66 You’re My Queen

Amory had never felt this way before. Powerful, peaceful, yet energetic and swift. He felt as though he was breathing clearly for the first time.

But Yavanna evidently did not feel the same way. He breathed out a slow breath, realizing that his previous words had frightened her. Why was she still so afraid of him? He'd been gentle with everything he'd done with her since she'd awoken. And he had even made sure to make drinking her blood pleasurable.

And he knew that she had enjoyed it. Her small gasps and the way her body had leaned closer was proof of that. And those small gasps had undone something in him. He felt shaken and secure at the same time. She was driving him insane.

"Yavanna, what are you trying to do?" He asked, forcing his tone to be calm despite where his thoughts were.

Her wide eyes stared into his. Firm and hiding the fear that rolled off her in waves. "Trying to escape. Because I don't want to be in here, with you." She added as an afterthought and his brow raised.

"No, I don't mind that you want to escape." He said and he loved how he could see everything in her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. "It's how you're trying to. Your magic."

She stiffened in his hands and he watched as walls went up in her eyes. A woman of many faces, he noticed. Faces he'd never gotten to see because of that veil. But, seeing his wife's face had scared him, if he was honest. It was easier to hate someone if he couldn't see their face.

And in this case, see the innocence in their face.

"What about my magic?" Her voice didn't sound like hers and he felt a surprising amount of admiration spring up in him. His wife truly was stronger than he gave her credit for. And…shouldn't she be battling a fever?

He shook himself from his thoughts to answer her, "It hurts you."

She flinched and attempted to cover it, as she muttered, "It doesn't."

He didn't bother to hide how he softened at her change in demeanour.

"If it hurts, why do you do it?" He asked, longing to stroke her cheek. Would she lean into his touch, or would she jerk away, disgusted?

"I need to do it," She replied, "How else am I supposed to protect myself?"

"I'll protect you." He said without hesitation.

What surprised him was her laughter. Mocking and unbelieving. "You'll protect me?" She laughed again and his expression darkened further. "When have you done anything to protect me?"

"I protected you from Velio. I protected you when you were attacked. And I saved you." He answered, slightly hurt that didn't remember any of the instances.

"Oh please. You were there for your people. You didn't come for me."

Amory stopped and regarded her, "My people?"

"Yes," She answered, exasperated, "The ones Niran took."

"Niran." He muttered under his breath. So the warlock had taken them. "He never hurt you? Or touched you?"

She blinked and he saw her skin flush. His nostrils flared, "He did, didn't he?" He bit out, rage suddenly pouring into him.

"O-o-only once. A-and he left soon after." She stammered.

"Where did he touch you?"

Her brows drew together, as though annoyed by his questioning, "Nowhere you need to know, dear husband."

He sighed at the sarcasm in her voice, but let it go. She was upset. He still had her caged against the door, her wrists still secure in his hands. "Why did Niran want you?"

She looked away, her body relaxing at the change in subject, "I'm not sure. But there was a reason. And he trained me." She was quiet for a moment before she said, "He said it was important for someone like me. Whatever that means"

Amory blew out a breath and finally stepped away from her. "Bathe and get dressed. Be ready to appear before the court tomorrow." He said as he walked to his wardrobe. It was too warm to wear a coat at the moment.

"Why?"

He quirked a brow and turned to look back at her. Her back was still propped up against the door, her hands splayed out behind her. "Why? Because you're my queen." He scoffed lightly.

"You certainly have never treated me like it." She said under her breath, but he heard it.

"No? Well, as queen you're to be by my side at all functions. And, you're to warm my bed when I ask." Her face paled considerably. "Which one would you prefer?" He asked, hiding a smirk.

She was his wife and he began to fantasize about how she would react if he told her that she was to be intimate with him. He would have to explain it to her, wouldn't he?

"Fine." She grumbled and turned the door handle.

He shook his head, "You'll live here from now on. I've had your belongings moved from your room to here."

She scoffed in disbelief and he found it a humorous sight. "I'm bathing in my quarters, thank you very much. And there's nothing you can do to stop me."

He grinned and had to control himself so as not to laugh at her forced politeness, "I believe there is—" But she was already gone.

Amory shook his head again and finished in dressing.

He wandered the halls, he felt as though he was walking on air. He wanted more of her. He wondered if seeing her smile would have the same effect. Because she truly had an effect on him.

"I see that helped."

Amory stopped at the sound of Clark's voice. He cast a glance of suspicion at him. He ignored him, he didn't want to hear what thoughts Clark had on the matter.

As he walked past him, Clark reached out his hand and grabbed Amory by the arm. Amory met his eyes with impatience and saw that Clark's were nearly wild, his voice sounded like a wild animal's, when he said, "Don't just walk away. Was it like Velio said?"

Amory raised his chin, and answered coolly, "No." He shoved his brother off of him and continued walking down the hall.

"Then you wouldn't mind me having a taste." He muttered under his breath.

Fury, hot and red, poured into Amory's veins and before he could blink, he had Clark pinned up against the wall.

Clark laughed. His younger brother had become more aggressive in the weeks that Yavanna was gone and Amory couldn't understand it. She wasn't Clark's. So why did he react in such a way.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." He choked out.

"What's wrong with you?" Amory asked, "You've never been this greedy."

Clark scoffed, "I'm not being greedy. She's meant for all of us."

Amory scoffed this time, "Is she now?" He wasn't the Hundredth King. He wasn't her husband. "You will not touch my wife. And you will never, ever, taste her blood. She's mine."

Anger flared in Clark's eyes, then he smirked and Amory leaned back. Were both of his brothers destined to be insane? "Then where is she?" He sneered.

Amory tried to conceal his sudden panic. Where had she gone to bathe? Had Clark already hurt her? He disappeared and arrived in her room. Hearing a shriek, he turned and looked to where she was sitting in a tub.

He released a breath of relief. 'You're okay.' He thought as he scanned the room quickly. It had lost a bit of her essence, but he was glad for it. Because it was now in his room. Where it belonged.

"Get out." She said with a tremor in her voice. He frowned and looked at her. She was shivering and pale. He dipped his hand in the water and stared at her in horror when he felt how cold it was.

"What are you thinking?" He asked in outrage.

"I'm having a bath." She answered, her chin in the air.

He gaped at her, "In glacier water?"

She rolled her eyes, then ducked her head as though ashamed of having done it, "It's not that cold,"

"Your lips are blue." He protested and reached to pull her out of the water. What was she thinking? She just recovered from a fever and now she was bathing in frigid water?

She gripped his wrists with her ice cold hands and her breasts bobbed above the water. A strangled sound escaped him at the sight of the soft flesh made tight from the cold.

Her ears turned red and he knew she'd seen his gaze drawn there, but she hid her embarrassment well. "I can get out myself."

He huffed and turned around when she released his arms. As she wrapped a towel around herself, he asked, "Who drew the bath for you?"

After a space of silence, she said, "I did."

He snorted. It made sense. "And why would you go and do something like that?" They had a castle full of servants.

"Because I wanted to." She answered and he could picture her sticking out her chin defiantly.

"But it was cold." Amory stated, turning around to see her standing there, trembling, in a fur-lined robe.

He sighed and neared her. She physically shrank and he stopped short.

"I couldn't find a way to heat it." She explained and he watched worriedly as her teeth began to chatter. But he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. What had she been thinking? Bathing in cold water?

Before she could protest he hoisted her into his arms and strode from the room.