Page 35 of What Fury Brings (Wrath and Fury #1)

First, Sanos felt his cheeks flame. Olerra had told Ydra what had happened between them.

That was mortifying. Second, outrage took over.

How dare Ydra come to him like this and question him about personal matters?

Finally, a horrible realization set in. Is that what Olerra had been waiting for each night before she left him?

She’d wanted him to invite her to… what?

Not sex. She was still preparing , but other things.

Things that potentially involved the giant mirror she’d had hung in his room.

Olerra wanted an invitation. Amarra’s tits, she’d been giving him space, yet opportunity…

And he’d been none the wiser.

How the fuck was he supposed to know that? He wasn’t a bloody mind reader.

Instead of telling Ydra all that, he got defensive. “That is none of your business.”

“Wrong. Olerra is the best person I know, and I make it my business to help her achieve happiness. You are keeping yourself from her. You’re making her work harder than she should have to in order to secure the throne. Why?”

“I am stolen ,” he reminded her.

“Would you get over that already? It may have been the start of your relationship, but it doesn’t have to be the end. You need to treat her better. You have no idea the honor she has bestowed upon you.”

“Why? Because I’m her first husband? Lucky me. I think I’ll feel less special once she fills all those bedrooms with more conquests.”

Ydra took a step closer. “You stupid boy.”

“I’m fairly confident that I’m older than you.”

“Yet you behave like a child. Olerra isn’t taking a harem like me. Just this week she has declared you her seul. It is an honor usually only bestowed to a sirem, who takes only one woman as her wife, such as the queen has done.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She’s not taking any men for a harem. Only you for some unfathomable reason, you complete twat.”

Before Sanos could even think of a response to that, Olerra showed up. She smiled at them. “Are you two getting better acquainted?”

“Yes, Andrastus is a delight,” Ydra said so convincingly that Sanos almost believed it.

“I’m so glad you think so.” Olerra ran a finger over the armband Sanos wore on his left bicep as Ydra left them. “And what do you think of my sister-chosen?”

“She’s— What’s a seul?”

Olerra snapped her gaze to Ydra’s retreating back so quickly he was surprised it didn’t hurt her neck. “Where did you learn that?”

“Ydra might have mentioned something.”

Olerra rolled her eyes. “It’s when a woman chooses only one partner to share her life with. Only one to bed.”

“And you’ve chosen me?” he asked in a voice almost too quiet to hear.

She nodded once.

And then he had to know: “Did you decide this before or after you’d taken me?”

Was this for Andrastus or him?

“After.”

The word shattered him. It made no sense. She hardly knew him, yet she all but announced that he was special to her.

“You didn’t want me to know?” he asked.

“You seem to pull away from me the more affectionate I become.”

It was true. Even now he felt the immense desire to flee. He couldn’t handle the emotions she wrought in him or how these last few days with her soldiers had been some of the best of his life.

Gods, if his father found out…

Perhaps she could see him spiraling because she quickly added, “It’s because my cousin is winning, and I needed to do something drastic to win over the nobility.”

“How does this win them over?”

“I told you. If they think I’m madly in love with you, they will not think me so weak for taking that beating for you. It is a ruse, Andrastus. You and I are the only ones who know how things really are between us.”

Did they? Did he?

She’d given up sex with another man for him.

No, not him , for a throne. Sanos would do that and more if it would make him the Brutish king.

Then why did Ydra seem to think there was so much more to it?

Sanos wanted to ask but didn’t want to admit he was thinking so hard about it.

“There’s more,” Olerra said, interrupting his thoughts. “I need to ask something of you, and I need you to take it seriously.”

“What?”

“My cousin is throwing a party. We have to be seen together. We have to seem in love, and I need you to show up the men in her harem.”

“What?” he repeated.

“At parties, the men will often show off their talents. They perform the entertainments for the night. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to prove yourself better than any man from Glen’s harem.

Perhaps you could recite some poetry you’re fond of?

Do something in front of everyone to make them like you? ”

“Recite poetry,” he repeated.

“Yes, I’ve heard you do recitations that bring crowds to tears.”

Fuck.

He tried to think quickly. “Not large crowds. Private audiences. I don’t—”

“Please, Andrastus. I need this. My people need this.”

For the first time since meeting her, he wanted to do what she asked.

He knew better the stakes—what would happen if Glenaerys were made queen instead of Olerra.

And some part of him deep down wanted to do this for her just because she’d asked.

He told himself it was because once he was king of Brutus, he’d rather deal with Olerra than Glen as queen of Amarra.

If he could make that happen before he escaped, then why wouldn’t he?

Sanos took a breath. “I will need some books from the library.”

“Yes, of course. Whatever you need! I will tell your escorts, and I shan’t bother you.”

Whatever face he bore, she seemed to think he needed encouragement. “I believe in you,” she told him. “I know you can do this.”

He gritted his teeth. “You will owe me for this.”

“Gladly.”

Though there was a library in the gymnasium, Sanos was allowed access to the royal library as Olerra’s soon-to-be husband. She’d claimed there were Brutish texts within, and he might find some “favorites” there. He really hoped he could find something familiar, at the very least.

Poetry.

Fucking poetry.

Sanos could recount the great wars of his people. He could list important dates and figures, recite the winning maneuvers in important battles.

But poetry?

That hadn’t been part of his required reading growing up, and he didn’t gravitate toward it naturally. Now he had to memorize something. And deliver it with finesse.

This wasn’t going to work. He wished he could ask Andrastus for help. He missed his brothers something fierce, even Canus.

Were they getting on well without him? Was his father terrorizing Andrastus? Were his brothers blamed for his disappearance? Was his father keeping it quiet, or did he have the entire country searching for him? Gods, he wished he could have some news from home. Anything.

He wished he could move his mother and siblings here into Amarra with him.

The thought startled him.

It was the first time he’d thought about bringing his family here rather than going home.

An accident, surely.

He was a literal prisoner.

But he hadn’t been beaten once. He’d participated in fights, but nothing like on the battlefront. The Amarrans, his so-called enemies, treated him better than his own father did.

Olerra protected him from the threat of her cousin. By taking him, he realized she was protecting him from his father without even knowing it.

But there’s no one to protect my family now.

And this place was horrible. Sanos made himself remember the market and the pit. Then again, Olerra had plans to dismantle the evil of that place and make things better for Amarra’s people.

But only if she was made crown princess, and for that to happen, she needed him.

He was stuck here, but he could help Olerra win her throne.

With poetry.

He found a stack of titles and started to read.

Olerra invited herself over to Ydra’s for dinner. She hadn’t gotten to spend nearly enough time of late with her friend, and since Andrastus seemed to like it whenever they left the palace, she took him with her.

Besides, she had something to discuss with her sister-chosen.

The dinner table was heavy-laden with stuffed birds, herb-covered breads, and roasted vegetables dripping with gravy.

Ydra’s large dining room could have seated almost the entire court, but they took up only part of one end.

Aside from Olerra, Ydra, and Andrastus, five of Ydra’s harem were present.

These were the older boys who could be trusted not to reveal the true purpose of Ydra’s harem, though Olerra suspected Andrastus had already guessed what really went on in the house.

Ydra didn’t have nearly the sway that Shaelwyn, Enadra, Cyssia, or Usstra did, but as Olerra’s biggest supporter, she needed to maintain a certain reputation: that of the dominant Amarran woman.

The gods only knew what Glenaerys would do if she learned that Ydra’s harem was just for show.

That Ydra “lowered” herself by caring for and protecting these boys from those who would misuse them at their tender ages.

“Did you have to meddle?” Olerra whispered to Ydra, who sat right beside her at the table.

Ydra turned a falsely innocent face to her. “Hmm?”

“He doesn’t like special treatment. He doesn’t like being wooed. Why did you have to tell him he was my seul? That was for the rest of the nobility to know. Not him. He’s… delicate.”

“I was trying to speed things along. Help you to be less mopey so you can turn your mind to other things.”

“All you’ve done is make things more awkward.”

They both turned toward the empty seat beside Olerra. Andrastus had elected to sit next to one of the boys rather than her. The prince was chatting with Jurn, who laughed at whatever he had to say.

Ydra’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I thought I was helping.”

“Just talk to me first the next time you want to help.”

Ydra pushed her food aside and pouted spectacularly.

The next course was brought in, and everyone’s mouths had to be watering at the smell of roasted venison.

“You know, Olerra,” Ydra said loudly as she cut into her meat, “you’ve inspired me. I’m thinking perhaps it’s time I planned out my own husband heist.”

The room went silent. Andrastus paused with a forkful halfway to his mouth.

“What are you doing?” Olerra quietly asked.

Ydra ignored her and turned to Andrastus. “Are you lonely, Prince? Would you like it if I brought one of your brothers into Amarra?”

Andrastus froze. “Absolutely not.”

“No, you’re not lonely, or no, you don’t want me to take one of your brothers for my own?”

Andrastus looked down, methodically cutting his food into small bites with the knife. Perhaps they shouldn’t have allowed him one, but Olerra was confident she and Ydra could wrest it from him before he did any damage should it come to that.

“You wouldn’t want them,” he said.

“And why’s that?” Ydra asked.

“Too old for you.”

Ydra didn’t take offense. “Really? Just how old is the youngest?”

“Eighteen.”

“Hmm,” she said. “For the sake of argument, let’s say I am willing to finally take a man into my bed. Which brother would you recommend?”

“You’re not touching my brothers, Ydra.”

“I thought you would be happier to have family close by.”

“They can visit,” he insisted.

Ydra shot Olerra an Isn’t he impossible? look.

“Stop helping,” Olerra whisper-shouted to her friend.

“Fine,” Ydra said back.

The only sounds were that of the young boys’ chewing and utensils clacking on plates.

Olerra chose to break it. “Will you tell me about your brothers?”

Andrastus considered the question before looking at Ydra with concern.

Olerra assured him, “She’s not really going to take one. Ydra’s not ready for a husband. Isn’t that right?”

“I suppose,” Ydra said before taking a sip of wine.

Andrastus said, “Canus is third-born. He is… difficult at times. Definitely the hardest for me to get along with. Father won’t allow him to join the fighting against the Ephennans, so he’s been known to visit the smithies to learn more about weaponry.

He trains quite a bit with the guards stationed in the barracks. He’s desperate to prove himself.”

“Maybe I’d like him if you don’t get along with him,” Ydra pointed out.

Olerra shot her a warning look.

“Trantos is fourth-born,” Andrastus went on, ignoring Ydra’s comment, “and he’s a bit wild. Always missing. Always late for everything. I genuinely don’t know what he gets up to, but he’s a peacemaker at heart. Not that he hasn’t been trained like the rest of us; he just would prefer not to fight.

“Ikanos is the youngest, and he recites the most gods-awful poetry when he’s drunk. He still works with tutors and doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life yet. Not that any of us have much say in the matter. Father lets us know exactly what is expected of us.”

Andrastus took another bite of food.

“What of the crown prince?” Olerra asked. “You said nothing of Sanos.”

Andrastus met her eyes and said, “You wouldn’t like Sanos.”

The words didn’t match his tone. “Why is that?”

“He’s contentious. Calculating. A fighter.”

“I actually like the sound of that,” Ydra said. “Too bad taking the crown prince would start a war.”

“He wouldn’t like you,” Andrastus said with certainty.

“Guess we won’t know until he comes to visit,” Ydra replied.

The prince glared at Olerra’s friend.

“There,” Ydra whispered to Olerra as she dabbed her face with a napkin. “Now he’s angry with me and not you. You’re welcome. Get him ready for the party.”