“Dohno,” Lahn muttered on a jerk of his chin, The Eunuch inclined his head and his eyes darted to me yet again before he turned and moved quickly away. I lost sight of him when Lahn curved me into his front again, both arms around me and I looked up to him as he spoke and Diandra interpreted. “We ride soon under a sun that still holds heat. Will you be all right on Zephyr or do you need cover?”
“Zephyr,” I replied instantly, ignoring the fact that he was being solicitous and therefore sweet.
Lahn went on after a squeeze of his arms. “My tigress, the pink in your skin has turned to honey but the sun will beat for four to five hours yet before losing its strength. I do not wish you to have another turn.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him and I would. Late afternoon sunshine was a lot different than sitting in it all day, I now had an enforced base tan and anyway, I had to do something about these whacked out tan lines. I hadn’t seen myself but I had to look like a freak.
“This is a promise?” he pushed and I locked eyes with him.
“It is a promise, my king, I will be fine,” I stated and his jaw clenched.
Then he muttered, “Nahna Dax.”
Your king. Not just Lahn.
He didn’t like that, I could tell.
Whatever.
I held his eyes as I waited. He held my eyes as something worked behind his.
Then he gave me a squeeze and muttered, “Okay, Circe. Veeyoo…” then a bunch more stuff that Diandra translated as “I will see you as we ride.”
I nodded, he gave me another squeeze with another sigh, he looked over my shoulder and jerked his chin up and I looked too to see a warrior nod and move our way.
My guard.
Then he let me go.
I moved away quickly, closing the box and shoving it under my arm and Diandra was instantly at my side.
Before she could say a word, I spoke.
“Are you okay?” I asked and she blinked.
“Pardon, my dear?”
“Did your husband take a hand to you last night?” I clarified.
“No!” she exclaimed. “Of course not.”
“He was angry,” I reminded her.
“He was, Circe, but he just yelled at me, I yelled back because, you were right, neither of us knew we were doing anything wrong. It was all innocent. It took awhile for me to calm him down, get him to hear me but I did and he realized it was an innocent mistake and all was well.”
“So he doesn’t hit you?” I asked and she eyed me.
Then she answered quietly, “Not anymore, my dear,” then quickly, “and not for some time.”
“Right,” I muttered.
“My goodness!” We heard and both our heads swung to Narinda who was standing in front of us and we would have bowled her over if we didn’t stop. She lifted a shaking hand toward my cheekbone then she dropped it, grasped my hand and tugged me close. “Oh Circe,” she whispered. “What on earth happened?”
“I displeased my husband last night,” I told her shortly, Narinda reared back in shock, her face paling instantly and Diandra sucked in breath.
I turned to her and she had her mouth open to speak.
And I knew what was coming so I lost it.