"You can shut up too. That's an order," Aria said, smiling at her friends.
"Now that's more like it," Peter yelled. They all laughed again, and Aria joined in.
"But really, are we supposed to like...be different around you? Because we're not really sure," Peter said.
"No," Aria said, shaking her head. "I'm still Aria, guys. Nothing's really changed. But my title, I guess."
"And the fact that you now have a husband," Ben said, but his tone wasn't playful like the other's had been.
Aria didn't have anything to say to that.
"So...how was the wedding night," Martinez asked, a mischievous grin on his face.
Aria felt her cheeks flame. The others giggled, raising their eyebrows in question.
"It was fine," Aria said.
"Just fine," Adrian asked, "That must've been a disappointment."
"Nothing happened," Aria said, glaring at him. "If that's what you're curious about."
"Really? Why," Adrian asked, smirking.
"Because that's- not what...what our marriage is like. I did this for you guys. This is purely political. So think about that the next time you want to tease me," Aria said, serious now.
"Jeez, calm down. We're just having a little fun. You don't seem like his type, anyway," Adrian said, putting his hands up. He must have been referring to whoever Lex had been with before her. Though how he knew what Lex's type was, she didn't want to know
"Screw yourself," Aria shot back.
"That's surprising," Ben said.
"What is, exactly," Aria asked, already annoyed.
"I'm surprised he didn't force you or something. But then again, I guess he has others for that," Ben said, smiling at some of the guys at the table.
"And why would you think that? In case you've forgotten, he hasn't forced any of us to do anything. We're here by choice, Ben. Remember that the next time you want to insult the man that's feeding you," she said, her voice cold.
The smile on his face dropped. "Wow...not even married for a whole day, and you're already acting like the model wife."
"Excuse me," Aria said, anger building in her chest.
"You're with us now, Aria. Your friends. You don't have to pretend with us," he said, a questioning look in his eye.
"I'm not pretending, Ben. You're acting like an asshole. And don't talk to me like that."
Everyone else had gone quiet—even Adrian, who always had something to say.
"Are you actually defending him? He-he's dangerous, Aria."
"As of right now, the only person that poses a threat to us is you, Ben."
"Aria you-"
"I trust him," she said, tired of the conversation.
"Aria, you can't be serious?"
"I am," she said, getting up. "And if I trust Lex, then everyone else should too. Or have you forgotten the fact that I'm in charge?"
He looked like she'd slapped him. It felt good.
She left without another word.
Mara caught up to her eventually.
"Not gonna lie...that was pretty badass," Mara said, smirking at her.
Aria laughed.
They ran into Grace on their way to the training area.
"My lady," Grace said, bowing her head. It felt so ridiculous. "Where are you two headed?"
"The training area. Aria's got some anger she'd like to work off," Mara said, smiling.
"Oh, well, I guess I'll join you. When are you leaving?" Grace asked, looking at Aria.
"Leaving," she asked, confused.
"You and Lex? To the house?" Grace said, just as confused as Aria.
"What," Aria asked.
"Oh...uh, sorry I hadn't realized...uh, just forget I asked."
But she couldn't. All through training, she thought about what Grace had asked. Was there some part of the marriage ceremony that was yet to come? Why hadn't Lex said anything? Was he even going to?
Luckily, the people she'd been training with before she was crowned were still willing to train with her. Only now, they didn't tease or laugh at her. They helped her up when she fell.
"My lady," her usual trainer said, extending a hand. He pulled her up, and she couldn't help herself.
"My lady," she asked, "What happened to 'you weak creature' and my personal favorite, 'you rat'?"
The man actually blushed. "I apologize for how I have acted in the past, my lady. I hope you understand that I meant no harm," he said.
Aria laughed. It was fun being queen. Making others squirm.
She finished training and decided to skip lunch. She didn't want to sit up front again, but mostly she didn't want to face her friends after they'd teased her this morning. Instead, she grabbed an apple from the kitchen and made her way to her room.
She had already made it to her old room, the room she'd shared with the other girls, when she remembered that she didn't live there anymore. She sighed and made her way to the king's quarters. And hers, technically.
One of the guards standing by the door greeted her, and opened the door.
It took a while, but eventually, the big tub in the bathroom was half-full of steaming, hot water. Looking around the bathroom, she found a small fixture with bath items on it, oils, shampoos, soaps, and a bag of sweet-smelling potpourri. She stifled a laugh. Did the king actually use this stuff?
Feeling a little smug, she added a bit of the woodsy-smelling oil into the water and got in. It reminded her of the smell that clung to Lex. And before she knew it, her hand had crept between the apex of her thighs. It took only a few minutes before she was shuddering from the pleasure. Lex’s scent all around her, his dark, demanding eyes flashing in her mind.
Afterward, she soaked for a while, letting herself relax.
Suddenly, she heard the door to their room being slammed shut. It must've been Lex; no one else would be in here.
She heard him walking around the room.
"Don't-Don't come in here," she yelled from the bathroom, "It's occupied. I'm not decent."
She could hear him laugh a little before yelling, "Okay. Thanks for the warning."
She rolled her eyes. She grabbed one of the extra buckets she'd brought and rinsed herself before getting out. She wrapped herself in a robe and walked out of the bathroom.
He was sitting at
