Page 93 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

“We don’t have to...do anything you don’t want to do.” I told her what should have been obvious.

A muscle tensed in her jaw. “So, we can forgo the charming exam?” she shot back. “Which, for the record, is notstandardhere.”

“So I gathered by your line of questioning.” Though I was fairly certain it had been standard in the old laws, it made sense that it had since been abolished, once I considered what I knew of her family. Between the Warrior Queen, Princess Jocelyn, and the king who had five daughters to marry off, it was difficult to imagine any of them supporting a custom that singled out the woman in a relationship.

Obviously, Socair had a different set of ideals, but we couldn’t afford to push back on a custom that would give our marriage legitimacy when the dukes would want so badly to withhold it. Not to mention the small concern that my father actually would insist on witnessed consummation. I explained as much to her.

“And no, given Socairans and their traditions, we can’t forgo the examination and hope to maintain any sort of legitimacy. But we can...forgo the events the night before,” I clarified.

She narrowed her eyes, consternation overtaking her features. “Then how exactly would you expect me to pass the ever-important legitimacy examination?”

Her tone was sharp, her blink irritable, and I suppressed a sigh. Given the open nature of her family, particularly her favorite cousin, I had a hard time believing she was unaware that her past liaisons would be sufficient for her to pass the examination.

Which begged the question of why she had come here in the middle of the night to give me hell about a custom I couldn’t change when I was making every effort at accommodating her.

“Lemmikki.” I raked my hand through my hair, taking a calming breath before I snapped at her outright. “Is there a reason you’re being inordinately difficult about this?”

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes like she was piecing together a puzzle and was entirely indignant about the picture it formed. Like she was the one with reason to be irritated by this conversation.

Honestly, I would have gladly submitted to an examination of my own if only to never discuss it with her again. I took another drink of whiskey in a bid for patience, and a huff of air escaped her.

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be difficult about this?” she demanded. “Do you enjoy random strangers putting their hands in your...orifices?”

I inhaled sharply in surprise, choking on my whiskey in the process. Though why I let anything she said shock me now was beyond me. So much for things she could discuss with her mother.

But when she put it that way, I supposed it was rather invasive. For that matter, I didn’t particularly like the idea of any man putting his hands on my wife, let alone in any of her…orifices. Though, only one was in question here.

She huffed out a small chuckle at my reaction, though there was no real amusement in it.

“To clarify, both of those things are singular,” I told her, having no other comfort to offer. “Only one stranger...and only one orifice.”

This time, her laugh was more genuine, edged with a hint of surprise. The tension that had been mounting along with her frustration eased somewhat.

“Well, that’s much better then,” she said sardonically. “Truly, I have nothing to be concerned about.”

Though the logical side of me knew the consequences might outweigh the benefits, I couldn’t stop myself from extending an unreasonable offer, if only to put her mind at ease.

“I’ll see what I can do about the examination,” I told her.

“No, no.” She shook her head, still half-smiling. “As you said, sacrifices must be made. And I...can’t wait.” The grin fell from her lips as she met my eyes more seriously. “We both know we can’t afford for the legitimacy to be questioned.”

She was right about that. On the other hand, the story of her in a state of undress with Korhonan had run rampant, alongside the testimony of Juho about their time together…and later she had stayed in my room, in my bed for several weeks.

“Given the...rumors, I may be able to convince them that it doesn’t prove anything.” The trick would be waiting until after our wedding night so they didn’t revert to the old ways out of spite, or even caution.

She looked away, tugging her bottom lip between her teeth before meeting my eyes once more. Uncertainty churned in her pale-green gaze, the expression every bit as unprecedented as the rest of this conversation.

“Does that bother you?” she asked in a small voice.

That was an interesting question.

Did it bother me to consider another man’s hands on her? Absolutely, it did. I would happily set fire to everyone who had touched any part of her perfect skin.

But I couldn’t rationally fault her, either.

“A certain...lack of propriety has followed you around from the day I met you,” I hedged, rather than explaining that.

“That’s not an answer,” she pushed back immediately.