Page 45 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

I took a breath, calling upon the patience that only ever seemed to fail me where she was concerned. Finally, I met her eyes, twin spring green orbs that were sparking with challenge.

“I would, obviously, be providing that service myself,” I gritted out.

I would obviously be murdering anyone else who tried, went without saying.

She smirked, though there was no warmth in it. “Well, no need to put yourself out. In the unlikely event that we wed, I also have no need of heirs. The twins are next in line, then Davin, then Gallagher and Gwyn. We really have no shortage of heirs here.”

It was curious she said noneedof heirs, but didn’t comment on whether shewantedthem.

“You still need to decide whether a potential child between the two of you would belong to the Socairan lineage or Lochlann’s,” Laird MacBay offered in a voice far gentler than the one he used when he was addressing me.

The smirk fell from her features, and she blinked, averting her gaze.

“Can’t we discuss this later, or more likely, never?” she muttered, for all the world as though she hadn’t been the one furthering this conversation.

I expected the room to cater to her, but though his voice was kind, her uncle shook his head.

“Itispart of narrowing down terms, which you agreed to consider,” he reminded her.

She looked at me, this time a question in her eyes, but I wasn’t sure which one. Did I want children? Did I want them to be in line for the throne or the Clan?

Either way, that wasn’t a decision I planned to make.

I raised my eyebrows, letting her know the choice was with her, and she let out a slow breath.

“I don’t want any children I have with...either of them, in line for the Lochlannian throne,” she finally said, holding my gaze with intent. “There’s no need for anyone else to become a pawn in the games of Socairan men.”

My jaw clenched, but I kept the rest of my features even.

We both knew if there was anyone who had turned her into a pawn, it sure as storms wasn’t me. Still, I couldn’t argue with her, not entirely.

Anyone living under a duke would be a player in the games of Socairan men. Aleksander or Iiro.

I didn’t envy her that choice.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Rowan all but bolted from the room when the meeting closed, while I got to my feet at a more reasonable pace. I was just as eager to be gone as she was, if not moreso, but unfortunately my appearances mattered far more than hers did in this space.

I left shortly after she did with every intention of heading to my room, but Pavel stopped me in the hallway outside the council room where he had been standing guard for the morning.

“Lord Davin left a message that you should join him and the others in the sparring ring when your business here was concluded.”

I pictured Rowan’s lean form, the newly formed calluses on her hands. The challenge in her eyes when we had sparred at Bear Estate, even when she had been freezing and out of practice.

Besides, exertion would be beneficial, since I had plenty of frustration to burn off. With her. With this entire situation.

I was used to council meetings, but I generally had at least one ally in the room. Today had been…uniquely exhausting.

So I nodded, changing course to head toward the sparring rings.

I strode up in time to hear my lemmikki offering to spar with Yuriy. In her pale blue gown that was cut into a narrow V, revealing all the parts of her that were sure to flush with exertion when she was midway through a fight.

My cousin looked up when I approached, and whatever he saw on my features must have revealed exactly how I felt about anyone else sparring with her just now.

“Better not,” he said quietly.

She let out an audible sigh, turning around with the enthusiasm of a man walking to the gallows.