Page 47 of Obsidian Throne
Sure enough, standing in the other hall was my wife. With a look, I dismissed Kirill for the night. He gladly obliged, leaving me to face whatever had just happened with Rowan.
There was an icy calm on her face, a tight set to her shoulders that reminded me of the rare occasions when I had seen an unexpectedly ruthless side of her.
When she noticed me approaching, her light-green eyes snapped up to mine, and her expression turned just a hair too innocent.
“Lemmikki,” I began. “Do you care to explain what happened?”
I didn’t need to gesture to where Mairi--or Ava--had stormed off. Rowan’s gaze followed the length of the hall anyway.
“Nothing much,” she claimed. “We were merely discussing the many Socairan delicacies I have yet to be subjected to.”
I shot her a disbelieving look, sighing. “Didn’t we discuss not provoking violent sociopaths for the time being?”
Rowan shrugged one slim shoulder, giving me a sideways glance. “I feel like an explanation is an awful lot to ask from a...what was it you said? A passing diversion?”
Storms.I knew I would pay for that one. At least she hadn’t heard what I said to my father after she left.
I opened my mouth to explain when she shook her head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“You really don’t have to concern yourself with offending my delicate sensibilities every time we have to play this game,” she said. “I know this situation is...tenuous enough to navigate.”
Unexpected relief coursed through me. I hadn’t realized how much I needed her to understand that until she did.
Then a trace of mischief entered her gaze. “Besides, it’s only fair since I told the entire Lochlannian Court I was only using you for your very capable hands.”
Amusement and desire warred in my mind until the latter won out, my mind wandering to the way her body felt in my apparentlyvery capablehands. It must have shown on my face, because her smirk turned into something far more wicked, and she let out a low laugh to accompany it.
For all that I had told her it would be frowned upon to be openly affectionate, I couldn’t look away from her in that moment. Her face. Her lips. Any of her.
I had meant what I told her in the cabin about marriage being an inevitability. It had always been assumed that someday, I would marry for the benefit of my clan…but I had never expected to find someone who was prepared for the challenges that being married to me presented.
Yet here she was.
All five feet of her, with her wildly intoxicating wit, her fierce, stubborn bravery, and her wonderfully clever mind, all wrapped in this gorgeous shell that was uniquelyRowan.
I settled my hand on her lower back as we made our way up the stairs, satisfaction coursing through me when she shivered at the contact.
Not for the first time, I realized I had done nothing in my life to deserve her, and that nothing I could ever do would change that fact.
And I didn’t care.
Because every part of her belonged to me.
Just as I belonged to her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
ROWAN
The next morning, we were in the sparring ring.
We were alone this time since the soldiers were doing outdoor training today. Evander was teaching me to fight the way he did, with both swords.
Fia had always stressed the importance of being adept with either hand, but my left was still significantly weaker. It was an effort to engage both at the same time.
I cursed in frustration as his blunted blade tapped against my side.
“It takes time, Lemmikki,” he said, a bit of amusement coloring his tone. “With one blade, you can rival at least half of my men. This will only enhance that.”