the hands of the Truth Seeker.
“Can you stand?” I raise a brow at her.
“I don’t think so. When I have a spell, it usually takes me a few hours to recover,” she admits, shame in her pretty blue eyes.
“A spell, hmmm?” I walk over to her and set the plate on the bed beside her before sitting down. “How often do you have these spells?”
“Usually daily,” she mumbles as she shakes off the diamondblades. Her fingers pick at a buttery roll before she tears off a piece and chews on it.
“Daily. The same every day? Mazon will want to know.”
“Mostly, it’s the same. There have been a few times that the spell was too much. I barely recovered.” She swallows and then picks at the venison. “Yashka is a wonderful cook. I haven’t tasted food this decadent in years.”
My poor, sweet queen.
“Years, yeah?”
“It’s been a while.”
“How are you feeling now?”
“Weak, but…” she trails off.
“But what?”
“I feel it.” Her blue eyes bore into me. “I feel the cold. And it doesn’t hurt like it used to.”
“I’m going to teach you a lot of things,” I murmur, lifting my thumb to run it through the juices on her bottom lip. “Your father left you so ill-equipped to lead.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Watch your tongue, Volc.”
“You’re too soft,” I taunt. “I want to show you how to be hard.”
Leaning forward, I grip her chin and pull her mouth open. She gasps when I press my mouth to hers. I inhale her sweet scent before plunging my tongue into her mouth. She tastes savory like the venison, but the hints of sweet are all her. Pulling her to her feet, I don’t break the kiss. Her body trembles, still weak from earlier, and I hold her tight so she won’t collapse.
For an innocent, she certainly kisses like a master.
Briefly, she pulls away and whispers, “I want your promise that I can see my sister tomorrow.” She nips at my bottom lip. “Say yes, Ryke.”
I groan at her words. Maybe she’s not as innocent as she seems. The woman is using her soft lips and tongue to get her way.
“What if I say no?”
“We both want you to say yes,” she purrs.
“Why is that?”
“Because it’s part of the deal.” She breaks our kiss and regards me with blazing blue eyes. “You say yes and promise me. Then, I’ll say yes to you.”
My cock thickens at her words. “And what exactly is it I’m getting? What are you saying yes to?”
“You wanted to teach me. So teach me.”
Fantasies of her naked and riding my cock consume me. Clever, cruel queen. She’s much smarter than I gave her credit for. Playing the most ruthless king of all by way of his cock. Elzira has won this battle. I’m still strategizing for the war.
“Yes,” I vow. “You can see Yanna tomorrow. But tonight? Tonight, you’re mine.”
After our kissing and then supper, Elzira took a nap. Her body is regenerating, so I let her sleep, rather than holding her to her end of the bargain. While she napped, I checked with my men on the state of the horde from the Hidden Lands. Progressing slowly, thanks to a sudden winter storm. I’d found Green, or Cavon as they call him, and wanted to shove my fiery hand into his chest to remove all his organs one by one. Some advisor he was. Couldn’t even find her a real physician. Any physician could cure her if they were trying. It infuriates me to know that no one was trying.
Once I’m done checking on my men, I call up her servants, two heavyset women with beady eyes.
“Run a bath,” I instruct.
“The usual, sir?” the shorter one asks.
“What’s the usual?”
“The scented herbs and petals,” she replies.
“No,” I bark out, making her startle. “Water. Just water.” Then, I narrow my eyes, darting my gaze between the both of them. “You’ll sample the water after you’ve brought it up.”
She nods, though her irritation is apparent. “Of course, your highness.”
The next short while, I watch them as they bring bucket after bucket of water to fill the tub. Once it’s nice and full, I don’t let them leave.
“Taste it,” I bark out.
The women exchange looks but then kneel to scoop up the water. After sipping some down, they look at me in confusion. Since they’re not keeling over, I give them a small nod. I dip my fingers into the water to make sure it’s not too hot and jerk my hand back.
“What