Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“How likely am I to talk you out of your gown and into bed so we can fuck fast and hard and then pass out?” he asked in reply.
He saw a shift of interest in her eyes before she mentally set it aside and answered, “Not very likely.”
Mars sighed, took Piccola from his neck and held her in front of his face. “Your mama is stubborn.”
Piccola chirruped.
He held their monkey to his heart and looked to his queen. “She agrees.”
Silence crossed her arms on her chest and said a warning, “Mars.”
By the gods, she was the most precious creature on the planet.
He fought his lips twitching again, and did it thinking of the seriousness of this matter.
Then he said quietly, “It has been a difficult day for us both, particularly you, and your cousin, who you adore. Can we not let Johan’s chicaneries make a bad day even worse?”
“How is True?” she asked.
“Beside himself with grief.”
She worried her lips.
Then she said, “He told me, Father, at the party after our wedding, that you were never going to let me come to Wodell again. Was that a lie?”
By the gods, that man was foul.
“Yes.”
She looked to the side.
“Silence,” he called.
She looked to him.
“I will promise, after your aunt is at rest, and when the time is right, I will tell you the fullness of my conversation with your parents,” he promised. “But for the now, let us find a good way to end a terrible day.”
“Instead of making it worse?”
He decided not to field that one.
“Just tell me, did he hurt you?”
Mars was confused.
“Hurt me?”
“He called you a lurch. I don’t know what that means. I’ve never heard it before. I just know he did not mean it nicely.”
She was worried about him.
She was worried that conversation was unpleasant for him.
“You need to be naked in but one minute, wife,” he growled.
Her eyes got large “Wh-what?”
“Never mind,” he muttered, approaching her, “I’ll make you that way.”
Piccola, very used to the mood that was now in the chamber, scurried off Mars to head to wherever she scurried to in order to amuse herself while they engaged in activities she had no interest in for they paid her no mind at all, no cuddles and no coos.
And Mars took his wife’s mind off the day, the night, and everything but them.
After he accomplished that, and did it thoroughly, they both passed out.
87
The Rule
Prince True
The King’s Study, Birchlire Castle, Notting Thicket
WODELL
“I will do no such thing.”
“You will. The papers will be ready in the morn. The heralds ride out at seven sharp to share the king speaks at ten o’clock. By that time, the papers will be signed and recorded. You will make your announcement, then I will make mine.”
“My wife’s body is barely cold, and you make a play for my crown,” he snapped.
It was unfortunate his father mentioned his dead mother.
Very unfortunate.
And Aramus was not there with him then.
Wallace, Luther, Bram and Florian—the latter two sporting bandages, Bram’s under his shirt around his middle, Florian’s over his trousers around his left thigh—were there.
And they did not lift a finger or even open their mouths to stop True from rushing his father across his study and pinning him bodily against the wall.
“Alfie took two arrows to protect her,” he snarled into his sire’s face.
“That is his job,” his father spat back.
“You dove behind a pew to save yourself, leaving your wife an open target,” True went on.
“It is not in this country’s best interests to lose its monarch.”
“Then why did you let this country’s true monarch take six arrows?”
Wilmer spluttered in insult.
“You will sign those papers,” True gritted.
“I will do nothing of the sort!” Wilmer shouted.
“You will either abdicate or I’ll take your crown,” True told him. “For on the morrow, if those papers are not signed, on the grounds of your incompetence, I’ll declare war on the reign of King Wilmer of Wodell. I will lead my guard to your guard. And when I do, your guard will dismount and lay their weapons down in surrender. Alfie cannot ride. That means, in front of all, the two hundred royal guard that protects this castle will lay down their arms to five men.”
“They wouldn’t,” Wilmer whispered.
“They will. I’ve asked each man myself and they’ve already vowed fealty to me. Now, do you want that spectacle to end your reign?” True asked. “Or do you want to share with your people that you are beside yourself with grief at the loss of your wife, beside yourself with mortification at your misreading of the true nature of your advisor, and you feel it’s in the best interests of the realm in this trying time to abdicate to your son?”
“I will not be recorded in the Go’Doan tomes as the Dellish king who gave up his throne,” Wilmer bit.