“I, Cerdic, of house Wessex, do swear upon all I am as a man, noble, and child of Aether, and give myself fully and completely to my princess, Inez of house Garner. I will give my oath to no other as none are as worthy as she. May Aether strike me dead if I ever think to betray her, and grant me the courage and strength to always protect my princess so that she is able to lead and protect us all.
“By my word, my solemn vow, I pledge my body, heart, soul, and every drop of my life-giving blood as yours, My Princess, to do with as you need, as your needs are always first. I humbly beg that you find me worthy to be called yours, Princess.”
I held my breath, nervous for him for some reason. Then I gasped as she knelt.
“What now?” Mother demanded.
“She knelt in front of him,” I answered.
“I, Inez, of house Garner, give all of myself to you,” she said as she moved her cut hand towards him. In a flash, Cerdic had off his jacket, tie, vest, and shirt, knowing what was going on it seemed. She moved her bleeding hand to his chest over his heart. “I pledge to be your princess, and loyal to you, as you would be to me. I am yours, now and forever, as even death will not part us. I promise to be your wife, friend, mate, and partner.
“I will give this oath to none you do not approve of, as I could never betray my vow to be partners with you. Before Aether and all other gods, I swear to cherish you and never, not ever, take you, nor the gift of your oath, for granted, as I love you with all of me and wish to be yours forever.”
“She cannot be serious,” Olivia hissed. “That is not how it’s done.”
I shrugged. “She gave him her blood. She accepted.” I glanced at Mother. “What is that cut on her hand?”
“Cerdic said it’s how she grew her tree. She had to plant it with her blood, and like we all do, she adds blood to it, but he said she also bleeds on the ground and sends power into it.” She glanced at where they were, even if the partition was blocking them. “I’ll have to peek later. What is happening now?”
I glanced back at them and saw two of her knights carry out a small daybed without legs so it sat right on the grass. Cerdic got her out of her dress after he had undressed, shielding her from all the eyes as much as he could. I narrated for everyone as I watched, unable to look away from her beauty, jealous of my twin once again.
My lips twitched as Cerdic dove right into licking his princess who moaned in delight. “Cerdic is performing—”
“Yes, thank you, I know what’s happening now,” Mother drawled, Olivia snickering softly.
“She’s keeping her cut hand to the ground. That should have healed by now though.” But it didn’t. I said as much when I saw blood drip from the cut onto the grass when Inez lifted her hand slightly when she orgasmed.
“Does she think this is porn?” Olivia grumbled under her breath as she moved up next to me, staying behind the partition.
“I’m surprised she can enjoy it at all.”
“Oh please, she’s a complete attention whore. She might blush and act all innocent, but she’s got scores of men and more lining up—” She growled when Inez let out another cry. “I’m so tired of her innocent act. She’s just trying to get more attention. Poor Inez without memories was bullied into this or—”
“Father tried to force her to have sex,” I said under my breath.
She grabbed my arm roughly and turned me to face her. “Is that what the bitch is saying? Father would never—”
“No, I was explaining my comment. I saw it. So did Mother.” I nodded when she gave me a look she didn’t believe me when she let go. “I swear it to you, Olivia. Mother saw, so did Sebastian, so Nora will know too. He even injured her when she denied him.”
“Why would he do that? What does everyone see in her?” she seethed, focusing on that at first before grabbing me again. “What did she do? She could kill him for injuring her.”
“She tossed it to Mother to handle.” I chuckled when her mouth fell open. “Shocked the shit out of me too.” I smirked at her when she couldn’t seem to get her mouth to work. “Maybe it’s not an act after all and you should cut her some slack, huh?”
That didn’t happen. I might as well have thrown fuel on the fire. I listened to Olivia bitch about Inez and let out her jealousy as I watched my twin screw Inez’s brains out. And sometimes I got more food too. There were worse ways to spend a Saturday after all. I was just about to get some more food when I felt something I shouldn’t have, my head snapping around to look in that direction.
I didn’t even bother saying goodbye to anyone, taking off towards the feeling and internally cursing when I realized I was right, intercepting her before the castle. I knelt down, lowering my head. “My Princess, I felt you approach. I did not expect you.”
“You were longer than you said you would be,” Bahati replied, her voice taking that dangerous tone I’d once thought sexy and powerful.
Now I knew the truth.
Now I knew the real her.
When I was young and wounded, I saw the darkness in her and thought it echoed my own, much like Inez and her nobles, bonding because they shared it. I had thought Bahati was the
