SWNOVELS Chapter Don't Look At Him
Her glare barely wavered but she swallowed a hard lump. A slow smirk twisted his lips. “Come little bride.”
He held his hand out for hers. Beckoning her to the darkness that was Alazareth Bodane.
“Take it.” Rhyers whispered from next to her.
She reluctantly held out her hand and let his encompass it in a firm grip. Their eyes met for a painstaking moment.
“No reason not to accept him now.” Rhyers called as Alazareth led her from the room.
Alazar slipped from his boots, breeches and tunic, and crawled into bed. Watching as Riaura began anxiously pacing the room.
To buy time.
“Are you ever going to bring me back here after today?”
“To WaterRose? Of course.” He was thoughtful a moment. “I’m surprised you didn’t loudly declare your hatred to me to my brethren.”
Thanks for that.
“Well it appears we shall be stuck together awhile, until I determine a way out of this farce of a marriage. Speaking ill of you to your friends won’t help my case.”
Good point. But it still caused a deep pain to call the marriage a farce.
She paced the chamber. Rubbing her upper arms. “What is this place? Really?”
“Our stronghold.”
“But it seems more sacred then that?”
She doesn’t really care. She’s avoiding lying next to me in bed. She can. I’ll indulge her a while longer. He turned onto his back and adjusted the coverlet.
She needs to relax. Sighing. Alazar rolled out of his bed and pulled his tunic back on. Opting to give her a bit of time to calm. She’s too anxious to ease yet.
He called down the hallway to someone. Before turning to her. “I’ve brought you some comfort to help you ready for your wedding night.”
An elven man and woman walked in a dark-haired girl with a blindfold over her eyes.
“I’ll offer you some privacy.” He murmured. Bowing out.
“Jessica!” Riaura cried. Recognizing her lady’s maid from Nightway. Running over she ripped off the blindfold.
Alazar nodded farewell and stepped out.
Jessica readied her, putting on her nightgown and began the long grooming process to ready a Queen for rest.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jessica asked. Working the brush through her golden locks.
“This morning, he kissed me.”
“And?”
“He was making a point, but I responded like a wanton. What if he’d chosen to take me? I’d have let him.” She said shamefaced. Cheeks heated. “What manner of woman desires a man she despises?”
“One that doesn’t despise that man.” Jessica said sagely.
“You can’t deny your affection for him forever.”
“Are you on his side?” Riaura whipped around in the chair to meet the dark eyes of her maid. “Has he gotten to you? Paid you coin?”
Jessica blinked brown eyes quickly. Stunned at the accusation. “No! I’ve never seen the man. ’Twas a woman that came to get me!”
“Rosie?”
“Rosemary, she said.”
“Figures.” Riaura spun back around. Dismissing the topic.
“What about what happened ’tween you and he?”
“I’ll think of it no more this day!”
Jessica quietly resumed brushing her hair.
“What would be the point in loving him!” Riaura tossed her arms.
“Might I answer that?” Another voice intruded.
Riaura looked up and Jessica gasped. Hairbrush falling.
“What are you?” Jessica asked breathlessly.