21. TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-ONE
Darius
“What do you mean, no one’s seen her?” I say to the guard, making sure we are out of earshot of the guests.
“She went to use the facilities a while ago and never came back,” he stammers. “She commanded me to stay here and guard you.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose and swallow another wave of frustration. Dammit, Mina. “Search the grounds. Discreetly. Bring her to me as soon as you find her.”
He grabs another guard and heads inside the palace. Every soldier on duty tonight will be punished later, especially the fool who let Mina’s command supersede mine—a simple instruction that she be guarded all night without exception.
We’re surrounded by carnivores, and any one of them could’ve used the opening to harm her.
My pulse spikes. I'm itching to find answers my usual way, but that would draw too much attention.
I scan the crowd again, and a white dress catches my eye near the far end of the garden. Mina strolls into the ball, smiling at the nearest group as if she never left. The relief of seeing her unharmed knocks into me with the force of a battering ram.
My plans for Kalisham are no longer in danger.
I storm toward her. Mina turns as if sensing my approach. Her survival instincts are immaculate.
“Care for a dance, my queen?” I ask tightly.
“Of course.”
I lead her to the small wooden floor set up around the fountain in the center of the hydrangea bushes. Other couples give us a wide berth as I guide her around the dance space. My hand on her back tightens, pulling her a fraction closer so no one can hear us.
We’re supposed to be celebrating, and all eyes are on us.
“Where have you been?”
“I had a wardrobe malfunction. Luckily Cassian prepared a spare.”
I study the dress. Our current position gives me a troubling view of the swell of her breasts, and the night grows a little warmer. My eyes zero in on the valley of her curves.
“See something you like?” she challenges.
“What kind of wardrobe malfunction leads to you being covered in dust?”
She glances down to her chest, noticing the smudge between her cleavage. “The kind where I used the staff corridors to avoid the other guests. I wasn’t about to let them see me with a broken dress. That’s hardly the image a queen should project on her first night.”
We study each other as the song slows down. I pull her closer, sliding my fingers down the soft lace until I reach the edge of her lower back. Her breath hitches, distracting my earlier anger.
“I’ll accept that answer for now,” I whisper into her hair. “Should another issue arise, tell me before you disappear.”
I can sense she’s holding something back, her answer a skillful half-truth at best. Unfortunately for her, I’ll know the truth with or without her help once Alexi makes his report.
I lead us around the dance floor in another lap. Mina keeps time with my moves perfectly, as graceful here as she was with her dagger. We move as one, several people stopping to admire us.
The song comes to its natural end. Mina puts distance between us to curtsy. “Thank you for the dance.”
Before I can insist on another, she walks over to Lady Victoria.
My irritation multiplies throughout the night, and Mina’s determination to defy me at every chance only aids in its buzzing. I exit the dance floor and keep one eye on my queen as one of the lords from the west greets me.
Lady Hunter appears with a glass of water for Mina, but her hungry gaze flicks to me again. She and Lady Elena are so obvious in their interest. I make a mental note to limit my interactions with them.
Lord Weisman’s wife and her companion approach Mina. My queen is the picture of grace as she welcomes them. I was too angry earlier to notice the small signs of exhaustion. She’s a blade dulling with each strike of conversation, and the same wariness worms its way into my bones.
“Your Majesty?”
I forgot the lord is still here. “You were saying?”
He follows my eyeline, and understanding dawns on his bushy brow. “Nothing that can’t wait for another time. I should let you be with your bride.” His voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper. “My Joyce and I left our celebration quite early. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long.”
Wine-flushed cheeks are the cause of such a brazen comment. Normally, fear controls the conversations around me, but tonight’s festivities transformed my image into that of a man with a gorgeous bride, not a blood-drenched leader.
If Lord Bueff won’t mind my absence, then the others won’t either. Mina isn’t the only one fatigued by all the pomp and circumstance surrounding this evening.
“Enjoy the rest of your night,” I reply.
I head toward my troublesome wife. Once again, she senses me coming and turns to greet me. What would it take to surprise her?
I nod to the ladies before offering Mina my arm. “It’s time we retire for the evening.”
The women flash Mina knowing smiles and curtsy. “Many blessings to you both.”
Mina loops her arm around mine and whispers something to Lady Victoria, who nods enthusiastically before waving us both off.
“What did you tell her?” I ask as we cut our way through the crowd.
“To inform the girls they can have the night and tomorrow morning off. I can take care of myself.”
“Clearly.”
Her nose wrinkles at my tone. “You appear to be put off, dear husband.” Her teasing is laced with venom.
“Not here.” Fuck, this woman gets under my skin far too easily. I could’ve had a soft-spoken, obedient bride. A timid mouse instead of an apex predator.
Kalisham is worth the headache of defiance though.
Zala stole the throne from both of us, and I intend to see him pay the price for such arrogant ambition. Even if it means grinding my patience against a whetstone daily.
I lead us straight to the entrance of our wing, ignoring anyone who tries to stop us for a chat. Mina falters in front of her door, but a gentle tug keeps us moving forward to the only other visible entrance—my room.
After I removed my father and his poisonous family from the palace, I took over his room, replacing blue and silver with black. Even with candles, the room is like a starless night.
I prop my sword and belt up against a chair while Mina glances around the sitting area with amusement. “Dark and moody. How unexpected,” she comments dryly.
“It’s not the only unexpected part of this evening.”
I loosen the collar of my jacket and close the distance between us. “Do you understand how incredibly foolish it was to go off without a guard? Our rooms aren’t exactly close. Anything could have happened.”
My withering stare, famous for turning the strongest men into whimpering children, has no effect on Mina. She squares her shoulders, somehow managing to look down on me despite our height difference.
“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I do not wish to be followed around by your guards, whom I neither know nor trust.”
Images of blond hair matted on a pillow flash before me. Crimson soaks her throat and dress. A small hand reaches out to grab her ice-cold fingers, dread and fear swallowing the boy whole. Mother trusted no one, yet she met a cruel fate.
I blink, and her soft, unseeing brown eyes disappear, replaced by fierce green.
“You’re wise to trust no one. But that doesn’t mean they don’t serve a purpose in keeping you safe. You will take a guard with you from now on.”
“I promised you a queendom, not obedience.” She punctuates the last two words by jamming her finger into my chest. “This marriage is a partnership, not a dictatorship. I will train and choose my own guards eventually. Until then, I will do as I please.”
Frustration spreads like wildfire through my body. The desire to end the contract now and punish her grows with each heartbeat. I gently wrap my fingers around her throat and caress her pulse point. It thunders in time with mine.
As if sensing my internal debate, she leans into my grip, narrowing her eyes.
“Decide wisely. I will not tolerate this much longer,” she threatens.
Unflinching and fearless. Confident and deadly. Gone is my blushing bride from earlier. I wonder who would prevail in a fight to the death between the two of us.
She glares at my wicked smile. There’s one attack I know she won’t expect.