Chapter 14 Cethin #2
“Lovers create excuses for small touches in public because they are craving to be behind closed doors. Because they know each other’s bodies as well as they know their emotions and thoughts,” he continued, the words low and sensual.
Slowly, he lifted his hand, using the tip of his finger to lift her chin.
The barest of touches that she still visibly winced at, clearly wanting to pull away.
“That’s how convincing we need to be, Kailia, and the way to become that familiar with each other is to have godsdamn conversations.
That is why I don’t believe you have any experience with lovers. ”
“Perhaps you should have thought of all that before you forced me into a bargain to be your wife,” she retorted, shoving his hand away and breaking the small amount of contact.
“Perhaps you should have thought of all that before agreeing to be my wife,” he bit back.
She tsked, her ashes vibrating as more smoke found its way to her, undulating around her feet and torso. “The options were a union or a death trial. That’s not much of a choice.”
“But a choice you made nevertheless,” he said. “You were angry I didn’t prepare you enough, but have you thought that maybe that’s because you avoid me instead of having conversations?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Exactly, but instead—” He paused, realizing she’d actually agreed with him instead of arguing. “Wait, you have? If you’re in agreement, then why are we having this argument?”
“I…don’t have an answer for that,” she admitted.
By the gods. This seemed more and more hopeless the longer this conversation went on, and it made him that much more intrigued.
And yes, he recognized how fucked up that was, but this was the most engaged he’d been in something in a long time.
Sure, there were the attacks and trying to figure out the Wards, but this was something that was only his.
A mystery that was a break from the monotony and duty of his crown.
Someone who appeared not to care about that crown or what it made him in the slightest. He didn’t understand this ridiculous argument or her, but he understood it made him feel alive.
More alive than he’d felt in decades, perhaps centuries.
He understood he was a bastard for pulling her into this for his own entertainment, and he even understood he was a bigger dick for using his title and threats to keep her here.
Worst of all, he didn’t care because she was a distraction from…well, everything really. She’d become a vice he craved as much as a drunk craved liquor to drown his sorrows.
He rubbed his brow as he studied her. Her in complete stillness aside from her power.
Her with her magic and those swirling eyes that were fixed on him that suddenly made him feel a bit like prey, especially knowing she’d been watching him from her smoke for months.
Her with her midnight hair and that godsdamn nightdress that clung to her curves.
Fuck.
With a sigh, he moved back to the sofa and picked up his teacup, the liquid lukewarm now. “Sit, Kailia. Tell me why you appeared apprehensive when you emerged.”
“I was fine,” she answered, cautiously moving closer and perching on the edge of the sofa cushion. Again, she glanced at her forearm, running her fingers over her skin.
“You were not fine. You were skittish and trembling like a youngling convinced they saw a Night Child.”
“It was not that bad,” she protested.
He smirked. “But you admit you were trembling?”
“I…” She paused, and he watched her think about how to respond before she said, “I simply woke up in a strange space. I’m not accustomed to the surroundings, and I’ve had unfavorable experiences when waking up in unfamiliar places with no one that I know around.”
He nodded. That was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
“Was that so hard to share?” he asked.
“Yes,” she retorted. “And you don’t need to be condescending about it.”
He huffed a laugh. “My apologies, your Highness.”
“That was the same mocking tone, and it makes your apology insincere,” she snapped. “Anyway, we don’t need to do this.”
“Do what?” he asked, angling his body more towards her and propping his arm on the back of the sofa, his temple resting on his fist.
“Get to know each other.”
His brows crashed together. “I thought we established several reasons for why we needed to get to know each other.”
“You stated decent arguments, and I agree we need to have conversations. But those conversations don’t need to involve getting to know each other,” she replied.
He blinked because what in the realms was he supposed to say to that?
Finally finding his voice, he said slowly, “It will be difficult to be convincing if we don’t get to know each other.”
“Difficult but not impossible.”
Cethin straightened, his arm dropping to his side. “Why would we make this more difficult? Why are you so adamant about this?”
She shrugged, reaching to refill her teacup. “I do not wish to get to know you.”
He went rigid, feeling a muscle in his jaw tick. “You understand this union isn’t temporary, do you not?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“And you realize we are both immortal?”
Her brow furrowed. “Of course I know that.”
“So you want to spend decades, if not centuries, together and not get to know each other?”
“Correct.”
“Kailia, that’s never going to work,” he said slowly, unsure of what else to say.
She stood once more, teacup in hand. “You forced me into this, Cethin. All you had to do was give me back my arrow.”
He stood too, every part of him bristling and surly as he realized she was trying to punish him. Force him to do what she wanted. Drive him to the point of madness to release her from this bargain.
Reaching out, he gripped her elbow as she turned to walk away from him. The sound of a teacup shattering reached him a moment before she twisted out of his hold, and he felt a dagger pressing to his throat, smoke still swirling from where she’d pulled it from her magic.
And he smiled, a dark and dangerous thing.
“You’re in this predicament because of your penchant for stabbing, tiny fiend,” he crooned as she applied more pressure to his neck. He felt it break skin, felt the blood welling. “You’re starting a dangerous game. Think about where this will lead.”
Her smile was just as dark and wicked. “You started this game, little king. Remember that when you realize you lost before the game even began.”
When she turned to walk away from him again, he let her go this time, the smile still on his face.
Cethin drummed his fingers on the table as he waited for this godsdamn meeting to get under way. He would have rather pushed this off another day, but he also realized he would always feel this way. So instead, he’d resolved to get it over with.
All the lords and ladies were here, and after this advisory meeting, they’d all be leaving for their respective territories for the next twenty days.
Thank the Fates.
They were just waiting for Zayan to arrive. Then they could get on with this, and he could get back to Kailia.
Who was currently with Razik.
The thought alone had his power coiling beneath his skin. Because of course the fucker had stood outside their rooms all godsdamn night and day until Cethin had needed to go to this meeting. Kailia had joined him for breakfast, neither of them saying a word.
He glanced to the chair at his right where she should be sitting. She waited until it was time to head down here, waited until he’d opened the door to find Greybane standing there, until she’d finally deigned to speak. That was when she announced she hadn’t slept well and wasn’t feeling right.
Wasn’t feeling right, his ass.
Razik immediately said he’d stay with her, sauntering into their private rooms, and when Cethin had started to object, Kailia had immediately said she didn’t mind.
She might be a bit odd, but she was certainly godsdamn cunning.
If he’d stayed to argue any longer, he would have been late.
Zayan would come looking for him, and how was he to explain any of this to anyone?
No one knew this was a somewhat forced union, and if it was found out, it would fracture trust with everyone.
It wasn’t something he could afford after only a year on the throne.
He was already struggling to prove himself with handling the mass Fae murders.
They might suspect the union with Kailia was simply to appease them, but if she wasn’t the queen they were hoping for, he’d be to blame for not learning more about her before putting her in the role.
He’d been reckless in this. He recognized that.
But if he could convince her to get them more of those arrows, it would solve so many of the dangers facing his kingdom.
A kingdom he’d do anything to protect, and if that meant playing clever games with his future wife, he was going to make damn sure he won.
He’d get what he wanted out of this one way or another.
Failure wasn’t an option, which meant Kailia’s only choice was falling in line with his plans as an equal or facing submission.
Zayan’s voice drew his attention back to the room, the male coming through the door a moment later with his son at his side.
Finally.
The matter at hand shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to sort out. Everyone knew who was nominated to fill the vacant advisory seat with Lady Nessira’s death, and most were happy with the candidate.
“My apologies for the delay,” Zayan said, genuine remorse shadowing his features.
Cethin waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, but let’s proceed. I’m sure everyone would like to get home after the extended stay in Aimonway.”
There was a chorus of agreed mutterings from the others, and Cethin looked at Zayan expectantly, waiting for him to go on. But the male seemed to hesitate, sending a skeptical glance to his son.
“Zayan?” Cethin said, trying and failing to hide his impatience.