Page 5

My blood now flows through your veins. You belong to me more than you know . More than a wife belongs to her husband .

Of course, I refrained from telling her that.

Ashana looked down at her wounded hand, from which a little blood was still seeping.

“As if a woman had that kind of choice,” she murmured.

“Well, you do. Wedding night or not.”

She raised her head and her emerald eyes locked with mine.

“What if I decided not to join you in your bed?” she inquired. “Ever?”

I didn’t answer right away, because the first thing that came to mind was: “I doubt that. There’s too much carnal attraction between us. It’s almost palpable. I kissed you and felt your body react.”

“That would be a pity,” I said.

She seemed surprised.

“Is that so? That’s your only reaction?”

I was already imagining my head between her thighs, bringing her to orgasm. But rather than confess that I was dying for it, I just shrugged casually.

“Yes. That’s all.”

“So you’d take mistresses to satisfy your baser instincts?”

“Do you think you’re devoid of such ‘base’ instincts?” I retorted quickly.

“I am a woman!” Ashana argued, blushing.

“That’s the poorest excuse I’ve ever heard. I have known many women, and they’ve all loved sex. Men aren’t the only ones who can come.”

“That...That wasn’t the point of my question!”

Why was she so insistent on this subject? I dropped into the armchair behind the desk, which was strewn with parchments. I took another puff—my last—of my cigar, which I spat out in annoyance.

“Would it upset you if I did?” I asked, curious.

A strange expression fell over her face.

“Of course! When a lord takes a mistress, it means his lady doesn’t satisfy him!”

Her outraged tone made me laugh.

“Well then, the lady just has to satisfy him!”

This conversation was both incredibly irritating and entertaining. Ashana seemed particularly unhappy. I didn’t even know what I’d said wrong. It seemed to me that I had respected her honour with great thoughtfulness.

Massim chose this precise moment to return with the tub of water.

“My lord, I...” he began, before falling silent as he noticed Ashana’s presence. “Excuse me, my lord, am I disturbing you? Shall I come back a little later?”

I shook my head.

“Put it on that table over there and bring me something to eat.”

Massim complied with formidable efficiency. As he closed the door, my wife approached.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your bath,” she announced, trying to withdraw.

I smiled inwardly.

“No, I don’t think so.”

She gasped.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You’re going to help me. I need you to clean my back.”

“But, Massim...”she tried in panic.

“Massim went to get me something to eat. And after all, you’re my wife, aren’t you? Helping each other isn’t a one-way street in a marriage, it seems to me.”

The look she gave me left no doubt as to what she thought of my ruse. Smiling, I handed her a piece of cloth.

“Rub gently. I’m sensitive.”

Her dark gaze widened my smile. When I felt the water-soaked cloth, I closed my eyes. Ashana was being delicate and meticulous. For my part, I wanted to laugh.

“Thank you, that’s very nice,” I provoked her in a tone that was meant to be innocent. “Can you do the front as well? My arms are tired.”

I heard her choke on her indignation behind my back.

When she stood in front of me and began to clean my chest, all desire to smile at the situation instantly disappeared.

Her face was far too close to my skin, so much so that I could feel her breath.

Her breathing had become rapid. When our eyes met, I noticed the darker colour of her irises.

The atmosphere between us changed in an instant, becoming more tense.

“Here you are, my lord!” interjected Massim.

I didn’t take my eyes off Ashana.

“Boy, didn’t anyone ever teach you to knock before entering a room where your masters are?”

Even my voice was deeper, as if weighed down by desire. Massim coughed.

“I have, my lord. Many times.”

Ah. Damn it . I straightened up and Ashana turned away, clearly embarrassed.

“My lady?” I challenged her gruffly, uncomfortably. “You can share my meal if you wish. It’s not good to undertake a long journey on an empty stomach.”

“Thank you, but I’m not very hungry. Besides, this office brings back too many memories. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go prepare my things.”

With that, she disappeared in the blink of an eye. As I was still looking toward the open door, Massim felt it necessary to add: “It was Lady Ashana who helped our late king with the administration of the country. Everyone knew it, even though we pretended not to because she’s a woman.”

“I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”

Massim gave me a funny look, but didn’t comment. I finished my bath before sitting down to eat my meal of dried meat, cheese, and bread. Just then, Paivrin arrived.

“Where have you been?” I asked.

“I was taking care of that poor woman.”

“Which one?”

He glared at me with his extraordinarily pale, almost translucent eyes.

“The one attacked by your men.”

I wiped the corner of my mouth with a rough-textured napkin.

“They’re not my men, they’re Elendur’s. There’s a difference.”

“Why do you let him use you like this?”

“He has my stone,” I said in a voice devoid of emotion.

Paivrin struck the ground with his staff to show me his anger.

“Yes! Because you gave it to him! Why? Because of that woman! That witch! You complain about being cursed a hundred times over, but in this case, you had it coming.”

“Nadrisse is not a witch. She’s just selfish.”

“And you, far too naive. She and her brother are wolves in sheep’s clothing. You trust them more than you trust the divine plans of our Father!”

I raised my hand to force him to change the subject.

Paivrin hated Elendur’s younger sister Nadrisse.

It was no secret to me. He saw her as a schemer, and no matter how many times I told him that she wasn’t, that she was just a spoiled brat at most, he simply refused to believe it, convinced that he was right.

“I’m glad to see you married,” added my brother with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

I rolled my eyes.

“I knew that would please you. It takes so little to make you happy, I suppose. You think you’ve beaten Nadrisse? After all this time, don’t you know how common arranged marriages are among humans?”

Paivrin replied with a childish grimace.

“All I know is that Lady Ashana has blood hair, like your wife in the memory I saw in my dream. She’s your flame. Not the other harlot.”

I pounded my fist on the table.

“That’s enough! You’re going too far.”

“I say what I want. That Nadrisse has deceived you. She made you believe that she was your destiny, when she was not. But our Father sent you your true half. I just have to be patient and wait for you to realize it.”

With that, he stood up.

“Aren’t you coming with us?”

Paivrin shook his head.

“I just wanted to celebrate your marriage according to our rite. Besides, I can smell your blood,” he finished with a beaming smile.

I immediately frowned.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Oh no?” he asked, with a feigned innocence that got on my nerves.

“No. It’s just a precaution.”

“Of course,” whispered my brother. “You’ve bound her to you with your blood only to protect her from the many dangers that lurk in the dark night to do the Abyss’ bidding, not because you also feel that Princess Ashana is now yours and you’d hate the idea of a human trying to take her away from you. ”

I didn’t answer right away.

“Go away,” I said grimly.

“She’s your soul’s half, believe me. Try to behave well with her. If I can, I’ll try to come to Tarnton Palace in a few days. Otherwise, you and the princess are welcome in Gulan.”

With that, he smiled at me. A slightly sad smile.

“I long for the day when we will all be free and reunited with our Father.”

I preferred to remain silent. Personally, I’d given up hope a long time ago.

Even my horse was getting impatient during Ashana’s farewell to her family members.

All women, in fact. I knew that every one of them was casting furtive glances at me, certainly trying to gauge my character to see if the princess would survive by my side.

I immediately took out a cigar, then realized I only had three left.

I grimaced. With a bit of luck, we’d come across a few monsters that would calm my blood.

My blood...

At this thought, I looked at my wife. She had put that horrible bonnet back on.

With it on her head, she looked like a nun!

I ordered Vulcan, my stallion, to move forward to Ashana.

Once close enough, I leaned over. She turned towards me at the same moment, and I took the opportunity to remove the horror from her head.

She shrieked in surprise. I smiled wickedly in return.

“Don’t put that thing on again. That’s a direct order.”

Hands on her hips, she gave me a murderous look.

“I don’t take orders from you! Even more so if it concerns the way I dress!”

I ignored her words superbly.

“I like your hair.”

The two girls I assumed to be her sisters gasped in unison. What had I said that was so shocking? I rolled my eyes in exasperation before continuing.

“From now on, I forbid you to wear those things. Be proud of who you are.”

“Who I am?” she repeated, dumbfounded.

I nodded.

“Yes, who you are. You are my wife. That’s glory enough for you.”

With that, I dropped the bonnet, which fell to the ground, before guiding my horse’s hooves over it. Vulcan trampled over it without a shadow of remorse. Well done. Good boy . When Ashana tried to pick it up in spite of its condition, I stopped her in her tracks with a low voice:

“Don’t even try it, or I’ll get off my horse and burn every cursed bonnet in this castle myself before I go. Provoke me a little and see.”