My body aches to be held in his strong arms. My heart aches at the thought my marriage might be over before it has even begun if the King has anything to do with it.
The bed is soft as I sit on it, still in the white robe, Kerr placed on me after he administered the punishment for leaving the room without his permission.
My bottom still hurts a bit as the strap left a few thin whelps across it. My cheeks burn with the anger building in me for the unjust punishment. I had no idea leaving a room without permission was against the rules.
Just as I get up, the door glides open. I quickly drop my eyes and head as I see it’s the King.
The tall though slumped man with long, white hair and light brown eyes has graced me with his presence. Now, perhaps I can talk some sense into the tyrant.
“ Sit,” he commands with a harsh tone.
I do as he says and still look down. I am not about to give this man any reason to see fit to use the hook and strap which hang on the wall in this room as well as all the bedrooms on the ship from what I’ve seen.
He stands over me. His presence is threatening and I find it hard not to stand up to the beast. I hold onto my temper, though.
“ Tell me what you know,” he says.
He takes one of the chairs at the small dining table. I notice him looking at the tray and he lifts the lid. He makes a huffing sound as he sees I haven’t touched the nasty stuff.
“ Not going to eat what we give you, Princess?”
“ May I look at you, Sire?”
“ You may.”
I raise my head and try hard not to glare at the man. “I am having an issue taking the live things into my mouth. My husband had told me he would help me until I got used to eating the food on my own. How is your son, sir?”
“ My son is fine. He’s come to his senses.” His eyes lock on mine.
The fear in my eyes must be what he’s looking for. I’m positive it’s there as I have no idea what he means by Kerr coming to his senses.
Does it mean he’s annulling our marriage?
“ May I ask exactly what that means, Sire?”
“ No, you may not. I want you to tell me what you know about the uprising on Euthenia.” He crosses his arms over his chest and waits for an answer I do not have.
“ I swear to you I know nothing about it, sir.” My eyes do not waver. There is only honesty behind my words and any person would know I’m hiding nothing.
He rises and turns away from me. “I will be back to check on you in approximately one hour. Your food will need to be completely eaten by that time or it will be the hook and the strap for you.”
“ Will Kerr be coming?” I ask with hope.
Spinning on his heel, he turns back and gives me an evil smile. “No. It will be me who administers the punishment if you do not eat every bit of what’s on that platter, girl. We do not waste things where you are going. Remember that, please.”
The door glides back open, and he leaves me.
And now it seems I must shove those awful snails down my throat or be tied up, naked, and beaten.
It’s hard to say which is worse. My heart pounds as I find I want my husband more than I ever have.
But does he still want me?
What could the King have meant by telling me Kerr has come to his senses? Could Kerr be acting as if he thinks I’m capable of being involved in such a thing as an uprising on his planet?
Did my father know of the impending uprising and award me to Kerr to get the royals and their guards away from the capital so this could happen?
My father always acted as if he loved me. Is it possible he would do this to me on purpose?
My head hurts as it spins nearly out of control. The door glides open and I nearly fall off the bed to get to him.
“ Kerr!” I run to him and he catches me in his arms and picks me up.
His mouth covers mine and I melt as his tongue touches mine, stroking it and taking me to a much better place.