Chapter 7
Seven
Sabina
Two men are being dragged toward Caiden. Each of them is babbling and sputtering, speaking over each other in words so hurried, I can’t make out what they’re saying.
“These are the only two?” Caiden asks.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” one of the guards holding the men says.
Caiden strolls over to them, a sneer on his face. “On your knees.”
“Who put poison in my bed?” Caiden demands.
Both men are silent now and look up at Caiden.
The lower lip trembles on one of the men and the other keeps looking to his left, as if expecting to see someone.
I glance that direction and only see other guards watching.
None of them are looking at him. If any of them are in on it, they’re not showing any signs.
I approach Caiden and tug his sleeve to pull him down while rising on my toes. He understands that I want to whisper and he tilts his head. “Anyone who touched the plant would have a rash on their hands.”
The stems of elm’s breath were irritating.
Causing an itchy rash like many other plants.
But the white flowers could kill you. Once you came in contact with them, it would start a rash that would spread, leaving angry pustules along your skin.
Victims would have difficulty breathing when it reached their throat and without an antidote, they’d die.
Turns out, the books I read in my old rooms were extremely helpful.
Caiden takes my chin in his hands, then kisses me full on the lips. My eyes widen, and I stagger back when he releases me. With a grin, he takes a few steps toward the men. “Show me your hands.”
A pair of guards lunge forward and grab the hands of the two men, turning them so they’re palm up.
I cover my mouth in disbelief.
They’re both covered in angry red blisters.
Shadows build around Caiden, brushing against me before moving tighter around him. They extend toward the cowering men like tentacles reaching for their pray.
He charges forward, the shadows exploding from him with such force that the guards nearby are knocked to the ground. They scramble away and I shield my eyes from the dust and snow that whips around us.
Caiden is like a dark god, surrounded by swirling tendrils. For a moment, he’s still, then his arms stretch wide and I scream, “wait!”
But the shadows are already slicing through the captives as if they’re nothing more than slabs of butter being cut by hot knives. A head flies, followed by pieces of arms, legs, and other body parts. Another head rolls toward me, but it stops quickly as it’s no longer round. Half of it is missing.
A sickening splattering sound is followed by several thuds as the pieces of the bodies hit the ground around us. I can’t look away but I do cover my head, horrified by the possibility of someone’s decapitated piece landing on me.
The darkness still swirls around the Emperor as he strides toward me. Jaw tight, eyes hard, he’s rage personified. It’s the first time I’m truly afraid of him. I step back, then notice there’s blood splattered on my arms and dotted on my clothes. There’s blood everywhere.
When Caiden reaches me, he captures my arm, then pulls me to him.
I stumble right into his chest but don’t retreat for fear those shadows might come for me.
I’m trembling. His expression is only slightly less murderous than it was seconds ago.
He glares at me as he cups my face in his hands.
“You told me to wait. What was that? An act of compassion for men who tried to kill you?”
“Of course not. I wanted you to ask them who ordered them to kill me. Where they got the plant. Why there was a lace ribbon tied around it. We have no answers now.”
His expression relaxes and he strokes my cheek with his thumb.
“And here I was worried you were being soft.” He turns his attention to something behind me.
“Search their quarters. And bring me anyone they spoke with today. And Brevan. He’s their commanding officer.
I want to know why two men under his command attempted to assassinate the empress. ”
Caiden turns me abruptly so I can watch as Brevan approaches. His gaze drops to the arms wrapped possessively around me, but he doesn’t linger. Instead, he glances to the dead guards, then back at Caiden. “What happened?”
“You wouldn’t happen to know how the men under your command found poisonous plants and left them as a gift for my wife, would you?”
“What?” Brevan takes a step closer, then stops himself. “Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“I’m fine. I didn’t touch anything.”
He nods. “Good. We must search their quarters. Find out who they spoke to. Check their saddle bags. Their pockets. Everything. But be careful. Gloves at all times,” Brevan yells.
“I already asked for most of that, but I trust that you’ll oversee the rest?” Caiden says.
“Of course.” He inclines his head.
“Come, Sabina, I think you need to sleep in the carriage tonight. Just to be sure.” Caiden guides me away and I let him without a fight.
Part of me is wondering why I didn’t just pick up the poison or curl up next to it.
Caiden would have joined me, and while I’d be gone, at least I wouldn’t have to pretend to be his wife anymore, and he’d be dead.
“I hear someone tried to kill my sister?” Ludis calls.
I tense as Caiden halts our progress. We turn.
Ludis walks casually toward us, giving the bodies a disgusted look as he passes them. “Should I be concerned about traveling with your court, emperor? Is this how guests are treated in Pendralia?”
“For all I know, it was one of your men who did this,” Caiden snaps.
“The evidence would demonstrate otherwise.” He kicks the hand of one of the dead men.
“Sabina can stay in my quarters this evening. No reason for her to sleep in a carriage.”
“I’ll take the carriage.” I turn and walk away before either of the men can comment.
I wake up with a start, my whole body hot and needy between my thighs. Groaning, I rest my face in my hands. Why do I keep dreaming about Brevan? He can’t even look at me with kindness, yet I’m torturing myself in sleep.
It, once again, felt so real that my breasts ache and my panties are soaked. This can’t keep happening. What if I’m sleeping and I roll over and act out some of the dream with Caiden? That can’t happen. There has to be some way to get Brevan out of my system.
What if I asked Brevan for one last time with him to satisfy the urge? I lean my head back against the seat with an exasperated huff. There’s no way he’s interested in that, and it would be insanely stupid. We’d be risking so many lives for an orgasm.
I straighten as a thought strikes me. I glance around the carriage, even though I know I’m alone. I pull back the curtain and peer into the darkened camp. The sky is navy—a hint of the sunrise—but still an hour from daylight. There’s no sign of anyone.
Pulling my skirts up, I let my hand travel down between my legs.
Slowly, I dip lower until my fingers brush against my apex.
I shift as I suck in a breath. I’d heard other women discuss this in hushed tones, but I’d never tried it.
But if I can pleasure myself, maybe I won’t dream about Brevan anymore.
His face flashes in my mind, and my other hand travels to my breast, caressing myself as if he were the one touching me. I see him removing his clothes, standing naked in front of me. He wears that look on his face that I love. The one that makes me think he might devour me whole.
My mind takes me to him kissing my neck and running his large hands down my body. I touch myself like he might while my other hand moves faster between my legs.
My breath hitches, my body tenses, the pleasure growing as I imagine him thrusting into me. His lips on my throat, biting, kissing, teasing. Sweat gleaming on his bare skin, his breathy grunts as his pleasure builds.
The carriage door creaks and my eyes snap open, hand still scandalously between my legs.
Brevan’s eyes widen, then he closes the door quickly. “Sorry, Your Majesty. I should have knocked.”
Mortified, I hurry to smooth my skirts and push loose strands of hair away from my face, tucking them behind my ears. I open the door. “Can I help you, enforcer?”
“Well, um, you see…” He’s looking everywhere but at me.
“For the love of the gods, Brevan, you’ve seen me naked,” I hiss.
His eyes meet mine and for the first time since the death of the emperor, it feels like he’s actually looking at me. “I was sent to tell you to prepare to leave. The emperor will be riding in a different carriage and wanted to let you know.”
“I’m riding alone?” I hate that my tone sounds a little needy. Because I was so fucking close and if Brevan was in this carriage with me…
“Yes. I’ll be beside you. On horseback. Alone. On my horse. If you need anything.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Is there anything you need?”
Yes.
He was flustered. Seeing me like that did something to him. I know how often men think about sex, but what if…what if it wasn’t just because I’d been touching myself? What if it was because he still felt something for me?
It’s dangerous to think like that. He knows how I feel, but he’s made his position clear. And I owe it to Anya to keep my space. “I’ll be fine, enforcer. But I will need some place to freshen up before we leave.”
“I will inform the emperor. I’m sure he’ll want to escort you himself,” he says.
“Of course.” I look down at my clasped hands, then I remember where my fingers were, and I tuck them under my legs, out of sight. When I look back up at Brevan, his face is red.
“Safe travels, Your Majesty.” He blurts, then he inclines his head and closes the door.
I collapse forward, my forehead resting on my knees as searing embarrassment makes my face burn.
Of course, someone would see me doing that.
It was my own fault, wasn’t it? I’m not sure if it was better or worse that it was him.
I can’t imagine what Caiden might have done if he’d been the one to walk in on me.
I sit up quickly, determined to appear normal when the emperor arrives. I can’t lose control like that again.
The carriage door opens again and Caiden extends his hand. “My wife, I hear you need an escort.”
I hesitate, not wanting to touch him with the same hand I was just using on myself.
He waits, his hand unwavering. I quickly reach for him so we can get this over with.
As we walk, he keeps glancing at me, a knowing smirk on his lips.
I really, really hope it’s for some nefarious reason and not because he knows what I was doing.