my back and armed with my favorite side blades, I followed my guards to the training room.
Merrick waited inside, wearing nothing but his gorgeous skin and a snug scrap of fabric covering his groin.
He crossed his arms on his chest and looked me up and down with his heated gaze. “Guards, leave. I want to be alone with my pretty little bride.”