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She’d spent the past week roaming around the palace, familiarising herself with going outside, as well as looking up on a computer all the articles about the state of Kasimir she could find, and then looking in vain for aides who could give her information about what she was supposed to be doing.
She’d hoped Tiberius would give her some time so she could discuss with him her thoughts, but he’d been incommunicado for most of the week. Busy, his aides would tell her. His Majesty had no time to spare.
Except for the nights, of course, when he had plenty of time to spare, and when all discussions fell by the wayside in favour of the physical pleasure they could give one another. She had only herself to blame for that, she supposed, but he made her feel so good, and it was easier in the end to let her body do the talking.
As the week had gone on she’d started to feel more and more annoyed with both herself and him, but it wasn’t until now, when she had him for a length of time out of the bedroom, that she’d thought she might as well take advantage of that.
She hadn’t meant to sound so cross, but that had been her nerves talking. But then, when he’d told her about his responsibilities, all her annoyance at him had just leaked away.
Because all it had taken was one look into his fierce silver gaze to see that he believed utterly that, being the King, it was his responsibility to repair the country and his alone. That he cared about it and cared very deeply. That he worried for his subjects. That the length of time it had taken for him to get rid of the tyrants ate at him. And whether he knew it or not, some part of him must blame himself for that. Otherwise why would he be so impatient to fix everything?
It made her feel petty for being angry with him at not giving her any time—but, petty or not, the fact remained that there were things they needed to discuss.
Also, she wanted to help. Kasimir was her country too, and if she was going to be its queen she wanted to be a practical one, not a mere figurehead. Her father had nearly run the country into the ground, therefore it was her responsibility to fix it as well as Tiberius’s.
Being with him, telling him what she wanted, had given her courage, and she didn’t want to go back to hiding safely in the walls of the palace any more—even though she might be nervous about what the people would think of her.
Those nerves were certainly making themselves felt now, as the limo door opened, letting in the noise and the cheering of the crowd.
Tiberius got out first, the cheers rising in volume as he appeared, and no wonder.
He wore a dark suit today, with a plain white shirt and a silvery grey silk tie that set his eyes off to perfection. He was astonishingly charismatic, and she couldn’t help but watch him, mesmerised, as he acknowledged the crowds, a smile turning his beautiful mouth.
She shivered, unable to help herself, still tasting the salt from his skin where she’d nipped him. She shouldn’t have done it, but she hadn’t been able to resist, because he was irresistible. Even when she was arguing with him she wanted to touch him, kiss him. Wanted to be close to him.
He turned back to the limo and his dark head bent as he leaned down to offer her his hand. And then she was being drawn out of the car to stand beside him, the roar of the crowd in her ears.
It was almost overwhelming, the number of people and the noise, and she didn’t know quite where to look—especially when she heard a couple of boos in amongst all the cheering. A few people were even carrying signs that had derogatory statements about her family on them.
She couldn’t blame those people, but it made her feel anxious. Not so much that they would hurt her, but that her presence at Tiberius’s side would damage his political standing as King. Yes, marrying her would show his willingness to move on as a whole country rather than as one divided, and that was a good thing, but there would always be those who would view that as a betrayal.
Abruptly, the thought of her presence undermining his rule made her feel afraid. Although he hadn’t told her anything about his life in exile, she had got the impression that it had been a hard and long journey back to his crown, and certainly the time and effort he’d put into his first week as King could not be understated.
She hoped her presence wouldn’t put all that work at risk.
Why would you care?
Good question. But it was one she knew the answer to, and one she’d given to him already. He mattered to her. And whether that was because of the sex or something else, she didn’t know. But matter to her he did.
His hand was warm around hers, and he didn’t let it go as she came to stand beside him. So when he moved over to where some of the crowds were standing behind the barriers she had no choice but to follow him.
Had he heard the people booing her? Had he seen those signs?
‘Don’t be afraid,’ he murmured in her ear, showing her that, yes, indeed, he had seen the signs. ‘They are only a small proportion of this crowd and they do not know you.’
‘I don’t want to undermine you,’ she whispered back. ‘And I’m afraid my presence here will.’
He paused for a moment, in full view of the crowd, though she was pretty sure no one could actually hear them.
‘Your presence undermines nothing.’ His gaze was fierce. ‘You are strong and beautiful and brave—everything our people require in a queen. So show them, my little lioness. Show them what kind of queen they are getting.’
He had taken to calling her that whenever she lay in his arms, and she liked it a lot. She liked the conviction in his eyes too. He wasn’t a man for idle words, and he meant what he said when he said it.
The way he looked at her made her feel as if she was every one of those things, and the nerves in her stomach settled. And so, obeying an impulse she hadn’t seen coming, she went on her toes and kissed him in front of the crowd.
The cheers were almost deafening as she came back down on her feet, and when she looked up into his face and saw the look of shock there she smiled at him. Then, gripping hard to her courage, she approached the crowd, smiling at them too, speaking a few words to some of the people.
A little girl pushed some flowers into her hands and said breathlessly, ‘You’re so pretty!’ And another young woman wanted a selfie.