“I’m not interested in power,” Cam said.
Kraed raised an eyebrow. “And yet here you are, amassing more and more.”
Cam opened his mouth to argue, but the priest’s hand fell away, and he heard Galla say his name. He shook his head as he turned to his new bride, forcing Kraed’s words from his mind as he strode to join the girls.
Their circle opened and admitted him. He put one arm around Galla, the other around Key.
“Now then,” he said. “I have one pretty wife. Which of you are next?”
Felin rolled her eyes. “We all know Key’s next. You keep telling her that.”
Cam feigned surprise. “Really? You want to marry me, Key?”
“Don’t be an ass,” she said.
“I mean, I’m not surprised, considering how great I am.”
“I’m really rethinking that whole thing right now.”
Cam laughed, kissed her, and turned to Galla. She beamed up at him, cheeks still slightly pink, and she stood on her toes to kiss him again. He held that kiss a bit longer, felt his blood stir as he pulled back, his eyes lingering on her lips, down to her breasts.
“You know we have one more thing that needs doing,” Cam said.
“Barely been married for a few minutes, and he already wants to take her to bed,” Miuri said. “What a typical man.”
“Can you blame me?” Cam asked.
“No, I really can’t,” Miuri said.
Galla’s cheeks went from pink to red, crimson to match her dress. “We’re meant to consummate this then, isn’t that right?” she asked.
“That’s the idea,” he said. “But I won’t force anything on you, you know.”
“No, I want… I want that,” she said, then looked around. “If you all don’t mind.”
“We plan on joining,” Felin said. “You don’t get him without us.”
Galla’s mouth fell open. She looked from Felin, to Miuri, and ended up on Key.
Key stepped around Cam and put her hands on Galla’s shoulder. She stared into the girl’s eyes then leaned forward and kissed her. Cam watched Key’s kiss deepen, turning more passionate as their mouths opened. Key pulled back and Galla’s mouth glistened from the kiss.
“Come on,” Key said. “Let’s introduce you to our bed. I think you’ll like it.”
Key turned and began back up the narrow path.
“Too late to back out now,” Miuri said to Galla. “You poor girl. You don’t know what you’re in for.” She followed after Key.
“Don’t mind them,” Felin said. “They’re just teasing. But yeah, we’re going to fuck your brains out.” She went next, whistling to herself.
Cam took Galla’s hand. “Any regrets?” he asked.
“None,” Galla said.
Then he led her along after the girls.
3
Galla sat on the edge of the huge bed back in Cam’s room, still in her crimson dress. She stared up at him, her eyes wide and nervous. She shifted slightly, moving her body side to side, as Cam tilted his head and let his gaze move down her lips, her chest, her hips.
“I have to admit,” she said, “I’m used to men staring at me. But I’m not used to men knowing they’re about to undress me.”
Cam smiled and knelt down in front of her. He reached out and took her left hand, which seemed to surprise her.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” he said.
“Really?” She laughed, nervous and shrill. “I thought this was your right now. I am your wife, after all.”
“Come on, Galla,” Cam said. “Do you really think I’m like that?”
She seemed to soften. “No,” she said. “I know you aren’t.”
“I don’t really think you’re nervous to undress in front of me,” Cam said. “You did that once already. So, what’s really bothering you?”
She leaned forward and pressed her other hand against his, holding his fingers between her palms. Cam let his eyes drift to her body again, unable to help himself, still trying to get used to the idea that Galla was his wife.
“If you really want to know, I was thinking about my father.”
Cam let out a laugh. “Really? That’s not exactly what I wanted to hear.”
She gave him a little glare. “Not like that,” she said. “I was just thinking about how he’ll react to this.”
“It won’t be good,” Cam said. “We both know he doesn’t want this union, and I have a feeling he understands what it means for his power.”
She moved Cam’s fingers between her own, gently rubbing them and staring at the calluses on his skin. “More than that, he’s my father. As much as I know this is the right thing, I still feel horrible about trying to push him aside.”
“I have to admit, I didn’t expect to hear you say that.”
She smiled, sad and small. “I try not to show weakness,” she said. “But you’re my husband now. So I suppose if I can’t tell you what I’m thinking, I can’t tell anyone, right?”
“You can tell me,” Cam said. “Honestly, it makes me feel a little bit better. I mean, you can be pretty terrifying, you know.”
She pulled her hands away from Cam’s and leaned forward, cradling his chin toward her. She kissed him, gently at first, but deeper and slower. He moved forward, pushing himself between her legs, spreading them wide.
“I need you to know something,” she said, pulling away and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“I want… to be a part of this.” She bit her lip, and for the first time since they met, Cam saw her for what she was: a young girl, trying to find her place in the world.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Your relationship. Your girls. Miuri and Felin and Key… I don’t think Key likes me very much.”
“She does,” Cam said. “She’s just confused. This marriage isn’t easy on her.”
“Can I do anything to soften it?”
“I don’t think so,” Cam said. “But try and get along with her, if you can.”
“You two have known each other for a long time, right?”
“Since we were kids. She was supposed to be the one.”
“I know what you mean,” she said. “And now
