This isn’t punishment.”
“This is the tributes’ wing. This is where people atone for what they’ve done. In the barn you would feel like an animal, not the man you should be. My quarters and offices make up the top floor of the Herenes’ wing. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
She touches my arm with her cool, delicate hand, but I brush it away. I hate myself for the hurt look that crosses her face.
“You shouldn’t touch me, you shouldn’t dirty yourself. I’m a blood crimer. I killed my family. I’m no longer a man.”
She shakes her head. “I won’t believe that.”
She takes both my hands in hers, lifting them and turning them over as if inspecting them for something. I expect her to see crevices filled with the dried blood of my children and to recoil from me, but either she sees nothing or ignores what she does find. She bends her head and places a light kiss on each of my palms.
I yank my hands away and step into the room.
“Thank you for your words, Highness, but I am what they say. Do not hold to an ideal you formed of me when you were a girl.”
I close the door on her and lean my forehead against it until I hear her light steps moving away from my room and the sound of door at the end of the corridor closing behind her.
8
E URY
The knocking at the bedchamber door distracts me from my moment of release. Adneta grunts and shoves me aside.
“You could at least satisfy me if you’re going to wake me at this hour.”
“Next time, my dear,” I say as I give the tip of her nose a kiss before dragging myself away from her.
Without bothering to grab my robe, I march from the bed to the door and yank it open. Baruch’s dark eyes dart to me, past my shoulder to the bed, and back to me as I hear Adneta pacing around the room. Under his gaze in the harsh morning light, I wish I had covered my half-erect state.
“Yes?” I demand.
“It’s time, Excellency.”
“Time?”
“You said to inform you when it was time to go to the House of Hera. They will have finished their morning devotions by now.”
“Yes, fine, prepare my clothes.” I shut the door.
“Must you go?” Adneta asks me as she sprawls back into bed and begins touching herself. “I hate leaving business unfinished.”
Damn the gods. My cousins can wait. The Herenes can wait. Baruch can wait. I cannot. I’m to the bed in two paces pleased with myself for making the wise decision to wake Adneta this morning with whispers that she can have a gift of her choosing rather than keeping the news a surprise.
“I’ve had my eye on a diamond necklace.” She moans as I enter her. “With an emerald pendant.” Another moan and then she is panting her words. “I want it. Give it to me.”
It makes no difference if she means me or the necklace. I swell inside her. The bed cries in rapid squeaks with my thrusts. “It’s yours. All yours.”
She writhes and clenches me to her sending me over the edge of passion. Once I stop, she slips out from under me and gives a satisfied grin. Dear gods, what if Herc fails Hera’s ridiculous task and I can’t get the necklace? Will my wife still want me?
As Adneta gets up to clean herself—giving me teasing glances as she does so—I chide myself for my foolish insecurity. Of course this woman loves me and she deserves everything I can give her. I had hoped the reward from ridding the people of the Nemea District of their lion problem would have stretched a bit further than one necklace, but I can’t fault my wife for having exquisite tastes.
After lingering a while to watch Adneta, I slide off the silk sheets and head to my dressing chamber. Baruch dresses me in curt silence. His quietude isn’t unusual. He rarely speaks to me unless asking or responding to a question, but his tugs at my tunic this morning seem harder, his belt cinching feels rougher, and his final brush down comes more like slaps than whisks. I ignore the harsh treatment, but remind myself
“This is the tributes’ wing. This is where people atone for what they’ve done. In the barn you would feel like an animal, not the man you should be. My quarters and offices make up the top floor of the Herenes’ wing. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
She touches my arm with her cool, delicate hand, but I brush it away. I hate myself for the hurt look that crosses her face.
“You shouldn’t touch me, you shouldn’t dirty yourself. I’m a blood crimer. I killed my family. I’m no longer a man.”
She shakes her head. “I won’t believe that.”
She takes both my hands in hers, lifting them and turning them over as if inspecting them for something. I expect her to see crevices filled with the dried blood of my children and to recoil from me, but either she sees nothing or ignores what she does find. She bends her head and places a light kiss on each of my palms.
I yank my hands away and step into the room.
“Thank you for your words, Highness, but I am what they say. Do not hold to an ideal you formed of me when you were a girl.”
I close the door on her and lean my forehead against it until I hear her light steps moving away from my room and the sound of door at the end of the corridor closing behind her.
8
E URY
The knocking at the bedchamber door distracts me from my moment of release. Adneta grunts and shoves me aside.
“You could at least satisfy me if you’re going to wake me at this hour.”
“Next time, my dear,” I say as I give the tip of her nose a kiss before dragging myself away from her.
Without bothering to grab my robe, I march from the bed to the door and yank it open. Baruch’s dark eyes dart to me, past my shoulder to the bed, and back to me as I hear Adneta pacing around the room. Under his gaze in the harsh morning light, I wish I had covered my half-erect state.
“Yes?” I demand.
“It’s time, Excellency.”
“Time?”
“You said to inform you when it was time to go to the House of Hera. They will have finished their morning devotions by now.”
“Yes, fine, prepare my clothes.” I shut the door.
“Must you go?” Adneta asks me as she sprawls back into bed and begins touching herself. “I hate leaving business unfinished.”
Damn the gods. My cousins can wait. The Herenes can wait. Baruch can wait. I cannot. I’m to the bed in two paces pleased with myself for making the wise decision to wake Adneta this morning with whispers that she can have a gift of her choosing rather than keeping the news a surprise.
“I’ve had my eye on a diamond necklace.” She moans as I enter her. “With an emerald pendant.” Another moan and then she is panting her words. “I want it. Give it to me.”
It makes no difference if she means me or the necklace. I swell inside her. The bed cries in rapid squeaks with my thrusts. “It’s yours. All yours.”
She writhes and clenches me to her sending me over the edge of passion. Once I stop, she slips out from under me and gives a satisfied grin. Dear gods, what if Herc fails Hera’s ridiculous task and I can’t get the necklace? Will my wife still want me?
As Adneta gets up to clean herself—giving me teasing glances as she does so—I chide myself for my foolish insecurity. Of course this woman loves me and she deserves everything I can give her. I had hoped the reward from ridding the people of the Nemea District of their lion problem would have stretched a bit further than one necklace, but I can’t fault my wife for having exquisite tastes.
After lingering a while to watch Adneta, I slide off the silk sheets and head to my dressing chamber. Baruch dresses me in curt silence. His quietude isn’t unusual. He rarely speaks to me unless asking or responding to a question, but his tugs at my tunic this morning seem harder, his belt cinching feels rougher, and his final brush down comes more like slaps than whisks. I ignore the harsh treatment, but remind myself
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