Chapter 18 #3
His nose twitched. His bushy brows dropped over his emerald eyes. “You’ve yet to discuss them,” he repeated. When I didn’t respond, he closed much of the space between us to loom over me like a giant storm cloud. “You’ve yet to discuss the reason you are here.”
He cannot punish you anymore.
The reminder failed to comfort as I boldly said, “I recall a very handsome dowry accompanying me.” It was too late to back down, so I risked incensing him more. “To overflow the palace coffers after the late king drained them.”
My father’s eye twitched now.
A moment of stale silence was filled with chatter and laughter from those around us. I suspected they were the sole reason my father kept his temper contained.
“Be that as it may, the wards need feeding. You were chosen for the riches only I could provide but also to protect this isle from discovery. King Exayn left us exposed, Ethel. Vulnerable. Do not let his son make it worse because he’d rather spend his time fucking his wife.
” As if knowing exactly where to strike, he said, “Lust dies, but if protected, power is eternal.”
A sinking sensation hollowed my stomach.
Wanting to get away from him before he ruined an evening that had been more perfect than I ever could have imagined, I decided it was best not to provoke him. “I’m sure now that we are bonded, the wards will be atop our list of priorities.”
“Don’t just make them a priority.” Quietly, he seethed between his teeth, “Make sure they are the next thing you do.”
With that, he maneuvered a smile into place and turned to speak to Lord Dydan, a fool who continuously allowed my father to rope him into his more underground ventures.
I finished my wine, then searched for another glass.
Too many people stopped me, congratulated me, and even had the audacity to ask about an heir. I was good at this—smiling and laughing at questions I didn’t wish to answer or asking some of my own.
Maybe it was what Brey had told me. Maybe it was my rotten father. Or maybe the ceremony had gifted me a sudden inability to socialize because, for some reason, I was growing increasingly overwhelmed.
So I pretended not to notice those calling for me and marched toward the ballroom doors. I would get my own wine and drink enough of it in the kitchen to enjoy the rest of the evening.
I was close. All that remained between the doors and me were two huddled groups and some palace guards.
Then a giant made vampire blocked my escape.
Vexaya squash me.
Orange eyes blazed like angry flames. “Congratulations,” Maxus said stiffly. “Majesty.”
“Thank you.” I retreated a step. Not knowing what to say but knowing I couldn’t exactly ignore him, I blurted, “I heard some civilians breached the palace gates. I hope you haven’t encountered too many issues.”
A heavy scowl tautened his scars and severe features. “Just one.”
Understanding who that issue was, I still said, “I’ll leave you to tend to that, then.”
He didn’t stop me from rounding him. But he did quietly warn, “You cannot avoid me, Ethel, and you know it.”
Unnerved, I froze and stared at him.
Maxus raised a brow as he gestured to the doors.
A dare.
Wine, I reminded myself. Get some fucking wine and then somehow deal with him.
I walked on through the doors. The percussion of voices and violins and heartbeats became a fading hum as I veered left down the hall.
Hurried steps met the tiles behind me.
My stomach lurched. But instead of hurrying down the rear hall to the kitchen entrance, I opened a door that led beneath the staircase. Quickly and quietly, I shut myself inside what appeared to be a storage room.
Darkness engulfed me. As well as cobwebs and a wretched mustiness. Frantically dusting my arms and hair to check for spiders, I decided I’d rather take my chances with Maxus and turned to the door.
Just as Clovia’s voice seeped through it. “Ethel?”
I ceased plucking a cobweb from my hair and stilled.
“I know you’re in there.” Lowering her voice, she said, “What are you hiding from?”
I winced.
Explaining this would be difficult when I couldn’t exactly tell her that I’d feared my father’s head henchman had followed me out of the ballroom. “Just a minor gown malfunction,” I called with a forced laugh. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
Silence.
For a moment, I thought she might have left.
Then she said, “Let me help you.”
Clovia was not one to take no for an answer.
Hoping she was over her cruel spell, and if she wasn’t, that spending time alone with her might end it, I relented. “I think it’s all right now, but come in.”
She left the door ajar to provide a bit of light.
When I dared to glance around the rather long room, I wished she hadn’t.
Silvery webs lined the underside of the stairs. So thick, it was hard to see the stone above them. Furniture had been crammed into the dark and narrowing space. Some of it had been covered with linen ruined by age and critters. Other items stood broken, chipped, and speckled with mildew.
“Goddess.” Clovia inched away from a grimy armoire by the door. “What possessed you to come in here?”
“I was in a hurry.” I pulled at my bodice, as if it had been the issue.
Crimson lips pursing, she surveyed me. “Why are you really in here, Ethel?” When I laughed and tried to speak, she rolled her eyes. “We’ve been friends for years. I know when you’re lying.”
Unmerciful Mother.
I needed to tell her something. Something true. “My father,” I confessed. “The only thing I liked about this marriage was knowing he could no longer control me, yet here he is…” I threw out my hands. “Still doing so.”
“What does he want?”
“The wards fed.” Smoothing my hands over my hair and veil, I said, “An exposed isle is bad for business.”
Clovia’s smile was slight. “Is he the only reason you’re hiding?”
My entire body stiffened.
She wrung her hands and peered behind her at the door. “I saw Maxus stop you on your way out of the ballroom.” Her pause seemed intentional, her tone cooling. “I know about you two, Ethel. He told me.”
Shit.
But this was fine. It would all be just fine. Plenty of born vampires had forbidden trysts, including my friends, and many had lovers once they were wed.
So I laughed. “And?”
Brow arched sharply, she said, “And you knew I was pursuing him.” Another pause. “Why didn’t you tell me you were fucking him?”
I almost flinched. “You know why.”
“Because of the king?”
I snorted. “Because Maxus is my father’s favorite made prodigy. That’s why.”
Clovia crossed her arms. “I don’t see why that should keep you from telling me.”
She was well aware that my father was far from kind. All of my friends were. Yet they didn’t know the extent of it, and they never could. It wouldn’t just mortify my mother to have such rumors spread. It would terrify her.
Such gossip could incite my father’s wrath after she’d avoided it for decades.
“Clovia,” I sighed. “What is this really about?” Though we were alone, I stepped closer to whisper, “Please tell me you’re not still feeling slighted about the bride hunt. You know damned well that I never wanted to marry.”
“Goddess, Ethel.” Tossing her arms out, she said, “Has it not occurred to you that I’m feeling slighted because I didn’t know about someone who’s clearly important to you?
” Close to laughing from exasperation, she went on.
“Has it not occurred to you that I feel wretched for trying to seduce Maxus when he’s your lover? ”
Stunned, I found no response.
Never had Clovia been quite so honest.
“That guard wouldn’t touch me, and we know that nearly everyone wants to. Apparently, he’s unshakably committed to you.”
I refrained from wincing, and muttered, “That’s one way of putting it.”
Clovia didn’t find it amusing. She gave me an iced perusal before asking, “But how do you intend to keep seeing him?”
“Well, actually, I—”
“You didn’t marry just any born vampire, Ethel,” she said. “You married a king who has only become more intensely besotted with you.”
I’m egregiously in love with you.
My eyes shut.
Opening them, I searched for a way to tell her that, regardless of whatever Maxus had said, I was quite done with him. “If you must know, I’ve been worried because Max has been…” I trailed off, not entirely sure it was wise to share such fears with Clovia.
Those fears came from living with a volatile man, and they were likely unfounded where Maxus was concerned.
The door creaked open.
Wide-eyed, we both looked at the intruder.
As if he had indeed followed me and listened to our conversation, Maxus eyed me with burning hostility.
Clovia pinched her lips between her teeth and looked at me, then murmured, “I’ll give you two some time alone.”
Still glowering at me, Maxus stepped aside to let her pass.
“Wait,” I said to Clovia. “You really don’t need to leave.”
“Nonsense.” She waved a hand. “I’ll watch the hall in case someone comes.”
With that, she left me alone in the dark with Maxus.
Panic strangled me. I walked to the door. But he took two steps inside the room to push it half-closed behind him.
“Max, I need to get back.”
Low and seething, he said, “You speak about me as if I’m a fucking pet.”
“Maxus,” I started.
“Quiet.” He advanced.
My back met what felt like shelving, and the wood rocked. Trapped, I tried to think of some way out. A way that didn’t involve further angering him.
But my own anger rose. A frustration that made me forget any fears I’d once had. “You will move, and you will let me leave.”
“Once we’re done.”
“Done?” I repeated. “I’ve been absent from the ball long enough.”
“For someone who didn’t want this wedding, you seem very…” His lips curved. “Worried.” Tilting his head, he searched my face. “Nervous.”
“What I wanted doesn’t matter. It’s happened, and we both know my father will be more than displeased if I’m not present during an event of this magnitude.”