New Normal #2
Rhazien Kyrell, regent of the Southern Hive, was on his knees, swearing fealty to my breasts.
I kept having to remind myself I’d only known him for two weeks.
Our time together blended into scenes of laughter and passion.
When we weren’t tangled up in each other, he was doing anything in his power to make the Hive a more welcoming home for me, including constructing a place of worship I had to pretend to use.
But all his acts of affection couldn’t silence the nagging sense of worry telling me to withhold my heart from him.
Relationships for the high-born were not synonymous with those of commoners.
They were strategic and calculated. Love was not part of the standard equation for a noble marriage match.
It was a perk very few achieved through luck or hard work, along with assets and riches.
Love was even less common for royals. But not impossible.
As I looked down at Rhazien whispering devotions to my body, feeling the pain in my cheeks from smiling at his antics, I knew I could love him.
He was lovable.
Complete with his vows, Rhazien stood and I lifted a hand to his cheek as I admired the deep greens of his eyes.
“Let me come with you to see Oddo, then we can arrive together,” I suggested, still stroking his stubbled cheek.
He captured my wrist, stilling its motion, and kissed my palm. “It will give you an opportunity to mingle.”
“Or be swarmed,” I huffed.
“You will not be swarmed, my jewel,” Rhazien insisted as he kissed the tops of my hands.
My presence at court was far from stale, and many commoner residents hadn’t been able to lay eyes on the regent’s prospect. I would be a spectacle, yet again.
I considered feigning sickness, which wouldn’t have been entirely untrue.
Premenstrual cramps had begun to build in my lower back.
While the rhythm of my cycle had been unpredictable most of my life, the symptoms always happened in measurable succession.
Now that the cramps had begun, I would bleed in two days.
I made a mental note to ask Alba about accommodations for me during my cycle.
My cramps, as well as bleeding, on my first day were typically the most painful.
I would have to excuse myself from activities until they subsided.
No one would delight in my terrible company.
Then again, I was living amongst vampires…
“There will be familiar faces,” he assured me as he ushered me to my sitting room.
“Friendly familiar faces?” I countered, cocking a brow. I thought of Valta and her familiar, but unfriendly, face.
“Yes, my jewel.”
A figure standing in front of my fireplace stole our attention. His unmistakable broad form all but drowned the dwindling flames of the hearth. Rhazien was handsome, but Dommik Thorne in formal wear made me want to crawl on my hands and knees.
“See? Here’s a friendly face now,” the regent sang as I banished thoughts of what Dommik’s lips might taste like.
Dommik turned to face us, hands behind his back. “My lady.” He bowed his head ever so slightly.
“Commander Thorne,” I returned.
This had become our new normal. Concise interactions.
Strictly business. It was excruciating. I thought that as my affection for Rhazien grew, what I felt for Dommik would dim, but it continued to burn in me.
To any onlooker, my training sessions with Dommik were cordial and efficient, but dropping into his mind so often had the opposite effect.
He was truly trying to section off and conceal the part of him that harbored some lingering jealousy, but I’d become familiar with its signature bitterness, and I doubted he would ever be able to hide it entirely.
Knowing he fought his own internal battles only fueled my twisted ego.
He wanted me, and I liked it. And that was dangerous.
I needed to eradicate this feeling, and fast, while its roots were still young and fragile.
“Take care of my jewel until I’m back?” Rhazien smiled at his commander.
“Of course, Majesty.” Dommik nodded again.
My eyes fluttered and I let out a surprised gasp when Rhazien pressed a claiming kiss to my lips. “I won’t keep you or the citizens waiting long. I promise,” he said into my mouth. Before I could object one last time, he was halfway across the room.
I waved as he took one last look at me from the door. Rhazien winked and then he was gone.
My room was silent, save for the ever-constant crackling of my fireplace.
Its orange hues lit up Dommik’s silhouette, making him look like a demon risen from the ashes.
I shifted my weight and wiped my hands on my skirt, suddenly very aware that we were alone in my chambers together.
Since the training session where he’d hidden a necklace in my nightstand—only to be met with the fresh scents of intimacy—he’d opted to escort me to my door, and no further.
Considering the jealousy staining every memory I’d dropped into since, I didn’t need to guess why. But he was here now. Curious.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, “shall we?”
He took one long step toward me. “There’s something I need you to do before we go.”
“What’s that?” I narrowed my eyes at his tense jaw and hesitant tone.
He produced a small box. It wasn’t like the elegant and expensive ones Rhazien’s gifts came in.
This was plain, modest even. Dommik opened the lid slowly.
A stunning hair clip glimmered up at me.
White flowers made of iridescent pearls were stacked atop each other.
Small pink gems were placed between the petals, making the ornate, delicate piece fit for a bride.
“This item has a twin,” he breathed, as if he were struggling to get the words out. “Locate it, then we can go.”
My shoulders dropped. This wasn't what I'd expected at all.
“Really? Training…now?” I asked.
He nodded, only adding to my puzzled expression.
“Can you just—” he started, pinching the bridge of his nose “—I’m sorry.” He paused, collecting himself. “Please, just, find its mate for me.”
“Okay,” I said softly. He didn’t owe me an explanation, and I knew from the high-born women of Illica that sometimes, an item’s backstory was simply off-limits. Too private or shameful to share with another soul.
The tapered candles danced as they guided my step forward, closing the gap between myself and the commander. He even smelled different tonight with distinct notes of whiskey polluting the fresh pine I normally associated with him.
As I had dozens of times, I committed the item to memory. And as I had dozens of times, my muscles tensed just before I reached to touch Dommik’s chest.