simple chat will tip the scales.”
“But I’m sure you tip the scales with something other than words, Lukein.”
Lord Lukein eyed him. “Perhaps, but only because I have the funds to do so,” he said. “Unfortunately, not all underprivileged realms have such resources.” Lord Lukein referred to the starvation Letumian had experienced in the midst of trade agreements with Roslyn years ago. Miscommunication led to idle threats, which turned into an embargo on all production goods to Letumian. The starvation had been minimal, and only a few of the poorer citizens had passed, but the news spread like wildfire, hurting Drake’s reputation as a ruler.
Drake stepped closer to him. He was fighting with his internal temper, forcing his hands to remain at his sides. If he had a public fight with a neighboring ally, it would hurt his reputation further.
“Darling.” Accacia grabbed his forearm. “Let’s go,” she said as she pulled him away. Accacia hadn’t done it for Drake, but for Lukein, who had been pleasant to her. She didn’t want to see any bloodshed, especially if she could prevent it.
Drake shrugged her arm away. He was angry with her disobedience and she could see the anger in his eyes. The only reason he hadn’t yelled or slapped her was because they were in public. She took the opportunity to soften his anger to avoid a beating later, so she kissed him passionately, right in the middle of the pavilion. He responded to her affection and returned her embrace, and she knew his fury had ebbed.
As an allied duke, Drake and his guest were accorded guestrooms within the palace, so they slept in a guest bedchamber that evening. When they entered the room, Accacia prepared herself for the beating about to ensue, but Drake kissed her instead. His kiss began lightly on the lips then moved to her jawline and further down to her neck. Drake felt Accacia flinch at his embrace, unaccustomed to the tenderness. He dropped her dress to the floor and commanded Accacia to undress him. She lay on the bed, and for the first time, the duke took Accacia gently, almost lovingly. She looked so beautiful that evening, and she was charming to every person she encountered. She would be a perfect queen.
The memory faded away like the dying embers in the hearth. It was the first night he considered her more than just a slave, but as a woman he truly cared for, even loved—if such a thing were possible.
Severstein Sea
12
Aleco sat beside the blaze of the fire, alone, waiting for her to return to the safety of the cave. He couldn’t sleep knowing she was outside, too stubborn to retreat to the warmth of his asylum. Tired of waiting for her to reappear on her own, Aleco went outside in search of her.
She was sitting on the sandy beach, watching the white caps brush the shore, her lithe body shivering in the frigid air. He sat alongside her and listened to the music of the cascading waves that beat against the shore with ferocity.
“I can’t sleep knowing you are out here alone,” he said over the powerful waves.
“I’ll go —inside—when—I’m ready,” she said through chattering teeth.
“Come now,” he said. “You’re freezing.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
“If you don’t come inside, I will carry you,” he threatened.
She clutched herself tighter. “Do not touch me, Aleco,” she said. “I will never forgive you—I mean it.”
Aleco sighed to himself. She could be so infuriating. “Fine,” he said.
Aleco rose from the beach. Accacia presumed to return to the cave unaccompanied. Suddenly, she felt the warmth of his large cloak encompass her entire body, and the hood surround her fair face, cupping her frozen cheeks. Aleco’s scorching body heat was trapped within the fabric, and it warmed her chilled body. Although Accacia was still angry with him, she was so frozen she didn’t care.
Realization dawned upon Accacia as her eyes widened in surprise. Aleco was
“But I’m sure you tip the scales with something other than words, Lukein.”
Lord Lukein eyed him. “Perhaps, but only because I have the funds to do so,” he said. “Unfortunately, not all underprivileged realms have such resources.” Lord Lukein referred to the starvation Letumian had experienced in the midst of trade agreements with Roslyn years ago. Miscommunication led to idle threats, which turned into an embargo on all production goods to Letumian. The starvation had been minimal, and only a few of the poorer citizens had passed, but the news spread like wildfire, hurting Drake’s reputation as a ruler.
Drake stepped closer to him. He was fighting with his internal temper, forcing his hands to remain at his sides. If he had a public fight with a neighboring ally, it would hurt his reputation further.
“Darling.” Accacia grabbed his forearm. “Let’s go,” she said as she pulled him away. Accacia hadn’t done it for Drake, but for Lukein, who had been pleasant to her. She didn’t want to see any bloodshed, especially if she could prevent it.
Drake shrugged her arm away. He was angry with her disobedience and she could see the anger in his eyes. The only reason he hadn’t yelled or slapped her was because they were in public. She took the opportunity to soften his anger to avoid a beating later, so she kissed him passionately, right in the middle of the pavilion. He responded to her affection and returned her embrace, and she knew his fury had ebbed.
As an allied duke, Drake and his guest were accorded guestrooms within the palace, so they slept in a guest bedchamber that evening. When they entered the room, Accacia prepared herself for the beating about to ensue, but Drake kissed her instead. His kiss began lightly on the lips then moved to her jawline and further down to her neck. Drake felt Accacia flinch at his embrace, unaccustomed to the tenderness. He dropped her dress to the floor and commanded Accacia to undress him. She lay on the bed, and for the first time, the duke took Accacia gently, almost lovingly. She looked so beautiful that evening, and she was charming to every person she encountered. She would be a perfect queen.
The memory faded away like the dying embers in the hearth. It was the first night he considered her more than just a slave, but as a woman he truly cared for, even loved—if such a thing were possible.
Severstein Sea
12
Aleco sat beside the blaze of the fire, alone, waiting for her to return to the safety of the cave. He couldn’t sleep knowing she was outside, too stubborn to retreat to the warmth of his asylum. Tired of waiting for her to reappear on her own, Aleco went outside in search of her.
She was sitting on the sandy beach, watching the white caps brush the shore, her lithe body shivering in the frigid air. He sat alongside her and listened to the music of the cascading waves that beat against the shore with ferocity.
“I can’t sleep knowing you are out here alone,” he said over the powerful waves.
“I’ll go —inside—when—I’m ready,” she said through chattering teeth.
“Come now,” he said. “You’re freezing.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
“If you don’t come inside, I will carry you,” he threatened.
She clutched herself tighter. “Do not touch me, Aleco,” she said. “I will never forgive you—I mean it.”
Aleco sighed to himself. She could be so infuriating. “Fine,” he said.
Aleco rose from the beach. Accacia presumed to return to the cave unaccompanied. Suddenly, she felt the warmth of his large cloak encompass her entire body, and the hood surround her fair face, cupping her frozen cheeks. Aleco’s scorching body heat was trapped within the fabric, and it warmed her chilled body. Although Accacia was still angry with him, she was so frozen she didn’t care.
Realization dawned upon Accacia as her eyes widened in surprise. Aleco was
Similar Books
