Page 35 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“Your Majesty?” I ask, rising to my feet. “I would never.”

“And don’t lie to me, either.” She holds up a single finger and points it at me, and then Vizarios. Her eyes are moist. “I need to know I can trust both of you not to leave me out.”

I can easily give what she asks. The new queen has proven herself to be kind, considerate, dependable, and honest. It’s the least she deserves in return for her grace.

“Of course,” I say, bowing my head. “You can always rely on me, Your Majesty.”

But Vizarios doesn’t answer immediately. He’s staring at the floor instead.

“I will do whatever I like.” He raises his head, his eyes narrowed. “I am the king.”

I’m stunned. Nissia doesn’t speak. She simply studies his face, like she might find the answer to all her unaskedquestions there. But then she doesn’t find them, and she lets out a defeated sigh. Without another word, she turns around and strides across the room to the door, where she lets herself out.

When it falls closed behind her, I shake my head at Vizarios.

“Why could you not do that one thing for her?” I ask, deciding it’s better in this moment to be candid. The high of being inside him again, of making him mine, has clouded my better judgment. “The queen has been more than understanding. This was?—”

He scowls. “She cannot commandme. She is no one. A mere human.”

With all my emotions heightened, I’m quickly growing impatient with him. “She is your wife. She watched mefuck you, here in the royal quarters, which should behers”—I draw out the word—“and you talk about her so poorly?”

Vizarios flounders for a response, but now I’m angry. All the bliss from coitus has morphed into fury. I climb to my feet, not sparing him a glance.

“I saw how she looked at you,” I say as I put my clothes back on, tying the laces of my pants. “She cares for you. That’s the only reason this happened tonight.”

His mouth falls open. “Th-that’s not true?—”

“It is true.” I recognized her expression. Admiration and jealousy, that he would surrender himself to me but not to her. It was palpable. “Discard her if you like. But you will only earn an enemy where you could instead have a friend. Or something more.”

I slide on my shirt and leave the same way Nissia did, then slam the door shut behind me.

Chapter Fourteen

NISSIA

Why does he hate me so much? I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

Still, when I get back to my rooms, I feel... let down. Like I had placed such high hopes on all of us finding a way to get along, to make this arrangement work, until Vizarios destroyed it.

I wish I understood him.

I fumble with my clothes as I try to take them off, trying to keep my roiling emotions from overflowing. Zephala comes to take the robes away, then helps me into my nightdress. I’ve taught her how to put on my bonnet at night to protect my hair.

What a mistake it was to trust my “husband.” I thought letting Vizarios have what he clearly wants might soften him toward me, but if anything, he has grown harder, even more unyielding. He couldn’t even promise me a simple thing.

Still, I keep it together until Zephala leaves for the night.But when I lay my head down, I close my eyes and wish Ari were here.

No one needs me. No onewantsme.

I wish that I had something to keep me rooted to the earth, or I might just float away. If I did, would anyone notice?

VIZARIOS

I am left naked on my bed, rather stunned. Just moments ago, I was soaking up the bliss of being with Ragnakor again, of surrendering to him. He felt perfect inside me, striking the exact spot that makes me see stars. Not to mention my wife, who watched us with wide brown eyes, the scent of her arousal perfuming the air and making my cock weep even more.

Nissia asked for my honesty, and so I gave it to her. She wanted me to agree to never go behind her back, and I can’t promise that.

I’m the king. I’ll do what I want to do, and I don’t owe her anything, even if she is my wife.