22. TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-TWO
Darius
Islide my grip to her jaw and kiss her. My tongue slips past her gasp, devouring whatever verbal strike she prepared. She beats her fists against my chest before closing them around my lapels.
I expect her to push me away, to fight. Instead she pulls me closer, meeting each stroke of my tongue with dizzying perfection. I wrap my free hand around her back, pulling her flush against me.
Anger and frustration pour into every touch. I deepen our kiss, and her tongue finds mine in retaliation, our fight moving to a dangerous front.
She pushes off my jacket without breaking contact. Her nails dig into my back as she pulls me closer.
I explore the soft curve of her ass and guide us to the closed door, pinning her in place. She bites down on my lip with a soft moan that goes straight to my cock. The sound unlocks something in me.
I grab her silky thighs and wrap them around my hips, noting how perfectly we fit together.
We grind against each other, lost in the kiss, exploring one another as if time abandoned its post. This is not the soft, sweet nothings of a wedding chamber, but the wild, desperate release of what’s been building between us.
I break the kiss, devouring the sensitive flesh on her neck, exploring until I find her sweet spot. She gasps, rocking against me in a way that has my spine tingling for release. Not yet.
Not until Mina comes undone for me.
I grip her waist tighter, lining my cock with her center. She recaptures my lips, grinding against me until she tenses—
A knock against the door startles us both.
Mina uses the wall to push me back, catching herself before she falls to the floor. Rage and lust fight for dominance in her glare. “You will not touch me like that again,” she whispers.
I ball my fists to keep from doing just that. “As you wish.”
We stare at each other as our breaths even out. When she reaches for the door, I place a heavy palm on it.
“You won’t be able to leave until morning.”
Her eyes widen in outrage, but before she initiates our next sparring match, I continue. “We are expected to spend the night together as a couple. I won’t touch you, but you will sleep here until sunrise for appearances' sake.”
She ducks under my arm and stomps farther into the room, putting plenty of space between us. “We’ve already broken traditions. What’s one more?”
Not taking my last name is a nonissue in most territories. Only Brastrova and Dorant have women change their names. Fleeing the bedchamber on our wedding night is catastrophic in comparison.
“Staying here will solidify your status. This tradition is more for your benefit than mine.”
She studies me the way a lioness does her next kill. “You will not touch me.”
The anger and tension from earlier melt a bit. “I give you my vow. I won’t touch you again outside of our public duties. A minor kiss to the hand or linked arms.”
Her shoulders relax a fraction, but the fire in me earlier demands reparation. I add, “Until you ask me for more, that is.”
“What?” A flush returns to Mina’s cheeks.
“Although you refuse to follow my rules, I will honor yours. I won’t touch you as your husband until you ask me to. Or beg. Whichever you prefer when the time comes.”
Her laughter could cut stone. “You’ll be waiting a long time.”
“We’ll see.” I smirk as a harsh knock interrupts us once again. No one should bother us tonight. I gather my sword and fling the door open, ready to issue a severe punishment to whoever interrupted our kiss.
Lady Hunter’s eyes widen. She flinches backward, nearly dropping a white nightgown.
“Please excuse the intrusion, Your Majesties.” She bows deeply, and Mina pushes her way past my blade. I thought she gave her ladies the night off.
“Lady Hunter, is everything alright?” Mina asks.
Her wide eyes fall to the bulge in my pants before turning her attention on Mina.
“In all our excitement, we forgot to move over your nightwear for this evening. I wanted to get it to you before the night…well progressed.” Pink stains her cheeks, and Mina ushers her inside, all too eager for the buffer.
“You can set it up in the bath, then please enjoy the night off,” she says.
I point to the door to our left. With Lady Hunter out of sight, Mina’s glare cuts to my sword in silent reprimand. I roll my eyes and set the blade against the wall, putting both hands up in mock surrender as I step away. Her brow arches in a sarcastic thank you.
I bite back a smile. We converse as easily without words as Staefan and his wife. Or perhaps silent scolding is a skill all women command naturally. Mother could stop me cold in my tracks with one raised brow.
Lady Hunter emerges and bids Mina and me good night. She passes me on her way out. Her breaths are shallow, her eyes cast down to the floor. Our disheveled state is hardly one to be embarrassed by. We’re husband and wife now. The whole empire will assume we consummated our vows tonight.
She pauses at the closed door, casting one final glance at us both. She curtsies deeply. “Many blessings to you both.”
Thick cords of awareness caress my back, and my blood rushes for a new reason. Something’s wrong.
My sword is at Lady Hunter’s throat before she has a chance to turn the handle on the door. Her face pales at the steel pressed against her, poised to kill if she makes even the slightest move.
“Darius!”
Mina is by my side in a moment. I expect her to drag my hand away and yell at me for threatening her lady, but instead, she assesses both our demeanors.
Lady Hunter stutters out a cry, tears turning the collar of her dress a deeper shade of purple. “Ple-please, Your Majesty, forgive me. I don’t know what I did, but if you tell m-me, the mistake won’t happen again.” Her eyes cut to Mina for help.
“You are a picture of mannered perfection, Lady Hunter. I truly enjoy our talks.” Mina’s gentle words offer hope, but I see the pain behind her mask.
Her quiet rage calls to my own. “I actually thought you were a spy for my husband at first, but judging by the sword at your throat, I misjudged you.”
“I sent no spies among your ladies.”
Mina nods. “I know that now.”
“Please let me go. I don’t understand,” Lady Hunter cries again.
Everything about her screams dainty and unassuming. I let her live because she claimed to hate her family and petitioned to study away from them. A rare moment of mercy that was clearly a mistake.
“What did you do?” I ask, pressing the blade close enough to draw blood.
Her breath quickens as her gaze flickers between the two of us, silently begging Mina to intercede. “Answer him, Lady Hunter.”
“I did nothing. I brought your dress and drew your bath. It’s my job.”
Mina studies her before placing a hand on the hilt of my sword. Lady Hunter sags in relief.
My muscles are locked in place, though. My instincts are never wrong, and they’re screaming for me to kill the petite threat. I have no idea what she did, but her malice slipped through briefly enough for me to sense it.
Mina keeps her eyes on Lady Hunter, but the gentle squeeze of her hand forces me to withdraw my blade an inch. Something in her tense touch can be trusted.
Mina isn’t fooled by Lady Hunter’s performance either.
Lady Hunter immediately wraps a hand around her neck and sobs. “Thank you, Queen Mina.”
“Go to the washroom,” Mina commands.
“Your Majesty?”
“Go.”
We follow silently as Lady Hunter walks into the steamy room. Mina’s nightgown hangs on the wall next to the window, a satin ghost against the stars. Carnations saturate the bathwater and permeate the air with their spicy, sweet scent.
Mina’s gaze travels around the room lazily as Lady Hunter trembles in the corner. My blade stands as a barrier between the three of us in case she decides to make a move.
Mina walks to the window and traces the gown with her finger before turning her attention back to the petal-filled bath. “Get in the water, Lady Hunter. No need to remove your clothes.”
Icy panic sends Lady Hunter back a few steps. “That would be improper.”
“More improper than denying a direct order from your queen?” I challenge, edging the blade closer.
She assesses the sword and bath, her face scrunched in an internal debate. I slide my sword forward, taking away the option. She trembles, backing toward the copper tub with a sob. “Please, I did nothing wrong.”
Her thighs hit the back of the bath, but she refuses to move farther. I press the tip of my sword against her throat, just hard enough to draw blood. I expect her to whimper and fall, but instead, Lady Hunter steels herself, pleading in earnest.
“I have done nothing to deserve this treatment. I am a loyal lady-in-waiting, but I won’t compromise my integrity by getting in a bath meant for the emperor and queen.” She rolls her shoulders back, hiding her fear well.
Mina closes her eyes for a brief moment. “I am truly sorry, Lady Hunter.”
She raises her hand with an elegant twist, and the water rises from the bath like a thick serpent.
Lady Hunter’s momentary hope turns to horror as the water snakes around her, soaking into her clothes. Her screams are muffled as she’s pulled into the bath and under the water.
When she breaks the surface, sputtering for a breath, the malice I sensed earlier is on full display. “A monster queen for a monster man. I wish you both a slow and painful death,” she spits out, coughing up blood.
Mina watches, transfixed as Lady Hunter’s flesh starts to blister. Her flesh falls away, dyeing the water red as her body sinks below the surface.
Acid masked by the smell of carnations. Smart.
That trick would’ve easily maimed whichever of us chose to bathe first. This is precisely why I always attend to myself.
Mina carries the nightgown from the window and drapes it over the tub like a funeral sheet. Once I’m confident that Lady Hunter is dead, I set my sword on the ground and make my way to Mina.
Her gaze is glued to the water. I grab her waist and back us up a few steps, even though her power kept the liquid death contained.