Bride of the Traitor (The Prophecy of Sisters #1) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,58

wrong with me. I have never felt this way before. I’ve been sick from illness and from spoiled food, but neither has ever made me feel the way that I do right now.

My stomach feels sick, but there is an emptiness that I’ve felt the past six weeks, except it’s suddenly intensified. Duraina’s hand touches the center of my back, a hand that used to be a welcome touch does naught but cause my stomach to pain me even further.

Shrugging her off, I stand and cringe as my thighs shake. “Where are my clothes, madam?” I ask, not turning around.

“Elias, please, I beg of you. Don’t do this, we are not finished, you and me,” she whispers as she moves around her small home.

I ignore her words, refusing to answer her. Refusing to acknowledge her. I’ve already given her my time, my words and my reasoning for ending the very discrete semblance of what she considers a relationship and what I considered physical relief.

My clothes appear out of the corner of my eye and I quickly snatch them from her grasp before I dress. Once I’m completely covered, I turn to face her.

She’s making herself appear small, but I know her, or at least women like her. She will appear meek for me right now because that is what she thinks I desire.

Duraina would never be my paramour, even if I were to have one. I would choose someone who could hold my attention, make me smile, and match me in all ways. Duraina does none of those things. She was a bit of fun, nothing more. A bit of fun that I paid for.

“Thank you for caring for me last night, madam,” I announce woodenly. She takes a step forward, but I hold up my hand to halt her in place. “Do not, Duraina. You have said your piece, I have listened, but there is naught between us. I do not want to know how you have come to know that my Queen does not carry my heir. Nor do I believe in potions like the one you’re suggesting to conceive. Some things need to happen naturally.”

Her eyes widen and then fill with wetness. “I know because the news is all over town. Everyone wants there to be an heir. You’d left and the news was all over when her cycle appeared. She is strange and she is a stranger to our country. You need someone who is a friend to your people, Elias.”

“Cease in speaking to me so informally, madam. My wife’s courses are none of your concern, or anyone else’s. Also, she is a stranger to this country, because she is a foreign bride, as many are who marry royalty. Not that my personal affairs are any of your business,” I snap haughtily.

She flinches and that is when I know that I’ve made a direct hit. “I will have my man compensate you for tending to my wellbeing,” I announce, turning my back to her and taking a step before I pause as she calls out to me.

Looking back over my shoulder, I arch a brow and wait for her to speak her final words. “I fell in love with you, My King,” she breathes. “I am sorry that it offends you so.”

“There is no offense, Duraina. But when a man has made it clear that he does not feel the same, a woman should never reduce herself.”

I don’t say anything else and I don’t give her the opportunity to say another word either. I’m probably being harsh, but I have a feeling if I were too kind, Duraina would see it as an opportunity and attempt to beg me back to her bed.

There is only one bed that I wish to be lured to, it being so close, yet so far away. My entire body aches with need just at the thought of my wife, of Sybilla.

Glancing around, I notice that Lief has the horses saddled up and ready to ride, Frederick is also at his side, shoving a biscuit in his mouth, but Asher is nowhere to be seen.

“Feeling better, Your Majesty? We thought we were going to lose you,” Frederick says, keeping his voice low.

Nodding my head, I hold back my groan at the way my body feels heavy and sluggish, still. “I’m fine, why didn’t you take me straightaway to the castle?” I demand, my gaze shifting to Lief.

Lief shrugs, his gaze traveling over my shoulder. I have no doubt that Duraina is