Page 52 of What Fury Brings (Wrath and Fury #1)

Olerra didn’t remember drifting off to sleep. One moment she was in the arms of her prince, her king , and the next, she was dreaming.

It was one of those dreams where she couldn’t control it. If she could, she would have chosen a much better scenery. Currently, it was pitch-black, like she stared at the back of her eyelids.

Olerra.

A voice called out to her. It was feminine and beautiful, familiar, yet distant. At first, she wondered if it belonged to her mother.

Olerra.

No, not her mother, but someone important.

“Olerra.”

The voice was right beside her then. It was Goddess Amarra. Olerra wasn’t sure how she knew this. She still couldn’t see a thing, but she knew all the same.

“I’m here,” Olerra said.

“I came to tell you something.”

Olerra knew without needing to be told. “The reason why I’m Giftless.”

“Yes, but I sense I don’t need to. Surely you’ve figured it out.”

She thought for a moment. “I don’t need it.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I became more because I don’t have it.”

“Yes,” Amarra said. “You became sympathetic to those less fortunate than you. The men of my kingdom. The commoners. Do I not love all my children?”

“You do.”

The voice grew distant, as though it were fading away into nothing.

And you will be the queen they all need. My chosen.

Olerra opened her eyes to startling brightness. It was so drastic from the darkness of her dream that she covered her head with her blankets.

“Don’t go back to sleep,” Sanos rumbled. “We’re getting married today.”

She threw the covers off as both the dream and the previous night came back to her. She didn’t know if the dream was just that, a figment of her imagination, or if it was really the goddess sending her a message. A special gift on the eve of her anniversary.

It didn’t matter.

Olerra knew who she was. And she was enough.

“Do you know what?” she said. “I think today is going to be a perfect day.”

“You say that only because you haven’t met my brothers yet.”

“They can’t be worse than you.”

Sanos rolled atop her, yet held his weight up on his hands so as not to disturb her injury. She couldn’t wait until she was well enough to feel all of him atop her.

“Cheeky thing,” he said, before his lips descended to her neck.

“You seem entirely cured of your aversion to physicality,” Olerra remarked. They had lain together not once, but three times in quick succession. The Brutish virility really was something remarkable.

“You know very well the cause of my former aversion.”

“And you had no one to blame but yourself for that. Will I meet the real Andrastus today?”

“Ugh. Please don’t say his name in our bed.”

She grinned. “Our bed?”

Sanos looked at the door to his room. “Would you rather I spent my nights in my own bed?”

“I’m teasing. You’ll be lucky if I ever let you leave our bed.”

The look he sent her was carnal. “As if I’d ever want to.”

His head disappeared under the covers.

Sanos’s cheeks hurt, and it took him a moment to realize that it was from all the smiling he’d done of late. He wasn’t used to… being happy.

Or sex in the daytime.

It was fantastic. He thought he might like morning sex even better than evening sex. Waking up to find Olerra still there after he closed his eyes at night was something he knew he would never get used to.

“Here we are,” Olerra said proudly. “These used to be Glen’s rooms, but now that she’s locked up underneath the palace, this wing is more than big enough for your family. They’re welcome to visit or stay permanently. Don’t worry, it’s been cleared out of all her belongings and thoroughly cleaned.”

They’d received word this morning that Sanos’s family had arrived.

Canus had gotten their mother and Emorra out of the castle, but they were followed on the road.

His father didn’t give empty threats, and even though Sanos hadn’t been the one to end Atalius, there were still men who’d gone after his sister and mother.

They’d had to take a circuitous route to Amarra. Canus had sent word ahead, keeping Sanos apprised of their movements. Sanos would get the full story from his brother some other time. For now, he just wanted to see that everyone was all right.

He knocked.

There was a rustling on the other side of the door, but eventually, Trantos answered, peeking his head around the door, ready to slam it closed if he didn’t like who was on the other side.

“May we come in?” Sanos said mockingly.

Trantos grinned and swung the door wide. “Oh, it’s only you. I was worried there would be more of those overenthusiastic men. They asked if we wanted help bathing before the ceremony tonight.”

Sanos laughed at the thought of his brothers being strong-armed to the baths by the palace eunuchs.

The main greeting chamber was filled with fresh flowers and comfortable chairs. Tea had been sent ahead of them, and two women were already enjoying it.

“Sanos!” Emorra jumped from the sofa and threw herself at him. Her hair was even paler than the brothers, truly white. Sanos ran his fingers through it the way he knew she liked. “I missed you,” she said. “Don’t ever leave again.”

His throat felt heavy. They were here. They were safe.

He set Emorra back on her feet, and his mother took her place.

There were tears on her cheeks. Sanos felt them as she pressed her face against his. “I don’t know how you managed everything, but I am so proud of you.”

“I didn’t do it alone.” He stepped back and took Olerra’s hand. “This is Olerra. She did most of the heavy lifting.”

His mother bowed politely in the Brutish fashion when being introduced to someone new, but Olerra drew her into a warm embrace.

Sanos just barely caught Olerra’s whisper. “Thank you for your son. You brought a beautiful man into the world.”

His heart threatened to burst.

“Thank you,” Ferida said. “For saving him.”

Sanos thought he ought to step away, that perhaps their conversation wasn’t meant for his ears. And then Canus barreled into him.

The breath whooshed out of him, and he felt himself hoisted into the air.

“Wed-ding day. Wed-ding day,” Ikanos chanted from somewhere, drawing out the three syllables.

Trantos and Canus carried him on their shoulders and joined in the chant.

“Put me down, you fools,” Sanos demanded.

They did no such thing.

“You should probably listen,” Andrastus said as he entered the room. “He’s a king now. He can have you beheaded.”

Sanos pulled the hair attached to the heads of the two idiots carting him around. Trantos and Canus finally dropped him.

“Mind your manners,” their mother said, “and come meet your sister-in-law.”

“Not for four more hours,” Emorra said unhelpfully.

Olerra smiled politely at all of them. She didn’t seem uncomfortable, exactly, but like she wasn’t sure what to do with herself. When she caught Sanos’s gaze, she said, “Sorry. I’m not used to so much family in one room. It’s exciting.”

Ikanos slung an arm around Olerra. “It’s really easy. Basically, we all pick on Sanos.”

“Hey!” Sanos said.

“I think I can manage that,” Olerra said. “Shall I tell you about the time he wrestled another man naked in front of a thousand women?”

“Olerra, dear,” Andrastus said, patting the cushion beside him. “You must sit down and tell us everything.”

“Yes, leave out no details,” Canus agreed.

“Okay,” Sanos said, striding over to her. “I think that’s enough family time.”

“I want to hear the story.” Emorra pouted.

“Don’t you have to get ready?” he asked Olerra.

“Not for another hour,” she said sweetly. She sat beside Andrastus, and the rest huddled around on nearby seats. “I’ll start from the beginning.”

Sanos massaged his temples to put on a show, but the truth was, he couldn’t even muster up any true outrage. He had everything he needed in this room.

And now the power to keep them all safe.

He sat down to hear her side of the story of how they first met and fell in love.

Olerra wanted a massive wedding, and Ydra had helped her make it happen. The entire Amarran court was present, and many foreign nobles had come to extend their well-wishes. Not a seat was empty as she stared down the rows and rows of bodies.

Olerra’s dress was midnight black to match the onyx on Sanos’s armband. It was trimmed in silver, and the hem brushed her knees. The sleeves hung off her shoulders, and a leather corset cinched around her waist.

Her sandals were black leather. Beads had been strung onto the strings climbing her calves.

Her hair was arranged in the traditional wedding braid, a crown of plaited hair wrapping around her head, the rest of the strands cascading down her back.

Simple braids were interspersed, more silver beads woven throughout.

She and Ydra stood alone on a raised platform outdoors, the attendees extending before them in large rows. Most were in conversation with their neighbors. Few were looking at the two women on the dais.

“There are so many people,” Ydra said.

“Isn’t it exciting?”

“Better you than me.”

“Someday this will be you,” Olerra said.

“No, thank you.”

“What happened to thinking of stealing a husband for your own?”

“I was putting on a show for your prince, and you know it.”

“Have you ever considered it, though?” Olerra asked. “Taking a husband? A real one, I mean?”

“I asked my favorite whore once if he’d like me to take him away. He said he liked bedding a different woman every night and nothing could persuade him otherwise.”

Olerra smiled. “You and your desire to save everyone. Someday, I hope you’ll learn to let someone take care of you.”

Ydra snorted. “I think you’ve spent too much time around your Brute. We are Amarran. Our job is to care and provide for the weaker sex.”

“But not to the point where we forget to live for ourselves, too.”

“I am—”

Ydra cut herself off because the queen had arrived to officiate the wedding. Lemya came to stand just behind Ydra and Olerra, her hands clasping a folded length of silk, which she would use to bind Olerra’s and Sanos’s hands during the ceremony.

“Ready?” the queen asked.

“Yes,” Olerra said, her stomach tightening with excitement.

At a cue from the queen, the musicians in the back changed the tune they were playing to a wedding march. Olerra looked down the aisle between the rows of chairs eagerly.

First, Ikanos appeared. He wore a Brutish set of fancy robes that must have been stifling in the Amarran heat. He grinned as he walked, tossing out white rose petals. When he got to the end, he bowed to Olerra, before taking position at the far end of the dais.

Next, Trantos appeared. He was perhaps getting a bit too into the music. His hips swayed dramatically, and he even twirled for the audience, who clapped. He winked at Olerra before taking his place next to his brother.

Ydra suddenly froze beside her. “Who is that?” she whispered.

Canus was coming up the aisle now. He walked purposefully, clad in a black tunic and pants. His clothing was molded to his big frame.

“Sanos’s brother Canus.” Olerra turned to Ydra curiously.

Her friend swallowed. “I’ve never seen a man that big.”

“The late king was bigger.”

“Was he? I hadn’t noticed.” Ydra’s eyes tracked Canus all the way to the dais.

Olerra was getting so much entertainment out of Ydra’s fascination that she didn’t notice Andrastus had appeared until he was already at the dais.

Olerra quickly returned her gaze to the end of the aisle, just in time to see Sanos make his appearance. His mother and sister each held one of his arms, but Olerra barely gave the Brutish women a thought.

Her man was stunning.

He’d opted for Amarran clothing, which pleased her greatly. The skirt was magnificent, showing off his legs to their greatest effect. It was black to match her dress, more onyx beads trailing across the garment. His silk shirt was white and sleeveless, the armband glinting in the sun.

His white-blond hair was braided out of his face, and he wore minimal makeup. Some kohl about his eyes, and a little silver over his eyelids. His trek to the front seemed to take forever. Olerra was almost ready to run to him, but she managed to stay in place.

When they finally arrived, Emorra and Ferida took their places beside Ydra, while Sanos stepped up to Olerra.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi,” he said back.

The queen was speaking now, but Olerra didn’t hear a word of it. She was too mesmerized by the man before her.

She was vaguely aware of the way the queen wound the silk about their clasped hands or the words Olerra had muttered to love and care for her beloved throughout all time. She watched Sanos’s lips move as he promised to cherish her and support her in all things.

And then it was done.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

She knew the Brutes didn’t show affection in public, typically, but Sanos was more than happy to participate in the last rite of the Amarran wedding.

He pulled her just as close. Met her lips just as enthusiastically.

And Olerra was thrilled to have her equal at her side, now bound to her forever.