Page 9

“Stop fidgeting like that, otherwise you’ll risk exciting the least gallant part of my anatomy,” he grumbled, before nuzzling my neck and taking a long breath.

“Dovah! If you’re awake, let me go!” I shouted curtly.

“Why? You smell so good! Yum, yum!”

Yum, yum? Would he take me for his midnight snack?

“Dovah!” I repeated. “Dovah, don’t pretend to be asleep! I know you’re awake!”

I waited a moment for him to comply, but instead, faint snoring—oh, very light—reached my ears.

He really had dozed off, the brute! So I gave up the fight.

His arm held me too tightly for me to escape without his cooperation, but the steady and deep rhythm of his breathing eventually lulled me to sleep.

Where had he gone during the night? What had he done? I drifted back to sleep with a multitude of unanswered questions running through my mind, and they all had the same subject: the Black Demon, Lord Dovah.

After the restlessness of the night, I felt some relief to wake up—for real—at first light.

But above all, one detail made me feel better: Dovah was no longer in the bed!

I hurriedly chose my clothes for the day, a black woollen skirt sewn to a bodice of the same hue.

Once I’d cleaned up, dressed, and combed my hair, I took a bonnet out of my trunk.

“Put that down right away or I’ll get angry.”

Dovah. I turned to him like a child caught in the act.

“I’m a married woman. I have to cover my head, it’s customary,” I reminded him, confident in my argument.

He smiled. Then I noticed that his clothes matched mine a little too well. In fact, we were perfectly coordinated. A true married couple.

“You wore this unspeakable horror long before our union.”

“But...” I began.

In less time than it would have taken to say it, he closed the distance between us and snatched the bonnet out of my hand. He then waved it in my face.

“Your hair is as rare as the precious stone it imitates. It is magnificent. I never tire of admiring it, and I can hardly keep myself from touching it, lest I scare you away as you shout to anyone who will listen that this is inappropriate of me. I don’t care if it’s customary, do you hear me?

It pleases me to look at it, and it is only my desires that count in my world.

I don’t give a damn about the opinions of the masses! ”

With that, he blew his whistle, and out of the half-open bedroom door came a big, strong-jawed hound with a black and tan coat.

“Dantalion, a gift,” declared Dovah simply, before offering the dog my embroidered bonnet, crafted with care by my sister Bhilène.

The huge dog grabbed the precious fabric and quietly set off back the way he’d come.

“Am I dreaming, or did you just give my bonnet to that dog?”

“That’s where it belongs.”

“It was a gift from my sister!” I protested.

Dovah gave me a mocking smile.

“Does she hate you that much?”

I immediately glared back at him.

“She doesn’t hate me, she loves me!”

“With a gift like this, one could easily think otherwise. Are you ready? We’re leaving. Unless you have any other bonnets to occupy my handler’s pups.”

“You’re nothing but a monster,” I sulked as I passed him.

“Yes, it seems we agreed on that point.” He paused briefly before continuing. “I’ll send some men to get your trunk.”

It was a curious sensation to feel him trailing right behind me. I felt like prey being stalked by a ferocious predator.

“Come and have breakfast in the inn’s great hall,” he suggested, still standing behind my back.

“I imagine you’ve already eaten yours?” I asked, just to make conversation.

I was horribly nervous that he was still behind me, but out of pride, I preferred to continue down the stairs without stopping or trembling.

“Yes, but I’ll keep you company. Do you have to tie your hair up like that?”

“What is it?”

“Your hair.”

“Yes. I am no longer a young girl.”

“And what are you, then? A grandmother?”

I rolled my eyes. I had a feeling he wasn’t about to give up on this detail.

“I’m a married woman. It’s etiquette.”

“If you wanted to respect etiquette, you would have at least left home with a maid and a lady-in-waiting. But you didn’t.”

I stopped dead in my tracks on the last step and turned to meet his gaze.

“Fine. You’ve won. I’m very self-conscious about my hair. Satisfied?”

He smiled broadly in response.

“I love your hair. Don’t worry anymore.”

I put my hands on my hips and raised an eyebrow.

“Because you think you can just tell me and my worries will go away?”

“You’re obviously not listening to me. In my world, only my desires matter. And whether you like it or not, you are now a part of it. Even your complexes.”

“You’re...incredible,” I murmured, taken aback.

“I hear that a lot. Let’s go to the dining hall, shall we? We still have a long way to go.”

We resumed our journey and, as he had promised, I made the trip again on Vulcan’s back.

“If you’re feeling sleepy, feel free to drift off against me. I’m comfortable,” he joked.

I couldn’t see his smile, but it came through in the tone of his voice.

“I’d rather die.”

“Isn’t that a bit extreme for a simple nap?”

He was still having fun at my expense.

“When we first met, I imagined you to be grumpy and cold.”

“Anyone can be mistaken. I must admit that the idea of getting married had quite upset me.”

“I’m sure it did. I was feeling a similar way.”

“Which is normal. Just know that I received this order from King Elendur on the very day the castle was taken.”

At this memory, my heart clenched painfully in my chest.

“Wasn’t it planned from the start?” I asked nonetheless.

“No, it wasn’t. I’m still curious to know what made him want me to marry you, although I already have my suspicions.”

“Oh? And why do you think he forced your hand?”

Dovah didn’t respond right away, and when he did, he remained evasive.

“If I’m right, I’ll explain later. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.”

Suddenly, Massim came galloping towards us on his gray horse speckled with white. Dovah had assigned him a beautiful mount. He must have really liked this boy.

“My lord, we have a problem. It seems that there are thieves waiting for us at the crossroads ahead. Your scouts have counted ten.”

Dovah appeared to think for a moment.

“I see. Let’s carry on as if nothing is wrong,” he then proposed.

I turned in his direction, at least as far as I could in that position.

“You don’t seem irritated by their presence,” I remarked.

“Why should I be? I’d rather thank them for offering me a bit of action.”

Wonderful. My husband was a hothead. Really. Won-der-ful.