Page 45 of Pawn of the Cruel Princess

“How dare you?” She takes a swaying step toward the maid. “Becomedangerous? I’m always dangerous.”

“So you are,” I tell her soothingly, cupping her shoulders lightly. “Let’s get you to bed, Highness.”

“There’s something I want first.” She looks down at her empty hands. “I need my knives.”

“And you shall have your knives, if you’ll get into bed.”

“You don’t bargain with me, thrall,” snaps the Princess.

I hear the bedroom door close behind Meldare, so I place my hands in Ruelle’s and draw her out of the bathing room, toward the bed. “Of course, your Highness. You are in charge here. I submit to you. I obey you in all things.”

We’ve reached the bed now, and I guide her onto it, pulling the sheets over her legs. She’s shaking her head, angry and helpless. “I need my knives, thrall.”

If I give them to her when she’s in this state, she could seriously hurt me, or herself. “There’s a Healer on the premises, yes?”

She nods. “A Healer to provide us all with contraceptive tonics, and to repair any injuries. Are you afraid I’m going to cut you, thrall?”

“I am.” I cross the room and search the luggage until I find two of her knives.

When I place them in her upturned palms, she stares at them. “These are not my favorites.”

“Yes, they are.” I press her fingers closed around them. “Tell me about this waterfall we’re going to visit, Princess. What is this ritual we have to perform?”

She groans, stabbing one of her knives into a pillow. “It’s for luck, and to show respect to the goddess.” She stabs again, releasing a puff of feathers. “Ceremonial copulation is having sex in the temple behind the waterfall with one of the priests or priestesses. A ‘carnal rite’ is sex in the pool beneath the waterfall, with anyone else. There are different incenses burned and different charms spoken for each.” More stabbing, and more feathers.

“And which type of rite will you do?”

She rakes the blade through the pillow, splitting it wide. “Maybe I’ll lose my virginity to a priest. Or to that Ward fellow, Cowen’s younger brother.”

Acidic emotion burns in my chest. “What about me?”

“What about you?”

“Do you really find me so unappealing? Do you really hate me so much that you’d choose to have your first time with a stranger?”

“Do you really care?”

“Yes.”

She blinks at me. “You want to have me first, don’t you?”

My cock twitches at the words. I growl with frustration, clasping my hands at the back of my head and stalking away from the bed. “That’s not the point.”

“Fine. Do it now.” A rustle of clothing, and then she says, “Fuck me, Ducayne. Right now. Be the first.”

I glance at her, and I freeze.

She has pulled up her nightdress, and she’s bare underneath. Her perfectly smooth, beautifully shaped sex is on full display, open to me. Both knives are still in her hands.

“You’re not yourself,” I manage in a choked voice. “You’re scared, and you’re drunk. I won’t do it.”

Her eyebrows lift. “I gave you a command.”

“And I must disobey.”

Slowly she pulls down her nightdress. “Come here.”

Cautiously I approach, my heart pounding. I stop just within arm’s reach.