Page 41 of Keeping a Nymph’s Heart

“Is that worship?” She chuckled.

He grinned as he kissed her neck. “It could be, my goddess, four orgasms had you sobbing. What do you think you’d do if I kept going?’ His voice was deep and low from imagining it. “If I didn’t stop until you were so wrung out that you couldn’t tell the difference between pain and pleasure? Until you were so desperate that you wanted to beg me to stop, but in your heart, you knew you’d do anything for me to keep going.” Owain felt her pulse speed up in response to his words. He slipped another finger inside her, pumping in and out as he circled her clit faster. Orla clenched around his fingers as she came, crying out his name. The bath suddenly filled with wildflowers, conjured from her magic.

Rising from the stool, he stood over her, eyes raking over her wet, naked body. She reached her hand up to stroke his clothed erection. As she stroked him, Owain released a groan, tipping his head back, slowly thrusting into her hand, momentarily losing himself in the pleasure of her touch. When Orla started to unbutton his trousers he took a step back.

Hells, he wanted her. But he couldn’t have her. Not yet.

“You will take me soon enough, I’m sure. But we don’t want to be late for our meeting with the king.” He winked as he helped her out of the bath.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The king cut an impressive figure sitting on his throne in his royal mantle. The silver-and-blue garments emphasized the might of his reign. Orla entered the throne room flanked by Owain and Chrys. All three bowed low under the king’s shrewd gaze.

Orla was surprised to find that the Edamish lords were already present for the meeting. She hadn’t expected them to be in attendance, and the sight of them made her feel uneasy. Their continued disdain for her hadn’t gone unnoticed over the passing weeks. And she liked them even less after learning about the ways Owain had been treated as a boy. Still, she had a game to play so she kept her gaze focused on King Mikki.

“I am pleased to see you recovered, Lady Orla.”

“Thank you, my king, I’m lucky to be here.”

“So I’ve heard. The lords here were telling me about how instrumental Lord Owain has been in looking after you since the attack.” Turning his gaze on Owain he continued. “My kingdom owes you a debt of gratitude for saving our most esteemed hero.” Owain stiffened at the words, though he wore the mask of bored indifference that Orla had seen during his early days at the palace.

“You’re too kind, Your Majesty.” Owain bowed again, humbly dismissing the king’s gratitude. Orla didn’t know what to make of the Edamish lords watching him so closely.

“Now if you all don’t mind, I need a word with Lady Orla.”

The others shifted, gazes bouncing from one another as if they hadn’t expected to be dismissed before they slowly filed out of the room, leaving Orla alone with King Mikki. Orla forced herself not to fidget or avoid the king’s gaze, even as her heart rate sped up and her mouth suddenly went dry.

“I meant what I said, Lady Orla. I am glad you are alive. But I have to admit, I am concerned you were attacked so brazenly on my palace grounds. The Edamish lords were quick to be in my ear about who they thought may be responsible and touting their heir’s role in saving you, but I know scheming when I see it.”

“What did they say?” Other than her time with Owain, Orla had little to no interactions with the Edamish lords. She wondered why they would be talking to the king about her attack.

“They said that you spend a lot of time with the heir presumptive and alluded to a romantic relationship between you and the heir. Something, I’ll admit, that I hope is untrue.”

His dark eyes stared into Orla’s for a long moment. When she didn’t speak, unsure of what to say, he continued. “They made it seem as though I should be grateful for such a strong connection between the two of you. But I wonder if my strings are being pulled. Is it possible he orchestrated this attack on you?”

“No. Owain, Lord Owain, that is, was the one who found me and healed me. I don’t think he was involved.”

The king nodded and made a soft sound of ascent before continuing on.

“What of the other lords in his retinue?”

“They do not seem to like me, though that is unsurprising given my role at Fontina and my suggestions on how to limit the potential power of their battalion in the future. I have suspected that someone in Edam was responsible for my attack, but I have no evidence for or against those assumptions.” The king nodded again, seemingly in thought.

“There is discordance across the continent. Whisperings of the inequality between the might and wealth of Emmental over the other weaker kingdoms. Alone, the Kingdoms of Mondseer, Urdhe, Pommel, and Roquefort cannot challenge the supremacy of Emmental. But united, they would be… a complication. Our alliance with Edam keeps the other kingdoms in check. They will not rise against both of us. But history has taught me not to trust King Vernon fully.”

Orla said nothing. She had heard that there had been disagreements amongst the kingdoms after the war, but she didn’t know it was so dire. The long years of the war had led to the disruption of goods from the ports of Emmental to the rest of the continent. The war hadn’t just caused suffering in Emmental; it had caused suffering across the continent of Esrom. Only Iridaceae was spared because they no longer traded or allied with the other kingdoms. The barrier in place ensured that Elven conflict did not impact them.

“Have you found anything amiss during your time as the guard to the heir presumptive?”

Truthfully, Orla hadn’t put much thought into what Owain and the lords were doing. She had been so consumed by grief and overwhelm when she first arrived at the palace, then consumed by Owain, that she hadn’t made a very good spy. She refused to tell the king anything Owain had shared with her in confidence. Not now that their relationship had become more than guard and charge, but she knew she couldn’t leave the king with nothing.

“There’s contention between Lord Owain and his advisors. All I have gathered is that they had specific plans when they came to our kingdom, and they don’t feel the heir presumptive is doing his part. But that’s all I know.”

“That’s all you know, or that is all you will share? Lest you forget, Lady Orla, I can tout you around like a puppet on a string if I get a sense that your loyalty is wavering.”

With the wave of his hand, Orla felt her limbs lock. She no longer had control over any part of her body. Only her lungs continued to move up and down as King Mikki peered at her. With another wave of his hand, she felt her body lurched forward. Walking towards him without any intention to do so. Horror seized her. She wanted to panic, to scream, or to run, but was completely locked inside herself. What if he forced her to speak the truth about her relationship with Owain? Or her failure to actually spy on him?

At once, she stopped. Limbs locked again as she stood a mere foot from the king.