“I would ask who else he’s backed into a corner for sexual favors using your name and power to trade on it,” Vitor suggested… While holding back Kristof who was trying to get to Henry, probably to kill him for touching me.
“Yes, My Princess,” Henry said, clearing his throat before bowing. He shot a worried look at Kristof and then was gone before I blinked next.
He had blocked most of my view since he’d moved me against the wall, but now I could see there was an audience, including Ceawlin, Sebastian, and Jaxon, on top of Kristof, Matilda, and Vitor.
“Glad you guys stalk me, even in the castle,” I whispered, rubbing my chin. I gasped, assuming he’d given me a hairline fracture that was healing. Rat bastard.
“How bad?” Kristof snarled.
“I’m fine. It’s healing,” I promised. “We have too many eyes and ears for this. Let Matilda handle it.”
“That is incredibly generous of you,” Ceawlin muttered. “You could ask for Father’s head for touching you that way, much less injuring you.”
I shook my head. “I felt Vitor here and poked him into it when I saw the darkness in his eyes.” I looked over to Matilda. “But still he did it, so I never want him in my presence again. I have enough nightmares without risking another problem or issue that ends in people dying.”
She dipped her head to me. “I understand. Thank you for letting me handle this.”
I nodded. “Excuse me, I need a drink or five.”
Kristof was there before I could take a step, hugging me to him. “I can’t leave you alone for a minute without trouble finding you.”
“I just went to the bathroom,” I rasped, trying to keep it together. “What do we tell Cerdic?”
“Nothing yet. Can you wait until tomorrow? I worry his reaction to—”
“Yeah, he’ll be crushed to learn his dad’s such a dick,” I whispered.
Matilda snorted. “I think he’s worried Cerdic will lose his temper and kill his father. Your Zen master has a horrible temper. It’s very, very rare to come out, but when it does, he flies off the handle the way few do, and given how much he loves you, I fear he would kill Henry.”
“Okay, let’s tell him tomorrow,” I squeaked. Shit, no killing people for sexual harassment and an overly rough chin grab. I headed for the ballroom, ignoring anything they might want to talk about and needing a few minutes to get myself together.
Except I didn’t get them.
The second I stepped into the ballroom, my period must have started as nostrils flared and people turned their heads to look at me. Wow, what a way to wave the banner in a packed ballroom I was on my period. I didn’t even have time to get embarrassed, Cerdic came from wherever and was standing in front of me. He kissed me, his eyes bright with excitement.
“It’s time. I can make you mine forever now.”
I nodded, trying to swallow down what had just happened and my nerves. He picked me up and blurred us to the courtyard. Darius and Jaxon must have heard or smelled me as they appeared as well. We waited a few moments for people to get in place, the excitement coming from Cerdic almost a fog in the air.
The partition went up for the Wessexes and I sighed in relief. Good, I didn’t have to deal with them watching… And I’d just pretend they were all deaf.
I took my dagger from Jaxon, slicing open my hand and going over to the tree. I leaned against it, my blood soaking into it from my touch. I sent up a silent prayer to Aether, asking for her blessing and things go a bit better for us while also thanking her for all we had, grateful we were better off than others.
I moved back to Cerdic, nodding I was ready.
He knelt down. “Inez of house Garner, I wish to give you my oath. Will you accept it?”
“Do my husbands approve?”
“We do,” Jaxon answered, Darius saying the same.
“Yes, I will,” I told Cerdic, a thrill racing through me when I saw the need in his eyes.
“Thank fuck,” he rasped, lowering his head, but not before I saw tears in his eyes.
And they wondered why I agreed when I thought it was too soon for all of this? Silly men.
14
Ceawlin
No woman had seen through me so fast before. No woman had ever seen me so clearly. But then, I felt the truth like a punch to the gut. No, not me, him. She saw him so completely, down to his very soul even, that it was easy to know I wasn’t him.
Still, the lines she’d crossed, stabbing me because of what I’d done to my twin, were shocking. Olivia had left a lot out of the information she’d sent me, and I found myself so surprised by it all, I couldn’t even think to continue the plan and start trouble for Cerdic and his princess.
Mostly because I truly thought she might cut me, even with the alliance with the house of Wessex, and I was his brother. Though she also seemed to want me to choke on jealousy as well. She gave Cerdic everything he could want. He was completely spoiled, from the mating gift to the bachelor party gifts and everything in between. Princesses didn’t give their nobles such treasures and astounding affection.
We gave it to them, and all we could, for crumbs of anything we could get.
But I wasn’t the only one jealous, and I didn’t mean Olivia.
Three times as many people as invited showed up, most playing games of court crap, but others
