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The woman who was now my wife in the eyes of the Source ran past me without so much as a glance toward me.

By reflex, I followed her. I’d also heard the shouting and laughter of the men, only I was used to it.

It happened during wars. Soldiers, excited by the battle and the capture of a castle, often raped the women of the defeated people.

I didn’t condone it, but to prevent it was to run the risk of ending up with a mutiny on our hands. It was common practice to take prostitutes to the battlefield, but Elendur was against the practice.

My wife, with her blood-coloured hair falling freely over her shoulders, stormed like a crimson tempest into the castle’s main square.

“What are you doing?!” she growled, rushing toward the group of ragged men.

At first, I decided to observe her, curious as to how she would handle the situation.

Clearly, she wanted to save the maid. Besides, I was there if anything went wrong.

Ashana of Muvaria belonged to me, and nobody could touch what was mine with impunity.

She grabbed a bow from one of the tables, as well as one of the arrows.

“Let her go!” she ordered.

Elendur’s soldiers froze, some with their pants down to their knees, then turned their heads in her direction with a curious synchronicity.

I, leaning against a stone pillar, crossed my arms, attentive to the scene unfolding before my eyes.

Everything about her posture indicated that she knew how to master the weapon she held in her hands. This only half reassured me.

“What’s going on?”

Paivrin.

“My wife is trying to stop a rape,” I said flatly.

“And you’re not going to help her?” my brother snapped.

I shrugged.

“It’s her decision. Let her make it.”

My tone was casual, but my eyes hadn’t left my wife for a moment.

“In that case...” he began, making a move to join her.

I held him back with one hand on his arm.

“No. If she needs help, I’m here. In the meantime, she wants to assert herself and take justice into her own hands. Let her be.”

A flash of anger crossed Paivrin’s eyes.

“It’s one woman against five men!”

I felt a sinister smile tug at the end of my mouth.

“Yes. She’s my wife. So she can do it.”

“How would you know? You’ve only just met her!”

His attitude was starting to seriously irritate me.

I opened my mouth to retort but, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted movement.

Ashana had just shot one of the maid’s assailants.

An arrow to the head. I let out an appreciative whistle.

Her companions, stunned, froze for a moment, before rushing toward my wife.

She grabbed more arrows and fired at the four remaining soldiers.

She hit one in the shoulder, the second in the chest, and the third in the thigh.

Only the fourth was still heading straight for her, as Ashana was out of arrows.

In the space of a breath, I was at her side, and I grabbed her attacker by the throat.

His feet no longer touched the ground, and his eyes bulged with fear.

“Did you intend to lay a hand on my wife?” I asked him sweetly.

Vile gurgles came from between his lips in response.

“No...I...”

Those were the only two words he managed to utter.

There was a deathly silence around us. The other Osacan soldiers watched us, petrified.

I tightened my grip on the neck of the fool, then, in a loud voice, warned them: “Lady Ashana of Muvaria is now my wife. Anyone who disrespects her, attacks her, or displeases her in any way will be killed by my hands on the spot. Is that clear?”

The soldiers all stood up as one and shouted back, “Yes, Lord Dovah!”

I smiled with satisfaction before snapping the neck of the idiot writhing at the end of my arm. When I let go, his body fell limply onto the stone with a thud. I turned to my wife. She was confused. I made a mocking curtsy.

“It was a pleasure to see you at work, my lady .”

I was about to enter the castle when my gaze fell on the maid whose breasts had been exposed. I stopped dead in my tracks. She was shaking like a leaf, her eyes red with tears.

“Oh, one more thing,” I said, addressing my men. “Whoever rapes, also dies.”

With that, I entered through the open portcullis.

Once back in the office, I settled into the king’s chair. A king I murdered. He had died a warrior, with honour, sword in hand. I let out a grunt.

“Boy!” I cried.

I didn’t need to call him twice.

“Yes, my lord?” he inquired, slightly out of breath.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Massim, my lord.”

“Help me take off my armour, Massim.”

“Alright, my lord.”

He complied, and rather ably, I had to admit.

“You can go. No, wait a minute. Bring me some food and a tub of fresh water. We’ll be leaving soon.”

Then I took off my sweat-soaked shirt. There was no need for me to make the return journey in my full breastplate. My surcoat and armguard would suffice. Someone knocked on the door as I lit my cigar, the rolled leaves of which contained a powerful drug. Without it, I couldn’t curb my urge to kill.

“Forgive me for disturbing you, my lord.”

That voice... I stiffened but refrained from turning in its direction.

“You should be packing your things,” I asserted, before taking a long, life-saving drag.

“I’m going to, but just before I do, I’d like to thank you.”

I gave her a sidelong glance. What did she want to thank me for? For saving her life?

“As your husband, it’s my job to protect you from now on. You don’t have to thank me for that.”

She shook her head slowly and, for a moment, I found myself captivated by the fluid movements of her curls. Her hair had a curious effect on me. I longed to run my fingers through its rich, silky mass.

“No. For banning...for forbiddingrape. To your soldiers.”

This time, I turned around to face her. I saw her glance at my cigar before her gaze returned to mine.

“I don’t encourage this practice, but I must confess, I’ve never really given it much thought. My aim is to fight and win, period.”

It was strange. She kept staring straight into my eyes.

People usually avoided this because they’d quickly become uncomfortable, so why was my wife.

.. Oh . I understood and smiled. I was shirtless.

As one thought led to another, I remembered our kiss.

I could already hear Paivrin lecturing me on my lack of delicacy.

“I suppose so. But I wanted to thank you because you were under no obligation.”

I tilted my head to one side and studied her carefully, then took another puff.

“What is that?” she finally asks, point-blank.

Ashana was pointing at my cigar.

“Some kind of...medicine,” I said evasively, continuing to scrutinize her.

“Medicine? Are you ill?”

I smiled. Was becoming a bloodthirsty homicidal maniac considered a disease?

“Not in the way you think. Can you bring me the clean shirt in the bag on your right? Yes, the one on the floor.”

She obeyed and as she approached me, I noticed she was discreetly observing my tattoos. Ashana cleared her throat.

“These drawings, on your, uh, well, you know. Do they mean anything? Are they magical? Protective spells?”

I blocked her access to the door to prevent her from returning. Her perfume was subtle, floral, and sweet, altogether quite appetizing.

“I think you’re very curious about me,” I deflected with a smile.

It was a cold, predatory smile, I knew. A smile that was supposed to scare her.

I thought she was beautiful. Really beautiful, in truth.

Beneath her delicate features, one could sense a rare inner strength.

Her breasts seemed generous, perfect for my hands.

Her waist was marked, but not too slim. As for her hips, her dress gave a glimpse of their seductive curves.

When our Father had locked us up in a man’s body, I had the vaguest recollection of having to deal with sexual urges.

Impulses that I satisfied rather crudely in the early days.

As much as it annoyed me to admit it, it took me several centuries to master the art of sex to my satisfaction. I enjoyed this facet of human life.

Ashana stepped back a little to create some distance between us.

“Or...Yes. It’s only natural, you’re my husband now.”

I squinted as my smile deepened.

“Your husband? No, not quite,” I articulated sweetly.

I saw her pupils dilate and her complexion turn pale. I sighed inwardly. It wasn’t even funny if she took my behaviour literally. I stepped aside, just enough to allow her to move away, which she eagerly did. For good measure, I took another puff on my cigar.

“Don’t panic. I’ve never forced myself on a woman, and I’m not about to start with my wife,” I said sarcastically.

I beckoned her to approach me. She hesitated, which only irritated me further.

“However, since we’re united spiritually in the eyes of our Father and the Source, I’d have to link you to me on a more...physical level,” I continued.

She became downright livid. I wanted to explode with anger. Had she not just heard what I’d said about my relationships with women?

“Come closer. It’s not what you think.” I felt obliged to clarify.

“And naturally, you know what I’m thinking?” she snapped.

“It’s written all over your charming face. Come closer, I say!”

I was getting impatient. Ashana finally complied.

I grabbed a letter opener from the desk and swiftly took hold of her wrist. She struggled instinctively, but one cold look from me calmed her immediately.

I lightly slashed her palm; she stifled a small cry of pain.

I performed the same operation on my own hand before pressing it against hers.

“May my blood protect you and bind you to me forever. May your blood nourish mine and bind me to you forever,” I said in a low voice, so low in fact that she was unlikely to have understood the meaning of my words.

“Why?” she asked.

“To give you time to come to my bed of your own accord.”