Chapter 12 #3
After reluctantly parting ways with Evander, Sabine turned the corner and found Harper, Drew, and Erikin waiting for her right where they were supposed to be.
They made their way back up the mountain, the rest of her guards gradually joining them.
Evander had chosen to return to the palace via another route.
At the seamstress’s store, everyone changed back into their clothing. When Sabine emerged from the dressing room, Harper stood there with her hands full.
“My aunt made these for you,” Harper said. “And someone brought you a loaf of bread. And there are flowers from some kids.”
At least it would look like they’d been shopping all day.
Sabine’s guards gathered the items, and they exited the seamstress’s shop just before sunset. They made their way back through town using the main road. The bridge was already lowered so they went across it.
The second the bridge closed behind them, Captain Lithane approached, handing Drew a sealed letter. “The king requests your presence immediately. I’ll escort the queen to her room.”
After handing the items he’d been carrying to another guard, Drew left.
“This way, Your Majesty,” Lithane said.
Given her activities today and Drew being called away, unease filled her. She joined Lithane, and they began making her way toward the wing of the palace that her room was located in.
“Tell me, Captain Lithane, is everything all right?” Sabine asked, fearing Drew was in some sort of trouble for what she’d done today. If Rainer found out, he’d execute Drew.
“It’s nothing to concern yourself with, Your Majesty,” Lithane responded, his voice curt.
“That wasn’t my question.” She stopped walking. “I am your queen, and you will answer me when I ask you a question.” She lifted her chin in the air and looked down her nose at Lithane.
Clasping his hands behind his back, he said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’ve been informed that the king wishes to increase security at the palace. Since Captain Drew is in charge of your royal guard, the king wishes to speak with him on that matter, especially considering who we have visiting us.”
This was about having assassins staying in the palace. Even though they were officially Evander’s royal guards, Sabine knew the men who’d accompanied him had to be skilled in the art of killing. Rainer was right to be concerned.
Sabine resumed walking, not bothering to make small talk with Lithane since she didn’t care for him.
When she reached the door to her room, she dismissed him and entered, her guards coming in with her to set the gifted items down in her room.
Once they went back out into the hallway, Sabine closed her door and looked around for Harta, not seeing her dog anywhere.
“Harper,” she called out.
“Yes, my queen?” she said, coming out of the bathing room.
“Please find out where Harta is.”
Harper nodded. “Absolutely.” She went to the door and paused. “Your bath is ready. Do you need me to help you with anything else before I leave?”
“No, thank you. I’m just worried that Harta isn’t here.”
“I promise to find her.” With that, she left.
Sabine hoped everything was all right.
Feeling gross from trekking up that mountain in this heat, she stripped and stepped into her sunken bathtub.
After washing, she leaned her head back against the edge of the tub, letting the hot water soothe her muscles.
Closing her eyes, she remembered jumping from the cliff with Evander.
They’d jumped countless times today. She hadn’t had that much fun in a long time.
Whenever he’d had the chance, he’d touch her hand, tickle her side, or twist a strand of her hair.
Warm hands touched Sabine’s cheeks. Her eyes flew open—and her pulse spiked when she saw Rainer kneeling behind her.
“You look so peaceful,” he said.
She tried not to shake—he could twist and snap her neck so easily from his position.
He leaned down, placing a kiss on her forehead. “Where have you been all day?” he murmured against her skin.
“I went shopping in town.” It surprised her that he’d noticed she was gone.
She slid under the water, forcing him to release her.
She surfaced in the middle of the round tub, where Rainer couldn’t reach her.
She kept her legs bent so her chest remained under the water.
“What are you doing here?” Given that he’d asked to see Drew and now he was here in her personal space, she feared he’d discovered she’d spent the day with Evander. She needed to tread carefully.
Rainer stood, reaching his hand out to her. “We need to talk.”
As if she’d let him pull her out of the tub naked. “My towel is behind you.” She pointed to the bench against the wall.
He turned and grabbed the towel, holding it open for her. She noticed he was wearing casual clothing—loose cream colored pants and a v-neck top, the sleeves rolled up. His hair was wet. Like Sabine, he must have just bathed.
“Your Majesty!” Harper called out from the other room, followed by the sound of a door slamming.
Harta came barreling into the bathing room. The dog stuck her paws on the first step in the tub, trying to get to Sabine. Sabine laughed and went to Harta, keeping her body under the water so Rainer wouldn’t see anything. Harta started licking her face.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” Harper said as she came into the bathing room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Harta was out on a walk, so I brought her back for you.” She glanced between Sabine and Rainer. “Do you need anything? Should I take Harta on another walk?” She began fidgeting with her hands.
Sabine looked at her lady’s maid then darted her eyes toward the towel. It took several times before Harper caught on.
“Oh.” Harper jumped then grabbed the towel from Rainer. Turning her back to the king, she blocked him from view as she hovered at the top of the steps to the tub.
Sabine quickly stood, wrapping the towel around her. “Thank you, Harper. Please get my robe.”
Harper left the bathing room.
Rainer stood there with his hands on his hips, his lips pursed. “She’s rather informal,” he muttered. “She didn’t address me once.”
Sabine didn’t care—all she cared about was that Harper had arrived just in time to help her out of the tub. As far as she was concerned, Harper was the perfect lady’s maid.
Harper returned, placing the robe on Sabine’s shoulders. Sabine tied it before removing the towel.
“Leave us,” Rainer said, waving Harper away.
Harper looked at Sabine. “Do you need anything else, Your High—Majesty?”
“No, that will be all. Thank you.” She reached out and squeezed Harper’s hand in thanks.
Harper nodded before leaving.
The king rubbed his face and headed into Sabine’s bedchamber.
After towel drying her hair, she followed him.
“You said you wanted to talk?” Going over to her vanity, she sat and began combing her hair, trying to act as calm and casual as possible.
She kept her focus on the mirror while carefully watching Rainer’s reflection as he meandered around her room.
He examined her packages before turning his attention to her.
The robe slid off her shoulder. She quickly pulled it up, covering herself.
“Sometimes I forget how young you are,” Rainer mumbled. “How inexperienced.” He came up behind her, looking at her in the mirror. His eyes darkened as he slid his hands over her shoulders, gently rubbing them.
Sabine froze, not knowing what to expect from him.
“Did you have a good day?”
He’d never asked her that sort of question before. It implied he cared about her on some level—which she was certain he did not. “My day was fine.”
Rainer slid the robe from her shoulders, leaving her skin exposed.
Sabine quickly grabbed the fabric, holding it against her chest, making sure it didn’t slide down any farther. “What are you doing?”
“You look tense,” he murmured, rubbing her bare shoulders while watching her in the mirror.
She set the comb down and stood, moving out of his grasp. “I’m not tense.” She pulled her robe back up on her shoulders. “I just don’t want you touching me.”
“I’m your husband.”
“And you’re sharing someone else’s bed.”
He stepped closer to her, trapping her against her vanity. His hands came to her hips while he lowered his head, looking her in the eyes. “You expect me to only share your bed?”
That was the way it was with her parents. “Yes.”
“And you will only share my bed?” His eyes searched hers, as if looking for something.
“That’s what a marriage is,” Sabine ground out. “We are supposed to only be with one another.” This was not what she wanted to be talking about right now. Today had been wonderful. Now, dealing with Rainer made her want to poke her eyes out.
He reached forward and tugged the tie at her waist, releasing it.
Sabine held the robe closed. For all her flirting back home, she thought she’d be ready for something like this. But she wasn’t, especially not with Rainer.
He slid his hand inside her robe, trailing his fingers across her abdomen, around her hip, and to her lower back. “If you let me,” he said, his voice low and soft, brushing against her ear, “I can show you so many things.” His fingers hovered right above her buttocks.
“Please don’t touch me.” She shoved his arm away.
Rainer chuckled, the sound deep and rumbly. He tucked a strand of Sabine’s hair behind her ear. “You’re not ready. I understand.” He took a step back.
Sabine tied her robe closed, her hands shaking. She should have been better prepared for something like this. They were married. It was only a matter of time until they slept together.
“Come,” Rainer said, holding out his hand to her. “Let’s go to my sitting room where we can talk for a bit.”
She didn’t want to go anywhere with him, but he’d respected her request and had stopped touching her when she asked him to. There had to be some concession on her part, so she didn’t push him over the edge.
He led her over to the door to the royal suite, ushering her inside. “Have a seat.”
Sabine went and sat on the sofa, curling her legs up under her, making sure her robe covered everything. At least no one else was here to see her dressed like this.
“Oh good, you’re here,” Rainer said.
Sabine followed his line of sight to the far side of the room where Evander stepped out of the shadows.