Page 142 of Onyx Cage: Volume II
Not that I could blame her. I half wanted to murder the healer myself when he spent longer than was necessary confirming the state of my wife’s maidenhood. When he was finally gone, she irritably shoveled in several biscuits with cheeks that were crimson with a mix of fury and discomfort.
Unlike my very Lochlannian wife, I had been raised to choose my battles carefully, so I left her to her ire while I cleaned up for the day. Taisiya came to dress her as well, and we headed out to endure a second round of unpleasantries.
At least if we were seeing off Iiro, it was because he was leaving. Introducing Rowan to her role as a Clan Wife would be precarious enough without him here scrutinizing both her and my father.
As it was, I had spent the better part of the past week trying to keep my father away from our visitors with a slew of excuses I was solidly running out of. There was no sign of him this morning, something I steadfastly refused to comment on.
Taras and Mila were here already, the latter talking with Luca and her father in hushed tones. It wasn’t hard to guess what their conversation might pertain to, given his comments last night. I nodded at them, and Arès nodded back, though his eyes were still wary.
He crossed over to us, saying goodbye to us both before he stepped into his carriage.
Wolf was the only other clan who remained. When Nils climbed into his carriage without a word, I wondered if he had stayed for the sole purpose of making that dramatic exit.
I bit back a sigh of frustration, giving Taras a pointed glance toward Rowan. He nodded, crossing the courtyard to her while Mila hugged her brother goodbye. Reluctantly, I strode after the Duke of clan Wolf.
His carriage door was still open, so I pitched my voice low.
“I apologize if we kept you too long.” It was the closest I could come to inquiring after his abrupt departure.
“Not at all. I simply had nothing to say to the princess of our enemies.”
“The future Clan Wife of Bear, you mean,” I corrected in an even tone.
Because while she wasaClan Wife, she wasn’ttheClan Wife, which would afford her even more protection and power—or as much power as was given to a woman in Socair.
He scowled, the expression pulling at the deep lines on a face that looked older than its years. “When your father married the Lochlannian wench, we had not yet gone to war. Their king had not yet claimed the lives of his brotherand my son.” His eyes burned with fury. “Tell me, did you enjoy your time with the man who dishonored your own people—your own family—with a death, not on the battlefield, but crushed under the weight of a mountain?”
“Of course not,” I lied. “But I will enjoy feeding both my people and yours with the alliance I formed. Our children and our soldiers alike will benefit.”
“And is that why you went?” he spat. “For the sake of my armies?”
“My father sent me,” I emphasized, reminding him that I did nothing without the duke’s consent—at least, not as far as he was concerned. That should do something to counter the accusations he implied about why I wanted to marry Rowan.
True as they were.
“He sent me for the sake of Bear, and everyone we are allied with. That has always included you,” I finished quietly.
He held my gaze for a long, stilted moment before nodding jerkily.
“I suppose we will see in the trade meeting.”
I let out a subtle breath of relief. He felt slighted, but he wasn’t unwilling to bend as long as he felt that his clan was shown favor with the limited supply of food stores. That was a game of its own, but certainly better than the alternative.
“As you say,” I agreed.
He gestured for his guard to close his door, and I turned in time to see Iiro approaching my wife with his usual smarmy bastard expression.
She was putting on an admirable display of politeness toward theaaliowhen I reached her, placing my hand against the small of her back to let her know I had returned.
“Apologies, My Lady,” I said, ignoring Iiro long enough to address my wife. I turned to him after, making sure he was firmly aware of where he ranked in my priorities, a snub he couldn’t reasonably take offense to. “Your Majesties, thank you for honoring us with your attendance.
“But, please, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”By all means, continue with whatever thinly veiled threat you were about to deliver to my wife while I remind you that your authority is not limitless here.
His mouth twitched in what might have been the beginnings of a grimace or a smirk. “I’m looking forward to seeing you both at the Obsidian Palace soon.”
I resisted the urge to laugh outright. My arse would I drag Rowan into any territory under his control.
“Of course,” I said smoothly. “We’ll send word once we look at our schedules.”